Her hot flashes were slight and soon disappeared altogether. A few months later, however, they returned with a vengeance, she said.

The sudden surges of warmth that made her sweaty and turned her face red were embarrassing when she was with other people. But they were worse at night when hot flashes would wake her again and again. Sleep deprived, she gained weight and lost her normally cheery disposition.

Donna found it increasingly hard to muster enough energy to teach her first-grade class in New Bedford, as she became grouchy, hopeless and depressed.

“I hated myself, I hated everyone in my house, I hated everything,” said the Westport mother of two. “I didn’t want anyone near me.”

The final straw for Donna came about a year ago when she developed a gynecological infection. Desperate, she visited her gynecologist, Dr. Christian Pope, Southcoast Health Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology who had seen Donna through the birth of her two sons in the early 2000s.

Later, as menopause approached, she and Dr. Pope continued to watch and discuss the slow start of some typical perimenopausal symptoms she started experiencing and tried some lifestyle modifications for treatment.

After trying lifestyle modifications, Donna continued experiencing worsening menopausal symptoms and decided she needed some additional help. Together they reviewed various options of treatment, and Dr. Pope determined that Donna was a candidate for hormone replacement therapy in the form of an estrogen transdermal (skin) patch that she would apply once a week.

Once she put on the patch, Donna saw her symptoms disappear. She could sleep again and lost the extra weight. Her energy and good cheer returned.

“It was amazing,” she said. “I had my life back.”

Menopause occurs in women when as they approach and reach the end of their childbearing age, usually in their 40s or 50s, with an average age of 51. The accompanying hormonal changes, especially the reduction in estrogen, can cause hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain and other unpleasant symptoms.

Hormone replacement therapy is available to women depending on their health, family history, and other deciding factors. There are other approaches to menopause as well, and Donna advises anyone suffering as she did to see her doctor without delay.

“Every woman is different,” she said. “But I’d tell anyone that if menopause is causing you problems, see your doctor. Don’t just suffer and try to ride it out.”

Donna will retire from teaching when school ends this year. Although she loved working with students, she now looks forward to working part-time outside the classroom, perhaps at a gift shop.

Whatever she chooses, she knows her menopause symptoms will not prevent her from doing what she wants in this next chapter of her life. And she knows she can rely on Dr. Pope to help keep her healthy and well.

To learn about the Southcoast Health Menopause & Wellness Program, visit Southcoast Health Menopause & Wellness Program | Southcoast Health.