Menopause

Whether you’re in your 40s and noticing changes, or well into your postmenopausal years, Hoag is here to support you. Our team of gynecologists, wellness experts, and specialists offer personalized, compassionate care rooted in the latest science — to help you feel your best at every stage.

Welcome to Menopause Care at Hoag

Expert, Personalized Support for Every Stage of Your Journey Whether you’re just noticing changes, navigating disruptive symptoms, or looking to stay well after menopause, you don’t have to go through this alone. Hoag’s multidisciplinary team of OB/GYNs, menopause-certified providers, wellness experts, and mental health professionals are here to guide you with personalized, evidence-based care.

Quick Links to Get Started

• Explore Hoag for Her: Wellness & Integrative Care

• Visit The Menopause Society (Formerly NAMS)

What Stage Are You In?

Perimenopause (The Menopause Transition)

• You may still get your period — but your hormones are shifting.

Common symptoms:

• Hot flashes & night sweats

• Mood swings, brain fog, poor sleep

• Weight gain, fatigue, irregular periods

• Vaginal dryness or leaking urine

• Feeling unlike yourself

Tip: These symptoms are real and treatable. You don’t have to wait until they’re severe to get help.

Menopause

• Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 months with no period.

What’s happening:

• Your ovaries are no longer producing estrogen and progesterone. While symptoms like hot flashes may ease, your risk for certain health conditions increases.

Common concerns:

• Bone loss (osteoporosis)

• Heart health risks

• Sexual health & intimacy changes

• Urinary symptoms

Learn How to Stay Strong & Supported Post-Menopause

"Real Talk: The Menopause Edition" – Community Events

• Join us for open, honest, expert-led conversations about menopause. You’ll get answers, practical tips, and peer support in a welcoming environment.

• View Upcoming Events

When to Seek Help

Call for help when symptoms are disrupting your life. The key word is “bothersome” and that means bothersome to you. You get to decide how disruptive your symptoms are and when you want guidance on management.

• Hot flashes disrupting your life

• Severe mood changes or anxiety

• Painful sex or lack of interest in intimacy

• Sleep issues that won’t go away

• Concerns about heart health, weight, or bone strength

Why Choose Hoag?

• Multidisciplinary, personalized care

• Certified menopause and sexual wellness providers

• Wellness, nutrition, and mental health integration

• Trusted by thousands of women across Orange County

Many women say they are “in menopause” when they are actually in perimenopause, also called the menopause transition.

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, when hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone) fluctuate and begin to decline. This natural process can start in your 40s—or even mid-30s—and often lasts 4 to 5 years, though for some women it can continue for more than 10 years. Common symptoms include hot flashes, weight gain, mood changes, and irregular periods, but every women’s journey is unique. Any menopausal symptom can show up at any time.

Menopause

Menopause is officially diagnosed when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The average age of menopause in the U.S. is 52. Once you reach menopause, perimenopause ends, and you enter “postmenopause”, which lasts for the rest of your life. Other causes of menopause include surgical removal of the ovaries (with or without the uterus), chemotherapy, pelvic radiation, or certain autoimmune conditions. If menopause happens before age 40, it’s considered premature menopause. Symptoms are caused by fluctuating hormone levels during the menopause transition. Certain medical conditions, medications, stress, and environmental factors can also influence these hormonal shifts and may affect your perimenopause experience. The severity of symptoms varies from person to person. If you are experiencing bothersome symptoms and want to explore options, contact your primary care provider, gynecologist, or OB/GYN to discuss the best approach for you.

• Menopause Society

• ACOG Menopause Guidance

• Sexual Health Resource Toolkit

• ISSWSH – International Society for the study of Women’s Sexual Health

• Hoag for Her Center for Wellness

• Hoag Women’s Health Institute

• Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

• Menopause Guide Care Plan (PDF DOWNLOAD)

• Menopause Guide Glossary (PDF DOWNLOAD)

• Menopause Guide Influencer (PDF DOWNLOAD)