Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through as they age. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is diagnosed when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
The average age of menopause is 51, but it can occur anytime between the ages of 40-55. As a woman approaches menopause, she may experience perimenopausal symptoms caused by hormonal fluctuations, like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, and mood changes.
While menopause is a normal part of aging, managing symptoms is crucial so women can continue living life to the fullest. The providers at HormoneHarmony aim to support and guide patients through menopause using a personalized treatment approach.
Menopause symptoms vary widely, with some women experiencing mild issues while others struggle greatly. Below are some of the most common menopausal complaints:
While menopause symptoms can significantly disrupt a woman's quality of life, leaving them untreated over many years can lead to long-term health consequences:
- Estrogen plays an important role in bone remodeling to maintain strength. During menopause, declining estrogen accelerates bone loss. - Untreated estrogen deficiency post-menopause is the main cause of osteoporosis and dangerous bone fractures later in life. - Menopausal hormone therapy, especially starting early, is effective for preventing osteoporosis. Monitoring with bone density tests determines if additional osteoporosis medication is needed.
- The drop-off in estrogen during menopause causes unfavorable changes in blood lipids increasing risk for heart disease - the 1 cause of death in women. - Menopausal hormone therapy can reduce the risk of heart disease if started before 60 years old or within 10 years of menopause. Delaying too long eliminates these protective benefits.
- With declining hormones during menopause, many women notice faster skin aging too with wrinkling, sagging, and dryness. Bone and muscle mass decline speeds up as well. - Research shows restoring hormones to premenopausal levels can slow aspects of the aging process and help women look and feel younger.
The providers at HormoneHarmony work with patients to develop individualized treatment plans focused on relieving symptoms in the short-term and reducing health risks associated with hormone imbalance in the long run.
There are a number of safe and effective menopausal treatment options that can get to the root cause of symptoms by restoring hormonal balance. The HormoneHarmony team stays up-to-date on cutting edge therapies to find the right solution for each patient based on her needs and health profile including:
In addition to manufactured bioidentical hormones, HormoneHarmony also does customized compounded hormone preparations tailored to match each woman's needs:
Lifestyle measures and non-hormonal treatments provide additional support for managing symptoms:
HormoneHarmonyians personalize combinations of hormonal and complementary therapies based the patient’s health profile and preferences for the best possible menopausal transition.
Getting treating properly for menopause starts with comprehensive lab testing to uncover which hormones are imbalanced and causing symptoms. Initial assessments at HormoneHarmony include:
- Hormone levels: Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, etc. - Diminished ovarian reserve testing: FSH, AMH - Related labs: lipids, blood count, chemistries, thyroid, etc.
- Confirms atrophy and allows treatment of any infections exacerbating dryness/pain
- Gynecologic history, family history, medications, lifestyle habits
- Helps guide personalized treatment selections
After identifying areas of hormone deficiency and excess, HormoneHarmony offers patients understandable explanations of what is underlying their symptoms along with expert advice on safe treatment options that can help them feel better quickly.
Follow up assessments monitor progress in relieving symptoms and make adjustments as needed. The goal is for optimal hormone balance at the lowest doses. Yearly gynecologic care continues post-menopause too.
ReBalance MDs leverage their specialized menopause management training with the latest medical therapies to compassionately guide women to better health. Contact HormoneHarmony in Somerset to learn more today.
In addition to relieving troublesome vasomotor, urogenital and quality of life symptoms in the early postmenopausal years, continuing care focuses on promoting longevity and reducing health risks that increase later in life:
- DEXA scans every 1-2 years to evaluate bone mass - Advise more frequent screening for higher risk women
- Counseling on research associating hormone therapy started early with better neurocognitive function long-term - Assessing need for brain health medications if mental decline present
- Yearly lipid panels, blood pressure checks, cardiac testing per guidelines - Encouraging healthy lifestyle habits – regular exercise, nutritious diet, stress reduction
- Mammograms, cervical and colon cancer screening as recommended for age/risk factors - Evaluating family cancer history to determine if genetic testing warranted
Through individualized treatment plans and careful follow up assessments, the practitioners at HormoneHarmony seek to guide patients smoothly through the menopausal transition while laying the foundation for healthier later years.
HormoneHarmony provides compassionate care for women throughout all stages of life. Contact us today to see how our menopause experts can help optimize wellness during this change.
