Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. This transitional time can start 8-10 years before menopause when hormone levels naturally start to decline. As hormones drop, women may experience unpleasant symptoms that disrupt daily life. Proper treatment can minimize discomfort during this change.
Many women first notice changes around midlife, between ages 45-55. The average age for menopause in the US is 51. Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period. This natural transition means a woman's ovaries have stopped releasing eggs for possible fertilization. Lower estrogen and progesterone levels also impact the body.
Fluctuating hormone levels often spark unpleasant symptoms. However, each woman's experience is unique. Symptoms may include:
These symptoms result directly from hormone changes. Declining estrogen thickens vaginal walls, leads to hot flashes as the body's thermostat resets, and contributes to fatigue and difficulty sleeping. Lack of sleep exacerbates issues like brain fog.
Mood changes may also occur due to shifting hormones. Some women feel anxious, irritable, or depressed. Hormones impact neurotransmitters that regulate mood like serotonin. Fluctuating levels can make emotions seem out of control.
While menopause ends a woman’s fertility, some still view this transition negatively. In reality, menopause is a natural step for women as they age. With treatment, symptoms can be managed for an easier process.
There are short and long term health risks to consider if menopause symptoms disrupt daily life for too long. Untreated symptoms and hormone changes raise a woman's risk for other issues. These include:
Estrogen plays many roles beyond reproductive health. This hormone keeps bones strong, protects heart health by lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol, and maintains muscle mass.
Menopause treatment can prevent long term health issues by stabilizing hormones. It can also manage troublesome symptoms making life challenging on a daily basis. Identifying menopause early is key. Tracking symptoms and getting bloodwork drawn to measure hormone levels is essential.
Many women do not realize treatment exists for menopause symptoms and hormone changes. Some suffer silently believing nothing helps. However, various treatment options alleviate discomfort and stabilize hormones during perimenopause and beyond.
Relieving annoying menopause symptoms is the number one benefit guiding women to seek treatment. Treatment helps women struggling with:
These symptoms make functioning difficult. Hot flashes and sweating cause embarrassment and discomfort. Insomnia from night sweats impairs focus and contributes to exhaustion. Vaginal dryness makes intimacy painful leading many couples to grow distant when they need each other most.
Proper hormone therapy eases the transition of menopause. Treatment helps stabilize shifting levels, managing symptoms for women spread too thin by changes out of their control. This minimizes disruptions from menopause for shopping, working, exercising, enjoying hobbies, socializing, and relaxing at home.
While relieving unpleasant short term symptoms matters most initially, treatment has lasting benefits too. Consistent therapy after menopause onset safeguards long term health:
Without treatment, women lose hormonal protection from these issues which emerge over years. Aging gradually after menopause raises many health risks. Treatment from the start prevents this.
There are three main forms of hormone therapy to treat menopause: estrogen therapy, progesterone therapy, and combination therapy.
The best treatment approach depends on a woman's symptoms and needs. Women without a uterus can take estrogen alone. Those with a uterus need progesterone too, as taking estrogen alone raises cancer risks.
Birth control pills or other forms of hormonal contraception do not treat menopause. Stopping these brings on menopause symptoms faster. Specialized, lower dose therapy is the proper solution.
Estrogen therapy is ideal for women without a uterus. Supplemental estrogen replaces what the body no longer makes itself to relieve unpleasant symptoms.
Available estrogen forms include:
With estrogen alone, a progestogen is not needed. Taking synthetic progestin raises health risks but offers no benefits without a uterus.
Women using estrogen therapy may experience:
Estrogen protects heart health, brain function, and bone strength when used properly in menopausal women. Bloodwork helps set ideal dosage.
Combination therapy contains both estrogen and progestin. This approach is necessary for women with an intact uterus to avoid potential uterine cancer from extra estrogen exposure.
Forms of combination hormonal therapy include:
Finding the right delivery method and dose schedule involves some trial and error. Many women use combination pills or patches for convenience.
Combination therapy helps relieve hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep issues while also stabilizing moods. It lubricates and thickens vaginal tissue to reduce painful intercourse. Stabilizing hormones minimizes fatigue while fueling motivation and healthy choices.
Bioidentical hormones match natural hormones structurally. They are chemically synthesized from plant compounds. BHRT hormones are not gleaned from animals or synthetic.
Types of bioidentical hormones include:
These come in pills, creams, injections, suppository form, and transdermal patches. Compounded bioidentical hormones are also formulated personalized to each woman’s needs.
BHRT provides a natural solution some women prefer over synthetics. There are fewer reports of side effects. Critics argue there is less safety data on bioidenticals than older regimens. Research shows lower heart and cancer risks than artificial hormones.
When used properly, bioidentical therapy offers an alternative relieving menopause systems safely in the short and long term. Finding a qualified BHRT specialist is key to successfully using natural replacement therapy.
Tracking symptoms and getting bloodwork are vital to diagnosing peri/menopause officially. There is no single test definitively indicating menopause commenced. Doctors review a combination of factors.
Notice if any of the following apply:
Keeping a symptom journal helps. Note what symptoms arise, their severity, and impact over a few months. Bring these details to appointments.
Doctors use blood and urine lab work to help diagnose menopause. Common tests include:
Blood tests
Urine test
Thyroid function
Tracking periods and noting symptoms provides context for bloodwork. Test results explained by a qualified menopause specialist offers the best diagnosis.
Studies show that regular sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps manage thoughts and behaviors, can reduce the severity and frequency of menopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats for some women. CBT provides women tools to manage their perspectives and reactions to their changing bodies.
A healthy lifestyle complements hormone therapy in relieving menopause symptoms and avoiding long term effects of aging. Diet, exercise, stress relief, and social support all help women transition through menopause smoothly.
Eating well keeps energy and moods stable while fueling motivation for staying active. Key diet tips include:
Balance Health Clinic specializes in perimenopause and menopause care for women in Eatontown and surrounding towns. We offer customized treatment plans to fit your needs using the latest therapies.
Our experienced practitioners focus specifically on midlife hormone health. Symptoms are evaluated comprehensively to pinpoint suitable treatment options. We listen to your concerns while explaining details at your pace.
The right therapy improves wellbeing dramatically at this change. We simplify the process to help you feel like yourself again. From hot flash relief to protecting long term health, our individualized care identifies the best interventions for your situation.
We also make testosterone and hormone replacement therapy seamless for men dealing with low testosterone (low T) and related issues. Fatigue, low libido, reduced muscle mass, weight gain, and emotional changes develop over time. Getting needed treatment improves vitality and health. TRT helps men feel healthy and energetic again.
Let us help you navigate menopause or low T smoothly! () to take charge of your health during this transitional life phase.
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