Menopause is a natural transition that all women experience as they age. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is defined as occurring 12 months after a woman's last menstrual period. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause and can begin 8-10 years before a woman's final period.
During perimenopause, estrogen and progesterone levels become irregular and start to decline. This often causes symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and irregular periods. As hormones continue to fluctuate and decline, these symptoms typically become more severe during menopause.
The most common symptoms of menopause include:
In addition to bothersome symptoms, menopause increases risks for certain medical conditions including:
Treating menopause symptoms and reducing long-term health risks are key reasons women may seek care during this transition.
Undergoing menopause treatment can provide immense relief of troublesome symptoms while also minimizing long-term health risks that arise from declining hormones.
Hormone therapy (HT) is the primary treatment approach used during menopause. HT involves taking small doses of estrogen and progesterone to replace what the body is no longer producing.
The key benefits of hormone therapy include:
In short, properly managed hormone therapy can greatly minimize the impact menopause has on a woman's quality of life in the short and long-term.
Since every woman's experience with menopause is unique, the first step is having an evaluation with a menopause specialist.
At The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic, we complete a thorough assessment that covers:
Our team analyzes these key aspects of your menopause transition to determine if hormone therapy or other treatment approaches are warranted. Symptom severity and quality of life impact are weighed heavily in these decisions.
Lifestyle enhancements are also recommended to help lessen the effects of menopause:
If hormone therapy is advised, there are a variety of options and routes of administration to consider:
Tablets - Estrogen and/or progesterone supplements can be taken by mouth in standard tablet form. These pass through the digestive system and are absorbed into the bloodstream.
Skin patches - Transdermal estrogen patches allow hormones to passively diffuse through the skin. Patches help avoid digestive side effects and deliver steady hormone dosing.
Vaginal treatments - Localized, low-dose estrogen creams, tablets or rings directly treat vaginal tissue without significant absorption elsewhere. This limits side effects.
Injections - Estradiol shots or pellets implanted under the skin supply hormones for several months at a time. This avoids frequent dosing needed with pills or patches.
The route that is best depends on your symptoms, health risks, lifestyle and personal preference. Our doctors help determine which option is right for you.
The ultimate goals are stabilizing hormones to:
We start with the lowest effective hormone doses and tweak the approach over time to ensure optimal response. Ongoing monitoring and lab work ensures treatment safety and efficacy.
Most women notice significant symptom relief within 1-3 months of starting properly managed hormone therapy.
Many women are unaware that cooling techniques like using fans, gel packs, or cooling vests can provide relief from hot flashes during menopause. Applying these simple cooling methods to the neck, face, and torso has been shown in studies to quickly reduce the intensity and duration of hot flashes for some women.
Our clinic was founded by Dr. Jane Wells - a national leader and researcher in women's hormone health for over 25 years.
Our specialty-trained practitioners focus exclusively on optimizing hormone balance across the full reproductive lifespan. We have successfully treated thousands of women through perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
You can trust our unmatched experience applying cutting-edge hormonal strategies tailored to your unique needs. We stay up-to-date on the latest medical research to enhance treatment plans and outcomes.
We take time listening to your full health story and concerns. Comprehensive lab testing and clinical interpretation ensures customized therapy regimens.
Ongoing fine-tuning provides optimal hormonal balance as your needs evolve. We work closely with local gynecologists, primary care providers, nutritionists and mental health professionals to enhance care.
Our goal is maximizing your health, quality of life and sense of well-being through this transition and into the years beyond.
We understand the rollercoaster ride of menopause symptoms coupled with life's demands can feel destabilizing and emotional at times. We provide a caring, supportive environment - never rushing visits and responding promptly to issues.
We remain by your side providing reliable answers and solutions during your menopause transition and beyond. This unwavering commitment provides comfort and confidence.
In Conclusion
Our knowledgeable team can address your questions in depth prior to scheduling a new patient appointment.
We look forward to helping guide you through menopause safely and comfortably under our specialized care. Investing in treatment now alleviates symptoms in the short term while optimizing future health - preserving vibrancy, health and wellness during this transition and beyond.
