Menopause & Perimenopause

Proper hormone function is critical to optimal health, and the balance between each different hormone we produce is a delicate symphony which requires careful observation & testing to achieve the perfect balance. The balance of hormones changes over time, and each different stage of life will require a different approach to keeping your body in a state of optimal wellness.

As we age our bodies production of hormones slowly declines. This process can happen naturally and gracefully in some, but more commonly we see external factors such as diet, activity level, chronic stress and good old genetics lead to rapid declines and severely imbalanced states. While the most common symptoms arise in women between the ages of 40 to 60 experiencing peri-menopause, the multitude of people and conditions affected by hormone imbalance is astounding.

Serious hormone imbalances can occur at any age, and often present with some or many of the symptoms listed below, but the most common time for things to go off the rails is during the perimenopausal period, and into menopause. Perimenopause can be a much longer time than most realize, sometimes lasting 10-15 year, and beginning even when your periods are still regular. Getting treatment started early helps prevent a much more difficult menopausal transition later on.

Testing & Treatment

First, your hormone imbalances will be evaluated with a careful history and physical exam. Second, testing by blood, saliva or urine may be recommended to get a clearer picture or what is going on in your body. After this we will begin treatment to correct your imbalances – this may start with diet, exercise, nutrient and herbal medicine, or we may recommend going straight into bio-identical hormone replacement.

If you are post menopausal and certain of your desire to begin treatment with BHRT, we will get serum blood work done through Life Labs after your first visit, and follow up with repeat testing about 3 months after your treatment has started. Your doses may be adjusted several times based on how you are feeling as well as your test results, until we reach the perfect balance.

Treatment Options

• Diet – Eating a diet that is low in inflammation can help reduce many of the symptoms of menopause. It is especially helpful with hot flashes, to reduce sugar, simple carbs and alcohol intake.

• Lifestyle – Reduce your stress! This is not always easy, but we can help you find strategies to incorporate mindfulness and self care into your routine.

• Supplements – We have many options for nutritional supplements that can help you lower inflammation and stress levels – when diet and lifestyle are not enough. We may also recommend herbal medicines that help to balance hormones safely and naturally.

• Bio-Identical Hormones – In some cases, using prescription hormones may be necessary to erase your symptoms.  But these are not the same medicines that you often think when hormones come to mind, these are safe and extremely effective natural remedies that are made to function just like your natural hormones do.

Bio-Identical vs. Synthetic Hormones

Bio-identical hormones are derived from natural sources and mimic the exact same hormones that your body produces. They have been shown to be safer and more effective than synthetic hormones in a number of studies. These are NOT your mother’s or grandmother’s hormones and you need not have the same fears they had for side effects and risks.

The synthetic hormones that have been used in conventional medicine for decades have a significantly different molecular structure than our own hormones. So while they can relieve some of the symptoms associated with hormone deficiencies, they often produce unwanted side effects and increased risks for cancers and cardiovascular disease.

Bio-identical estrogen is always prescribed in a cream form, that is applied either to the chest, thighs, wrists or vaginally in some cases. The transdermal approach allows us to bi-pass what is call ‘first pass metabolism’, which leads to less hazardous bi-products and less stress on the liver. Progesterone can be given in transdermal or oral forms, depending on your particular concerns.

Read more about Bio-Identical Hormones Here