Menopause is a natural transition that all women experience as they age. The term "menopause" refers to the point when a woman's menstrual cycles stop permanently, marking the end of fertility.
Menopause occurs due to decreasing estrogen levels. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries, which contain follicles that store immature egg cells. Over time, the number and quality of follicles declines until they are depleted completely. This causes estrogen production to slow dramatically, resulting in menopause.
The transition to menopause, sometimes called perimenopause, usually begins in a woman's 40s but can start earlier or later. It encompasses the time when hormone levels become irregular but periods continue, until 12 months after the final menstrual period when menopause is confirmed.
Perimenopause lasts an average of four years but differs widely between women. Fluctuating hormone levels during this transition can cause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and mood changes.
Managing symptoms and getting support during the menopausal transition can help ease this change of life. Optimal Hormone Wellness Center provides specialized care for all stages before and after menopause.
The extent and severity of menopause symptoms varies between women. Common signs include:
Hot flashes are sudden feelings of intense body heat, flushing, and sweating, lasting from 30 seconds up to several minutes. Night sweats are hot flashes occurring at night. Up to 80% of women experience hot flashes during menopause.
Declining estrogen thins vaginal tissues and reduces elasticity, natural lubrication, and acidity. This can cause vaginal dryness, irritation, itching, and painful intercourse. Some women also have more frequent urinary tract infections.
Hot flashes and night sweats often disrupt sleep. Some women also experience insomnia independent of hot flashes. Poor sleep exacerbates other menopausal symptoms like fatigue, mood changes, and trouble concentrating.
Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, and depression may occur due to shifting hormones, sleep issues, and stress. There is growing evidence that decreased estrogen and progesterone directly impact mood regulators in the brain.
The experienced providers at Optimal Hormone Wellness Center evaluate all menopausal symptoms to create customized treatment plans. We help women understand what to expect during the menopausal transition and how to best alleviate bothersome symptoms for better wellbeing.
Menopause occurs because of an overall drop in sex hormones. Allowing hormones to remain low long-term poses health risks for women.
With declining estrogen, many tissues in the body receive signals to accelerate aging. Consequences may include:
The small amount of the "male" hormone testosterone normally present plays key roles for wellbeing in women. Testosterone helps:
Optimal Hormone Wellness Center monitors patients for signs of hormone deficiencies. We provide bioidentical estrogen, testosterone, and other therapies based on lab testing and symptoms to counteract deficiencies. Staying proactive preserves health and quality of life after menopause.
Any bothersome signs of menopause may warrant treatment, especially vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats) and vaginal atrophy. Reasons to seek help include:
At Optimal Hormone Wellness Center, we specialize in relieving discomfort and improving wellbeing during menopause. Our compassionate providers design therapies catered to each woman’s needs and preferences.
Studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be as effective as hormone therapy at reducing troublesome menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings and sleep disturbances. CBT helps women change their thought patterns and behaviors related to menopause instead of relying solely on medications.
Various prescription and over-the-counter therapies can effectively manage troublesome menopause symptoms.
Supplementing the body with estrogen and often progesterone counteracts hormone depletion. This helps stabilize and prevent symptoms. Types of hormone therapy include:
Used alone when a woman has had a hysterectomy. Often prescribed as a skin patch, vaginal cream, tablets or rings.
Progestogen protects the uterine lining. delivery methods include oral tablets, skin patches, gels/creams.
Low dose vaginal tablets, creams and rings treat genitourinary issues only.
The practitioners at Optimal Hormone Wellness Center specialize in hormone replacement including bioidentical hormones customized based on symptoms and lab results. We provide systemic or localized treatment using cutting edge hormone balancing methods.
May be prescribed in small doses to help counteract declining levels. Available as pills, injections, gels and creams. Boosts libido, energy, strength and mood.
Those unable to take hormones have alternative options to find relief:
In addition to specialized hormonal therapies, Optimal Hormone Wellness Center helps women access a wide variety of non-hormonal treatments to manage problematic symptoms during menopause.
Research indicates healthy lifestyle changes enhance wellbeing and ease menopause:
At Optimal Hormone Wellness Center, our practitioners provide personalized guidance to help women adopt beneficial lifestyle and self-care practices during menopause. We empower patients to take an active role in feeling their best.
Optimal Hormone Wellness Center sets ourselves apart by exclusively serving women transitioning into menopause. Our entire team focuses solely on this area of women’s health.
Optimal Hormone Wellness Center strives to walk alongside patients during the transition into menopause. Our purpose is guiding women to the therapies that will help them look and feel their personal best while preventing future health issues. We aim for hormone balance tailored to the individual.
Reclaim vibrancy, refresh your outlook, restore intimacy and contact us today to begin your menopause journey!
