Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can occur anytime between the ages of 40-55. As a woman approaches menopause, hormonal fluctuations and declines begin causing symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. These symptoms result from the ovaries making less of the key hormones estrogen and progesterone. While menopause symptoms can significantly disrupt quality of life, the good news is that safe and effective treatment options are available.
Menopause occurs when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and menstruation ceases permanently. This happens because the ovaries have run out of follicles that hold the eggs. Essentially, the body's egg supply has been depleted. The depleted egg supply leads to lower and lower levels of estrogen and progesterone. It is this hormone deficiency that causes problematic symptoms. Menopause is a normal part of aging and not a disorder or illness. However, the timing varies for each woman based on factors like genetics, autoimmune disorders, cancer treatment, and smoking.
There are three stages of menopause that lead up to the final cessation of periods:
Recognizing the stage and its unique symptoms empowers women to seek appropriate treatment.
The spectrum of menopause symptoms varies widely among women. They range from mild to quite disruptive. The timing and duration of symptoms also differs. However, the root of most symptoms is changing estrogen levels. The most common symptoms are:
If multiple symptoms are significantly reducing quality of life, it is prudent to seek menopause treatment.
Leaving menopause symptoms untreated is not advised because it can lead to additional health complications down the road. The two major risks involve bone and heart health.
The cascade effect of menopausal changes underscores why treatment matters so much. At Balanced Hormone Clinic, we empower women to take charge of this transition through comprehensive hormone replacement tailored to their needs.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can provide immense relief for disruptive menopause symptoms. It involves raising estrogen and progesterone levels back to what they were prior to perimenopause. This restores hormonal balance leading to a significant reduction in symptoms for most women. At Balanced Hormone Clinic, our thorough diagnostic testing enables us to formulate the precise bioidentical hormone therapy to fit each woman's unique hormonal needs.
There are a variety of forms of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy:
Our clinic helps determine which method of delivery may work best for each patient based on their physiology and lifestyle.
There are three main types of bioidentical hormones used:
The custom-compounded bioidentical hormones match the natural hormones made by the body. This makes them easier to metabolize and leads to optimal symptom relief.
Studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be as effective as hormone therapy in managing troublesome menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disturbances. CBT helps women identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors related to menopause, improving coping without medication side effects.
Treating menopause requires more than just balancing hormones. Lifestyle factors like nutrition, fitness, stress relief and community support all influence how women experience menopause. That is why Balanced Hormone Clinic utilizes an integrative and holistic approach.
The first step is specialized lab testing to assess a woman's:
This data enables accurate diagnosis of any hormonal imbalances as well as identification of nutritional deficiencies contributing to symptoms.
Armed with diagnostic lab results, our clinicians create a tailored treatment plan designed to:
The treatment plan addresses the whole woman - mind, body and spirit. Lifestyle counseling on nutrition, fitness and stress management complements the customized hormone, supplement and medication regimen.
Menopause treatment requires adjustments over months and years because a woman's needs change during the menopausal transition. We remain partners through this entire process:
Our goal is equipping women with the knowledge, tools and support to thrive through menopause.
Our clinic works with the region's leading menopause specialists to ensure women benefit from up-to-date clinical expertise tailored to their unique needs:
We also collaborate with mental health professionals, fitness trainers, physical therapists, and other experts to address the many facets of menopausal wellness.
As a specialized menopause and hormone therapy clinic, the benefits of entrusting care to Balanced Hormone Clinic include:
We strive to serve as trusted guides throughout each woman's menopause journey. Our goal is equipping every woman with what she needs to thrive.
Recognizing menopausal symptoms promptly and seeking appropriate treatment can make a major difference in short and long-term health. Too often women downplay what they are experiencing. Some key reasons why timely treatment matters include:
Acting quickly at the first onset of symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal changes accelerates relief. It prevents symptoms from spiraling into constant disruptions impairing work, relationships and overall wellness. Treatment works best when started early.
Estrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone mineral density. As it declines, bone loss accelerates. Addressing estrogen deficiency early on with replacement therapy curtails excessive bone loss thereby reducing osteoporosis and fracture risk down the road.
Once women reach menopause, their risk of heart disease spikes to equal that of men. Estrogen helps keep vessels flexible but levels drop after menopause. Early treatment preserves estrogen's vascular benefits by preventing stiffness and plaque accumulation in the vessels lowering cardiac risk.
Over 50 symptoms are tied to menopause from mild to debilitating. Their cumulative impact and the associated health risks make timely treatment so vital. The earlier treatment begins after symptom onset, the better women's chances for full relief and optimal wellness during the menopausal transition and beyond.
In summary, recognizing and treating menopause early maximizes positive health outcomes for women at midlife and beyond. The experienced clinicians at Balanced Hormone Clinic develop personalized plans to ensure women successfully overcome symptoms and thrive through menopause. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit .
