Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life when her menstrual periods stop permanently and she can no longer get pregnant. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. During perimenopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones fluctuate and start to decline. This leads to irregular menstrual cycles and bothersome symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and mood changes.
The average age for menopause is 51, but it can happen anytime between the ages of 40 and 55. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has not had her period for 12 consecutive months. The loss of estrogen during menopause causes changes throughout the body like bone loss, heart disease risk, vaginal dryness, bladder issues, and more. Managing symptoms and long-term health risks are key reasons women seek care during the menopause transition.
The wide variety of signs and symptoms women can experience during perimenopause and menopause are primarily caused by estrogen deficiency. Some of the most bothersome and common symptoms are:
In addition to bothersome symptoms that impact quality of life, the estrogen deficiency of menopause also comes with increased long-term health risks like osteoporosis and heart disease. Finding appropriate treatment options becomes essential for both managing troublesome symptoms and minimizing long-term health risks.
Supplementing the body with extra estrogen and progesterone through doctor prescribed hormone therapy continues to be the most effective approach to treat hot flashes and night sweats. The benefits include:
Along with custom blended bioidentical hormone therapy to address common symptoms, lifestyle changes are also recommended at Hormone Harmony Clinic to achieve maximum benefits from treatment. A healthy diet, regular exercise, limiting alcohol intake, practicing stress management, and not smoking have all proven effective in reducing hot flashes and optimizing long-term health after menopause.
There are two main types of hormone therapy:
At Hormone Harmony Clinic, hormone therapy is customized to match each woman's individual needs and preferences. A typical combined regimen to relieve hot flashes includes:
Getting tested to identify any risks and monitor progress is a key part of hormone therapy. Before getting started, bloodwork will check hormone levels to determine if menopause has occurred. Repeat blood tests might also screen for potential health risks that could be affected by hormones like blood clotting issues or heart health. Hormone testing helps identify optimum dosage for treatment. Follow up tests continue to monitor hormone levels and efficacy of relieving symptoms long term without raising any additional risks.
Women experiencing multiple moderate to severe menopause symptoms should seek prompt diagnosis and care. Waiting too long often leads to a progression of symptoms that have a growing negative impact on quality of life. Sleep disruptions from night sweats and hot flashes lead to increased fatigue. Unrelenting complaints like foggy thinking, anxiety, and depression can significantly interfere with relationships and work.
Early intervention with properly managed hormone therapy can curb symptoms, allowing women to feel like themselves again. With the right treatment plan, most women find great relief in as little as 1-3 months after first starting hormones. Regular follow up testing also ensures that dosage is adjusted over time to keep symptoms controlled. As women get older, hormone needs often decrease so remaining vigilant through testing prevents risks associated with hormones being too high.
For over 15 years, Hormone Harmony Clinic has provided personalized medical care to help both women and men optimize declining hormone levels. Our renowned endocrinologists and nurse practitioners have advanced specialty training in age related hormonal imbalances, including menopause and perimenopause. We are experts in navigating the unique needs of each patient to minimize symptoms and promote better health during this transitional phase of life.
Every step of care from diagnosis through developing customized treatment plans to continued follow up is handled directly in-house by our compassionate medical team. We listen carefully to understand lifestyle and symptom challenges in order to create integrative plans suited to each patient's health history and goals. In addition to hormone therapy, our holistic approach addresses diet, exercise, stress management, and key nutrient levels that all impact hormone balance.
When it comes to relieving menopause symptoms, women deserve highly personalized care from top hormone experts. Hormone Harmony Clinic delivers unmatched service with:
We simplify menopause care by handling the entire process in one place - no referrals needed. From evaluation to developing treatment plans to managing progress, our dedicated staff personally guide each patient every step of the way. We work closely with local gynecologists while also remaining readily available with direct access to leading hormone specialists.
Hormone Harmony Clinic invites you to join the thousands of women who have successfully overcome frustrating menopause symptoms through our individualized care. Call today to schedule an initial consultation and discover how our integrative approach can help you thrive during the menopausal transition.
Before developing customized hormone therapy, key lab tests help evaluate menopause status and address any risks. Monitoring testing also continues during treatment to ensure efficacy and safety.
Common lab screens at Hormone Harmony Clinic include:
- Cholesterol - Estrogen helps keep cholesterol levels in balance, so numbers may rise around menopause increasing heart disease risk.
- Blood sugar - The estrogen drop of menopause correlates to decreased insulin sensitivity and increased Type 2 diabetes risk.
- Bone density - Falling estrogen accelerates bone loss leading to osteoporosis. Getting a baseline bone density test helps predict future fracture risk.
Follow up blood tests track progress on therapy by measuring hormone levels, cholesterol counts, blood pressure, blood sugar, and any additional health risks associated with hormone imbalance. Testing frequency ranges from monthly to annually depending on the treatment plan to ensure efficacy and safety.
Many women going through menopause find that certain foods like soy, flaxseeds, and tofu can help reduce hot flashes and night sweats. The phytoestrogens in these foods may mimic weak estrogen activity in the body and provide mild relief from menopausal symptoms without medication.
In addition to tailored hormone therapy, making certain lifestyle changes helps women maximize symptom relief and long-term health as they transition through perimenopause and menopause. Our providers work closely with patients to make exercise, diet, and stress reduction integral parts of treatment plans based on personal needs and health history. We also provide referrals to local wellness businesses for added support services.
Regular exercise benefits hormonal transitions in multiple ways:
Hormone Harmony Clinic recommends at least 30 minutes daily of sustained low-to-moderate intensity exercise such as:
We have strong partnerships with Longview fitness centers like Riverside Athletics Club and Peak Fitness Glo that offer specialized senior classes and amenities suited to menopausal women, including indoor heated pools for year round water exercise. Our providers help determine safe, realistic exercise plans based on current fitness level and any health limitations. We also provide guidance around cold weather gear for enjoying outdoor activities during winter months. Regular follow up at our clinic tracks progress toward meeting personalized goals.
Maintaining a healthy diet through perimenopause and menopause promotes:
Our team provides nutritional guidance that targets the needs of transitioning women over 40, including eating plans tailored to any existing medical conditions. We give advice around foods and supplements that help strengthen bones, balance hormones, stabilize blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. Some key diet recommendations include:
We also offer referrals to meet with local registered dietitians who provide customized meal planning, weight loss guidance, grocery shopping education, and speciality diet recommendations that align with Hormone Harmony Clinic protocols. These additional services help patients achieve nutrition goals.
It's well proven that high stress levels aggravate menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, bladder problems, and forgetfulness. Adopting regular stress relief practices provides huge quality of life improvements by:
Our clinic teaches healthy coping techniques like:
We also refer patients to therapeutic services across Longview for extra support like acupuncture, massage therapy, reflexology, and counseling. Combining hormone therapy with proven stress management gives women the best chance of overcoming symptoms for restored energy, mood, and wellbeing during the menopause transition.
Through compassionate care centered around the unique needs of each woman, Hormone Harmony Clinic transforms frustrating menopause symptoms into improved health, happiness, and quality of life. Call today to learn more or set up a consultation to get started.
