The onset of menopause marks a significant transition period in a woman's life. As estrogen and progesterone levels decline, women may begin experiencing unpleasant symptoms associated with hormone withdrawal. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, trouble sleeping, and weight gain are all common complaints.
While menopause is a natural process that all women go through as they age, the disruptive effects it can have on your physical, mental and emotional well-being are quite real. The good news is that with professional medical guidance, these symptoms can be effectively managed through hormone therapy and other treatment protocols.
At Balanced Hormone Clinic clinic, we specialize in helping women gracefully transition into this next phase of their lives. Our caring team of menopause specialists and doctors who treat menopause take the time to understand your unique situation and health history. We then craft a personalized treatment plan consisting of bioidentical hormone therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and additional therapies that help you thrive during perimenopause and beyond.
Before determining the right course of treatment, we first need to diagnose and confirm you are entering menopause. The onset of menopause is clinically defined as having no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. To assess your hormone levels and menopausal status, we conduct a series of tests:
Blood tests allow us to measure levels of key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, FSH and LH. The ratios between these hormones give us critical insights into ovarian function and fertility.
A pelvic exam allows our doctors to visually assess the health of your reproductive organs. The vaginal walls and cervix are carefully inspected for signs of atrophy and dryness.
Thyroid disorders can exacerbate menopausal symptoms and vice versa. Getting baseline T3, T4 and TSH levels, allows for proper thyroid medication dosing.
While each woman's experience with menopause is unique, the most commonly reported complaints involve:
Hot flashes refer to the intense bursts of heat that radiate through the upper body, typically lasting from 30 seconds to a few minutes. They can strike suddenly, with very little warning. Night sweats often accompany hot flashes, causing profuse sweating throughout the night. Lifestyle adjustments can help reduce severity, but hormone therapy is usually needed for complete relief.
As estrogen levels fall, vaginal tissues can lose elasticity, moisture and pH balance. This atrophy makes intercourse painful and increases susceptibility to infection. We offer both localized estrogen creams and systemic hormone therapy to effectively treat this.
Hormone withdrawal directly impacts key neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA. This can manifest as depression, anxiety, irritability and mood swings. Furthermore, night sweats and hot flashes make sound sleep difficult. We can help stabilize mood and sleep quality through adjustments in hormone dosing protocols.
The body's metabolism slows down with age. Lower hormone levels facilitate fat storage while accelerating muscle loss. Our therapy protocols combined with fitness guidance help counteract this.
The foundation of our menopause treatment approach involves bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). As leaders in the field of anti-aging medicine, we only use natural hormones that are molecularly identical to those made in the human body. This allows us to replace diminishing hormones at precisely the right levels to keep you feeling your best.
Estrogen - Alleviates hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, bone loss Progesterone - Regulates menstrual cycles, aids sleep Testosterone - Boosts libido, energy levels, muscle tone Thyroid - Improves metabolism, body temperature regulation
DHEA - Helps produce other key hormones, improves mood
A surprising new menopause treatment is practicing mindfulness meditation. Studies show that mindfulness meditation can help reduce menopause symptoms like hot flashes, sleep problems, and mood changes. Meditation helps calm the body and mind during this transition, without any side effects.
While BHRT tackles hormonal causes at their root, making certain lifestyle adjustments allows our therapies to work that much better.
Focus your diet on whole, unprocessed foods full of phytoestrogens while limiting sugars, refined carbs and alcohol. Staying hydrated is also key. Consider taking targeted nutritional supplements that support hormonal health.
Chronic stress exacerbates menopausal symptoms by raising inflammation and stress hormones like cortisol. Reduce unnecessary obligations, make time for relaxation, and try calming practices like yoga and meditation.
Weight-bearing and muscle-building exercise preserves bone density while burning excess fat. Aim for 30 minutes daily, incorporating a mix of cardio, strength training and flexibility work. Local gyms like the Christmas Fitness Center cater specially to the needs of menopausal women.
Ensure your bedroom is cool and dark enough for sound slumber. Avoid caffeine past noon, heavy meals before bedtime, and electronic devices at least an hour before trying to fall asleep. Consider taking targeted herbals like valerian root to promote drowsiness.
While we primarily utilize hormone optimization protocols, we have an array of additional therapies that can provide adjunctive relief from disruptive menopausal symptoms:
Herbals like black cohosh, maca root and sage provide gentle, plant-based hormone support. Critical nutrients like magnesium, vitamin D3 and B complex help optimize energy levels.
These provide a time-released delivery of bioidentical hormones directly into the bloodstream, avoiding first pass liver metabolism. Pellet therapy is extremely convenient, only needing replacement every 4-6 months.
As we age, declining growth hormone levels contribute to weight gain while accelerating sarcopenia. Strategically balancing growth hormone helps boost muscle tone and torch excess body fat.
Cutting-edge peptide bioregulators amplify your body's innate healing and rejuvenating capabilities. Helpful options for menopausal women include Epitalon, Thymalin and Endoluten.
We founded Balanced Hormone Clinic right here in Christmas, Florida making us your hometown menopause clinic. The warm sub-tropical climate helps make outdoor living a joy. Our historic small town charm makes Christmas an ideal setting for relaxed living without excessive stress.
As natives, we know all of the best places in Christmas and surrounding Central Florida towns. We take a personalized approach in advising you on local attractions, establishments and activities perfectly suited to your needs and health goals during this transitional life phase.
Let our exceptional team of doctors who treat menopause help guide you through the changes ahead. We pride ourselves on providing thoughtful, individualized care enabling you to continue thriving during perimenopause and beyond!
