Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through as they age. It marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The average age of menopause is 51, but it can occur earlier or later for some women.
As a woman approaches menopause, her ovaries gradually produce fewer hormones like estrogen and progesterone. This hormonal imbalance is what leads to the various symptoms associated with menopause. Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, trouble sleeping, and weight gain are some of the most common complaints. While menopause is inevitable, women don't have to suffer through the symptoms. There are effective treatment options available, including hormone therapy.
Treating menopause is important for a woman's quality of life. The hormonal changes that occur can significantly disrupt daily activities and cause emotional distress. With the right treatment plan, most symptoms can be reduced or eliminated so women can feel like themselves again.
Some key reasons to consider treatment include:
Hormone therapy (HT), including estrogen alone or combined estrogen and progestin, is the most effective treatment approach for managing debilitating menopause symptoms. HT replaces hormones that decline during menopause to alleviate hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bone loss, and other concerns.
There are several hormone therapy options:
At Hormone Harmony Clinic in Riverside, our physicians have extensive experience using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to treat menopause symptoms and optimize long-term health. Let's explore why BHRT is an excellent option.
Bioidentical hormone therapy provides individualized treatment using hormones that are structurally identical to those naturally produced by the female body. This allows treatment to be tailored to each woman's hormonal needs for a more optimal result. There are many advantages to bioidentical hormone therapy:
The bioidentical hormones used are biologically equivalent to endogenous hormones. Estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA - these are all found naturally in the female body. When used for replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones:
This leads to excellent symptom relief while working synergistically with the body.
Every woman has a unique hormonal makeup, so no "one-size-fits-all" approach will work optimally. With compounded bioidenticals, treatment can be fully customized according to each patient's needs:
This personalization provides more comprehensive relief of menopause symptoms.
Bioidentical hormone therapy is effective for perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women. It can ease the transition into menopause and provide long-lasting symptom relief after menopause.
As women age, their hormonal needs evolve. BHRT offers flexibility to change formulas and doses over time for sustained benefits throughout the menopausal stages.
Some older forms of hormone therapy increased health risks because the oral dosing overwhelmed the liver. The bioidenticals used today bypass that "first pass" effect and allow safe hormone delivery through:
These methods have an excellent safety profile for women needing long-term treatment.
The wide range of menopause symptoms makes hormone therapy an excellent solution. It effectively treats hormonal imbalance at the source for comprehensive relief.
Up to 80% of menopausal women experience hot flashes and/or night sweats from fluctuating estrogen levels affecting the hypothalamus' temperature regulation center.
* Hormone therapy normalizes estrogen levels to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms. Results are often noticed within weeks.
With lower estrogen levels, many women develop vaginal atrophy - thinning of vaginal walls and decreased lubrication. This commonly causes:
* Low-dose vaginal estrogen treats atrophy locally to improve lubrication and restore comfortable intimacy.
Up to 61% of menopausal women struggle with insomnia and poor sleep quality due to night sweats and hormone effects on sleep cycles.
* Hormone therapy helps regulate sleep/wake cycles and reduce night sweats for improved sleep.
Irritability, anxiety, and depression are often experienced during the menopause transition. This is linked to estrogen's impact on stress hormones, neurotransmitters, and receptors that affect mood.
* Restoring hormonal balance helps stabilize mood. Certain delivery methods also offer added mood benefits.
Estrogen supports memory, focus and verbal skills. Menopause-related estrogen decline is associated with "brain fog," memory lapses, and increased dementia risk later in life.
* HT helps sustain estrogen's protective cognitive effects.
Osteoporosis risk escalates during menopause as lower estrogen accelerates bone loss. Up to 30% bone density can be lost in the first 5-7 years after menopause.
* Estrogen therapy maintains bone mineral density to prevent osteoporosis.
With its ability to directly treat this broad range of concerns, hormone therapy greatly improves quality of life and health for menopausal women.
Hormone Harmony Clinic is a leading menopause treatment clinic based right here in Riverside. Our physicians have specialized training in hormone therapy and women's health. We provide comprehensive, individualized treatment to help women enjoy vibrant, symptom-free health during the menopausal transition and beyond.
As a top Riverside menopause clinic, the reasons to choose Hormone Harmony Clinic are plentiful:
If you're ready to explore hormone therapy or want a menopause evaluation, we're excited to help. Getting started is easy:
Step 1: Call Hormone Harmony Clinic or request an appointment online to schedule your new patient visit. We'll answer any initial questions.
Step 2: At your first appointment, we'll conduct a comprehensive evaluation including lab testing to assess your hormone levels, symptoms, and health needs.
Step 3: Our physician will review results and work with you to design a customized treatment plan to get your symptoms under control and help you feel your best during menopause and beyond.
With an easy, streamlined process, we make it convenient to access care. We look forward to helping you live fully and thrive through the menopausal years!
Many women are unaware that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for menopause symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. CBT helps women identify and change negative thought patterns that can exacerbate menopause symptoms. Studies show CBT reduces the frequency of hot flashes by nearly 60% and improves sleep quality. CBT is a proven, drug-free menopause treatment option worth considering.
Riverside boasts a warm Mediterranean climate perfect for an active lifestyle all year round. The average high reaches 90°F during summer and 67°F in winter. With sunshine cooling off in the evenings, it's enjoyable to participate in Riverwalk strolls, arts activities, outdoor dining, and other amenities.
The favorable weather and abundance of healthy living options make Riverside an ideal location to transition through menopause. With hormone therapy from Hormone Harmony Clinic, you can take full advantage of what the city offers during this next life phase.
Riverside enjoys a long growing season and produces amazing locally-grown citrus fruits, vegetables and dates. Take advantage of farmer's markets and food festivals.
Peak tourism season runs November to April. The cooler months are ideal for prolonged outdoor activities, especially December to February when highs average a comfortable 69°F.
Summers are hot so utilize pools, A/C and low-intensity exercise. Schedule therapy visits in the cooler mornings. Indoor activities become preferable June through September.
Overall, Riverside allows an active, healthy lifestyle year-round during menopause. With proper hormone balance from Hormone Harmony Clinic, you'll feel great participating in all this vibrant city offers.
Along with physical symptoms, menopause can negatively impact mental health, mood and relationships. Anxiety, irritability and depression may develop. Intimacy with partners often suffers from vaginal dryness and low libido. At Hormone Harmony Clinic, we take a holistic approach to treatment that addresses your entire well-being.
Mood disorders are common during the menopause transition. Be proactive about mental health:
Reflect on the meaning, purpose and passions in your life:
With some effort, menopause doesn't have to interfere with intimacy in your close relationships:
The professional team at Hormone Harmony Clinic cares about you holistically. We'll provide any referrals needed to manage emotional health, relationships and quality of life during this transition.
Menopause is a natural transition, not a disease. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can minimize discomforts and continue living life fully. At Hormone Harmony Clinic in Riverside, our goal is to help you thrive before, during and beyond menopause.
We offer cutting-edge hormone replacement therapy customized to your needs so you can feel like yourself again. Combined with lifestyle care for optimal wellness, we empower you to take on midlife’s challenges and new opportunities.
Our experienced, caring providers are excited to guide you through the menopause transition. We handle everything from bothersome symptom relief to complex age management. Let us develop an integrative treatment plan so you can feel vibrant andbalanced again soon.
Don't let menopause slow you down. Take charge of your health and call today to schedule your first appointment with Hormone Harmony Clinic in Riverside. We can't wait to help you embrace this next chapter feeling your best!
