Menopause signals a transition in a woman's reproductive cycle, marking the end of menstruation and fertility. The average age of menopause is 51, but it can occur anywhere from 40-55 years old. As estrogen and progesterone levels decline during the years leading up to menopause (perimenopause) and after, women may experience unpleasant symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life.
Some of the key changes associated with menopause include:
These changes often drive women to seek treatment during the menopausal transition. Left untreated, certain issues like bone loss can lead to osteoporosis later in life. Thankfully, various treatment options exist to help alleviate symptoms and promote long-term health.
Pinpointing when menopause starts can be tricky. The beginning of the menopausal transition is called perimenopause and comes with fluctuating hormone levels. Irregular periods are one of the first signs. Periods may be shorter, longer, or heavier than usual. They eventually taper off completely leading up to menopause.
Blood tests help diagnose menopause by measuring levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol. An FSH level above 25 to 30 mIU/mL and estradiol below 50 pg/mL is typical of menopause. Testing FSH and estradiol yearly helps determine where a woman is in the menopausal transition.
Some of the key changes associated with menopause include:
Women may experience short episodes of intense heat and sweating. Managing hot flashes involves dressing in layers, lowering room temperatures, avoiding triggers like spicy food or alcohol, and perhaps using prescription treatments.
Lower estrogen can lead to thinning vaginal tissue and dryness. Non-hormonal lubricants or localized estrogen creams or tablets offer relief in mild cases. More bothersome symptoms may require prescription estrogen therapy.
The menopausal transition is associated with changes in stress hormones and neurotransmitters affecting mood. Practicing relaxation techniques like yoga and making time for enjoyable hobbies can help. In some cases of moderate depression and anxiety, medication or counseling will provide needed support.
Treatment for menopause depends on a woman's age and health status, as well as the severity of her symptoms. The main reason women seek treatment is for relief of symptoms that significantly disrupt their quality of life. Promoting long-term health through the management of certain conditions like osteoporosis is another important reason. The two main treatment options include:
Lifestyle factors like avoiding triggers, practicing relaxation skills to manage stress, consuming a nutritious and balanced diet, participating in regular exercise appropriate for one's fitness level, and engaging in enjoyable social activities offer safe additions to medical treatment. Every woman needs to find the right treatment plan with her healthcare provider based on her needs and health profile.
Balance Hormone Clinic
For decades, hormone therapy (HT) with estrogen alone or with progesterone has served as the gold standard for treating troublesome menopause symptoms. HT effectively treats:
Hot flashes and night sweats - Random bouts of sweating and flushing discomfort up to 80% of menopausal women. Adding progesterone lowers efficacy slightly, but still offers substantial relief.
Vaginal symptoms - Estrogen improves elasticity and moisture by thickening the vaginal lining. This relieves discomfort with sex, sometimes as rapidly as a few weeks after starting treatment. Localized vaginal estrogen application has a great safety profile with minimal systemic absorption.
Emotional health - Estrogen therapy lifts mood, increases energy, lowers anxiety, and ameliorates depression for some women struggling with emotional health at menopause.
Osteoporosis - Estrogen therapy promotes bone-protecting cells and lowers bone turnover to maintain bone mineral density (BMD). This prevents fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and may slow bone loss in recently menopausal women as well.
Balance Hormone Clinic uses cutting edge bioidentical hormones including estradiol, estrone, and progesterone in creams, pills, pellets, or patches to provide patients with flexible and personalized care. Patients appreciate the nuanced expertise our endocrinologists specializing in menopause apply to create customized regimens meeting their unique needs. We help each patient balance effectiveness, safety, affordability, and convenience to optimize her experience.
Hormone therapy comes with potential health risks that require consideration before starting treatment. Balance Hormone Clinic practitioners carefully evaluate patients for risks like:
Risks are low with estrogen-only therapy, minimal systemic absorption (creams, low dose patches), and in younger women within 10 years of menopause. Combining estrogen with progesterone raises breast cancer risk slightly. Using the lowest effective HT doses further promotes safety.
Despite these risks, the benefits often outweigh potential harms for women with symptoms negatively impacting their day-to-day lives. Appropriate patients using modern low-dose bioidentical hormones find symptom relief with minimal chance of adverse effects. Each woman deserves individualized care from a knowledgeable menopause specialist weighing how HT can provide her the best results.
Discovering the perfect hormone therapy regimen takes time, patience, and expert guidance. Balance Hormone Clinic physicians recognize bioidentical hormones work differently for each patient based on factors like:
We collaborate with patients to uncover the preparations (cream, pills, pellets, patches), doses, and specific hormones leading to optimal response with minimal side effects. Frequent follow up and communication facilitates this process until patients feel their best.
Alongside HT, patients receive guidance on lifestyle optimization strategies promoting even better experience:
This comprehensive approach delivers transformative results. Patients often describe feeling:
In essence, we restore and revitalize women to continue pursuing their passions during the next exciting chapter of their lives! We also set them on the path for healthy aging to come.
As leading endocrinologists specializing in menopause, Balance Hormone Clinicians offer North Texans personalized, evidence-based hormone therapy restoring wellness for women in perimenopause and postmenopause. We provide:
Cutting Edge Bioidentical Hormones - Using pharmacy-quality hormones identical to those naturally occurring, we create customized preparations meeting patient treatment goals and preferences.
Collaborative Care - Through respectful, compassionate communication, we empower women to share in creating their care plans.
Holistic Support - Patients receive therapeutic lifestyle counseling addressing factors like nutrition, fitness, and stress management alongside hormone therapy.
Prompt Access - We offer next day appointments to initiate care quickly after bothersome symptoms arise.
The Southlake area serves as an ideal home for our clinic, since its warm climate lends itself to outdoor activities beneficial during treatment. Walking paths around picturesque Southlake Town Square provide a serene backdrop for the strolls clinicians recommend staying active. Nearby fitness studios like Cyclebar, CorePower Yoga, and Orangetheory host classes supporting strength and peace of mind.
For women seeking expertise navigating their transition away from fertility safely toward their next chapter of whole-person health and purpose, Balance Hormone Clinic Southlake offers a trusted destination for individualized hormone therapy and compassionate care. We look forward to nurturing lasting vitality and vibrance befitting our community's active culture.
Rather than silently tolerating frustrations from menopausal symptoms, we encourage women to promptly seek diagnosis and therapy from specialists like Balance Hormone Clinic endocrinologists. Effective solutions exist! Starting treatment quickly prevents worsening mood, relationships, health, and one's overall sense of wellbeing.
Women commonly endure menopausal symptoms months to years before speaking up. Reasons for delay include:
Yet scientifically safe and effective options now exist! Open communication allows tailoring care to one's unique needs and goals while avoiding problems down the road.
Left untreated, issues tend to compound:
Mood changes also strain relationships with partners, friends, and coworkers failing to grasp the biological impacts of menopause. Experiencing irritation, anxiety, isolation, or despair during an already challenging transition becomes increasingly hard.
Thankfully Balance Hormone Clinic compassionately guides women in optimizing menopausal health through expert diagnosis, counseling, and individualized treatment including hormone therapy or alternatives fitting one's needs. Patients gaining control over symptoms often wish they had reached out sooner!
As a specialized hormone clinic operating locally in Southlake since 1999, Balance Hormone Clinicians focusing exclusively on endocrinology bring uniquely tailored mastery of bioidentical hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause management.
With insurance changes and trends favoring impersonal mega-systems focused on profit over relationships, women appreciate our private pay, boutique practice offering amenities facilitating an optimal experience.
We exclusively provide multi-specialty endocrinology, and within that field specifically focus on hormone therapy for sexual wellness and menopause. Patients benefit from our extensive expertise.
We limit new patients weekly to ensure adequate time understanding patient concerns while considering all therapeutic options. Visits never feel rushed.
We also understand the practical implications of menopausal symptoms damaging joy within marriages, catalyzing divorce, or negatively impacting work productivity. Helping patients safeguard their relationships and professional goals therefore motivates our responsive, individualized care.
