The transition into menopause, often called perimenopause, starts for most women in their late 40s to early 50s. It is defined as the time when menstrual periods become irregular as hormone levels naturally decline with age. The key hormones affected are estrogen and progesterone.
A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months. The average age for the final menstrual period is 51, but it can happen earlier or later depending on the individual.
Many women experience symptoms related to these changing hormone levels both before and after menopause officially begins. Common issues include:
Estrogen in particular helps regulate body temperature and keep vaginal tissues supple. So declining estrogen is primarily responsible for hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal symptoms.
Progesterone supports healthy sleep, mood stability, and mental sharpness. So drops in progesterone can negatively impact these areas.
While menopause symptoms can significantly disrupt quality of life in the short term, hormone changes after menopause also have significant long term health impacts that should not be overlooked.
Estrogen plays an important role in bone health by helping to regulate bone-building cell activity. During the first few years after menopause, women can lose up to 20% of their bone density due to plummeting estrogen levels. This leads to a major increase in osteoporosis risk.
Weak, brittle bones and an increased susceptibility to bone fractures are the hallmarks of osteoporosis. Vertebral fractures in particular can cause ongoing back pain, loss of height, and spinal deformities.
Natural estrogen offers some protection against heart disease in younger women. So in the postmenopausal years, heart disease risk in women starts to climb at a steeper rate. Cholesterol levels also tend to rise after menopause, compounding this risk.
There is growing evidence that the hormone changes of menopause may increase a woman's chance of developing Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia later in life. Estrogen in particular seems to have protective and supportive effects on memory centers in the brain.
Given the disruptive short-term symptoms and serious long-term health risks associated with menopause, seeking treatment is important for many women. The main goal of treatment is restoring balance to hormone levels to alleviate symptoms and provide protection.
Hormone therapy (HT) that supplies the body with estrogen, progesterone, or both is the primary treatment approach. When it is properly timed and individualized, HT can provide immense symptom relief while also delivering ongoing health benefits related to bone, brain, and heart health.
There are risks and side effects associated with HT that require discussion with your doctor. But for most women under 60 who are within 10 years of menopause onset, the benefits of HT often outweigh the risks when used for less than 5 years.
There are many delivery methods and dosing schedules to choose from with HT. The most common options include:
Optimal Hormone Wellness Center is a top menopause and hormone therapy clinic serving the Carrollton area. We have proudly helped hundreds of local women find relief from debilitating symptoms and reduced long-term health risks through customized hormone therapy plans.
Our clinic specializes exclusively in hormone-related issues surrounding perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. We offer a level of expertise that is unmatched in the region.
Our medical director Dr. Jane Wells has over 20 years of experience working with menopause patients. She stays closely up-to-date on all the latest research and treatment approaches.
We never take a one-size-fits all approach at Optimal Hormone Wellness Center. Our specialized lab testing analyzes your unique hormone profile. Then we craft customized therapy plans using bioidentical hormones that are precisely matched to your body’s needs.
Follow-up testing allows us to continually monitor your hormone balance and make adjustments over time. We also collaborate closely with your primary doctor on an ongoing basis.
Menopausal hormone therapy is most effective when combined with lifestyle changes that support hormone health and reduce risk factors.
So we offer holistic guidance on diet, exercise, stress management, and other areas tailored to your needs. We can connect you with registered dietitians, personal trainers, counselors, meditation teachers and other wellness professionals.
We also provide workshops, support groups, and other resources to help you take charge of your health during this transition.
Our beautiful Carrollton clinic offers a tranquil, spa-like setting that promotes relaxation during your appointment.
We also have an on-site blood draw lab for fast test results. Plus we offer telehealth appointments to maximize flexibility.
Studies show that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be as effective as hormone therapy for improving some menopause symptoms. CBT helps women cope with hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances by changing thought patterns and behaviors - a drug-free approach with lasting benefits.
The first step in treating menopausal hormone issues is properly diagnosing any imbalances through lab testing. This allows us to identify deficient hormones for targeted treatment.
We use advanced testing that goes far beyond the standard test panels to uncover subtle shortages affecting your symptoms. Key tests may include:
Ideal estradiol range: 30-400 pg/mL
Ideal progesterone range: 1-25 ng/mL
Ideal testosterone range: 15-70 ng/dL
Testosterone deficiency is increasingly recognized as a contributor to low libido, fatigue, mood disorders and other menopausal issues.
Thyroid, DHEA, cortisol and other hormone levels that impact menopause may also be checked.
There are compelling reasons to promptly seek treatment for menopausal hormone imbalance symptoms:
The bottom line is there are significant advantages to swiftly addressing the effects of shifting postmenopausal hormone levels through treatment. Doing so can help ensure this transition does not trigger prolonged or excessive health deterioration that cannot be fully reversed later.
Optimal Hormone Wellness Center is ready to be your partner through the menopause transition by correctly diagnosing any hormone imbalances, creating a personalized treatment plan, regularly monitoring your hormone profile, modifying your therapy as needed over time, and offering holistic lifestyle guidance.
We are dedicated to delivering complete, compassionate care so you can feel and function at your best during perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical versions of the estrogen, progesterone and testosterone naturally made by the ovaries and adrenal glands. They are custom-formulated to match your individual hormone profile. So they can restore optimal balance more precisely than conventional hormones.
Spring and fall tend to be ideal seasons to initiate hormone therapy in Texas. This avoids the hot summer months where symptoms may be more erratic or extreme. It also prevents using therapy alone to mask symptoms in winter without balancing base hormone levels.
We have partnerships with several local labs like Carrollton Medical Laboratory and Prima Laboratory. Once your first appointment is made, we will send you detailed pre-testing instructions.
Regular exercise, stress reduction practices, alcohol moderation, smoking cessation, treatment for insomnia if present, and attention to bone & heart health nutrition all help. We offer guidance in all these areas. Local resources like the Dan Rose Meditation Center can also provide support.
We hope this overview has shown how properly addressing the hormonal changes surrounding menopause is crucial for women’s health and quality of life in the short and long term. Optimal Hormone Wellness Center stands ready to guide you through this transition with individualized, cutting edge hormone therapy and holistic lifestyle support.
Call us today to schedule your initial consultation where we will listen carefully to your symptoms and health goals, then outline a treatment plan catered to your unique needs. Located in the heart of Carrollton with a spa-like setting, specialized expertise, and advanced testing capabilities, we are committed to delivering life-changing care with compassion from start to finish.
