Menopause is a natural transition that every woman experiences as she reaches midlife, marking the end of fertility. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. This transition typically begins between ages 45 and 55. As ovaries produce less of the key female hormones estrogen and progesterone, periods become irregular and eventually stop completely. Declining estrogen levels drive a variety of bothersome signs and symptoms. Understanding what to expect during the menopausal transition can help women seek timely treatment.
Many women first notice changes in their menstrual cycle during perimenopause. Periods may be heavier, happen more frequently, or become unpredictable. Other common symptoms include sudden sensations of heat called hot flashes, often accompanied by night sweats and disruptive sleep issues. As estrogen drops, tissues like the vagina and urethra lose elasticity leading to vaginal dryness, pain with intercourse, increased urinary tract infections, and urinary incontinence in some women.
Shifting hormone levels also influence mood and thinking abilities for some women. Irritability, anxiety, sadness, difficulty concentrating, memory issues and brain fog have been linked to the changes of menopause. Unwanted weight gain, hair thinning, skin changes, and loss of breast fullness may also occur as estrogen declines. Many women also experience a decrease in libido and less sexual satisfaction during this transition.
Prompt evaluation and diagnosis of menopause allows for earlier treatment to alleviate symptoms that interfere with physical, sexual, emotional, and cognitive health. The skilled physicians and staff at Elite Hormone Health provide compassionate care for women navigating this transition.
Many women seek treatment during perimenopause and menopause to gain relief from disruptive symptoms. When FDA-approved bioidentical hormones are dosed properly based on a woman's needs and risks, numerous benefits have been demonstrated including:
Initiating hormone therapy near menopause has also demonstrated valuable protective effects for some women:
Elite Hormone Health physicians thoughtfully prescribe individualized hormone regimens, carefully weighing risks and benefits for symptom relief, disease prevention, and improved quality of life during the menopause transition and beyond.
As leaders in menopause medicine, the expert physicians at Elite Hormone Health adhere to science-based best practices in our clinic. We begin with an extensive review of a woman's health history, family history of disease, symptom profile, areas of concern, lifestyle habits, preferences, and goals related to treatment.
Our physicians perform a comprehensive physical exam, including a thorough pelvic evaluation, clinical breast exam, heart and lung auscultation, and body composition analysis. We obtain baseline laboratory tests to identify risks or issues related to genetics, metabolism, thyroid imbalance, anemia, cancer, osteoporosis, heart disease, and more.
Standard baseline labs include:
Based on each woman’s health profile, our physicians may recommend additional diagnostic tests:
Ongoing monitoring is key for safe, effective hormone therapy. Follow up tests are performed 1-2 times per year, including mammograms as age-appropriate, to ensure treatment is optimized.
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There are numerous types, potencies, doses, and delivery methods available for bioidentical postmenopausal hormone therapy. Treatment must be highly individualized based on the timing of menopause onset, severity of symptoms, effects on relationships and work, health priorities, risk factors, family history, genetics, hormone levels, metabolic status, lifestyle habits, preferences, and more.
Elite Hormone Health physicians devote extensive time to educating patients while thoughtfully developing a personalized prescription aimed at relieving symptoms, restoring balance, preventing disease, and improving woman's quality of life in a safe manner. We partner closely with compounding pharmacies to access specialized bioidentical hormones in multiple delivery methods not commercially available.
Commonly prescribed hormones and regimens include:
We thoughtfully adjust dosing and types of hormones to meet each woman's needs while monitoring for potential side effects. Our doctors have advanced specialty training to help patients wean off hormone therapy when ready or transition to lower risk regimens after several years when indicated. We also address other common health issues like thyroid disorders, metabolic syndromes, inflammation, stress, fatigue, sexual health concerns, preventive care, nutrition advice and supplement recommendations complementing hormone treatments.
In addition to evidence-based treatment plans utilizing bioidentical hormones, Elite Hormone Health doctors educate women on certain beneficial lifestyle adjustments that can amplify a positive response:
Having good social support and a positive mindset also help women successfully transition through perimenopause into menopause. Elite Hormone Health offers an array of helpful in-person and online resources such as workshops, community talks, newsletters, and more to support, inform, and empower patients throughout their wellness journey.
