During perimenopause and menopause, a woman's body experiences many changes as estrogen and progesterone levels decline. This reduction in hormones often leads to symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, mood changes, and more. While menopause is a normal part of aging, the symptoms associated with it can significantly impact one's quality of life. Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options available to help manage symptoms and improve wellbeing during this transition.
Before considering treatment, it's important to have your hormone levels tested by a medical professional. This allows them to get a clear picture of what's going on in your body. Some key hormones that are tested include:
Getting a blood test or saliva test from your doctor can pinpoint which hormones are out of balance for you. This personalized information allows for tailored treatment plans targeting your specific needs.
Hormone therapy (HT) involves taking small doses of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, etc. to supplement the body's declining levels. When initiated close to menopause, hormone therapy has been shown to provide the following benefits:
There are a few different routes through which hormone therapy can be administered:
The process of beginning hormone therapy generally involves:
There are a few standard protocols for administering hormone therapy:
This involves taking just an estrogen supplement, commonly used after hysterectomy or for women without a uterus.
| Treatment | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Tablets | Estrace 0.5mg-2mg or equivalent daily |
| Patch | Climara or Vivelle Dot patch replaced twice weekly |
| Vaginal creams | Premarin vaginal cream 0.5-2g applied 1-3 times per week |
For women with an intact uterus, progesterone is given cyclically or continuously to prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining.
| Regimen | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Cyclic regimen | Estrace 1-2mg daily Prometrium 100-200mg for 12-14 days per month |
| Continuous regimen | Estrace 1-2mg Prometrium 100mg both taken daily without break |
Testosterone gels, pills or patches may be added, especially for treating low libido.
At Rebalance Hormone Clinic, we specialize in providing personalized and effective hormone therapy to help women enjoy life to the fullest during perimenopause and beyond. Our caring, compassionate providers take time to understand your unique needs and goals.
We offer cutting edge saliva testing to accurately identify your individual hormone imbalances, as well as advanced hormone therapies including bioidentical hormones perfectly matched to your body's needs. Convenient telemedicine appointments make it easy to have follow-up visits from the comfort of your home.
Our holistic approach also incorporates customized lifestyle coaching including diet, exercise, stress management and supplement recommendations for optimal hormonal health. We provide ongoing education and support so you fully understand your treatment plan.
Our patients always comment on our welcoming atmosphere and the extra time our practitioners take to answer questions and address concerns. You'll find our caring team is with you every step of the way.
We are proud that over 90% of our patients report a significant improvement in their quality of life and menopause symptoms within 3-6 months of starting therapy. If you're ready to get your hormones back in balance and reclaim your health, contact Rebalance Hormone Clinic today to schedule a consultation.
Despite its proven benefits, hormone therapy is still surrounded by many myths and misconceptions. Let's separate facts from fiction:
Myth: Hormone therapy is unsafe or increases cancer risk. Fact: When started in women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset, numerous studies including the NIH-sponsored WHI trial show hormone therapy is safe for most women.
Myth: Hormones used in therapy are synthetic or artificial. Fact: We use real, bioidentical hormones chemically identical to those naturally produced by the body.
Myth: Hormone therapy causes weight gain. Fact: HT normalizes metabolism and body composition, so any weight gain is usually minimal. A healthy diet and exercise routine can prevent excess weight gain.
Myth: Once started, you have to stay on hormones forever. Fact: You can discontinue therapy anytime, though tapering off over several months is ideal. Any menopause symptoms usually recur upon discontinuation.
Myth: Too much estrogen causes breast cancer. Fact: a balance of estrogen and progesterone does NOT increase breast cancer risk in most women. Only synthetic progestins in PremPro were linked to increased risk.
To get maximum benefits from hormone therapy, incorporate these healthy lifestyle habits:
Hormone changes during menopause don't just affect physical health - mental health is impacted as well. Research shows links between menopause and increased risks for:
Estrogen in particular influences key neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine that regulate mood and cognition. As estrogen drops during menopause, changes in these brain chemicals can lead to the mental health issues listed above.
The good news is that initiating hormone therapy often improves menopausal mental health symptoms along with physical symptoms. Restoring estrogen/progesterone balance enhances mood, memory, concentration, stress resilience and overall emotional wellbeing for most women.
In some cases, additional treatment with antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication or counseling may be needed to fully resolve depressive or anxiety disorders related to menopause. But hormone therapy is often the first line of treatment and provides a strong foundation.
Menopause can significantly impact a woman's libido, sexual function and intimate relationships. Declining estrogen is the main culprit, but low testosterone and progesterone also play a role. Together, these hormone changes can:
Supplemental testosterone treatment provides the most dramatic benefits for libido and sexual performance. But balancing out estrogen and progesterone through hormone therapy can also:
If hormone optimization alone doesn't fully resolve sexual issues, adding medications like sildenafil, counseling, or sex therapy may help overcome remaining barriers to satisfying sex.
Hormone therapy doesn't just alleviate menopause symptoms - it can help slow signs of aging and enhance longevity.
Estrogen strengthens skin collagen and elastin to reduce wrinkles. It also maintains softness and moisture for a more youthful appearance.
Testosterone increases lean muscle mass and bone density leading to more strength, mobility and injury resilience as you age. It also reduces body fat accumulation.
Progesterone promotes restful sleep, stable moods and overall stress resilience for healthy mind-body aging.
All of these hormones help reduce risks for age-related diseases like osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and neurodegeneration when kept in optimal balance through hormone therapy.
Some anti-aging physicians believe bioidentical hormone replacement combined with a healthy lifestyle can potentially extend lifespan by up to 15 years for certain individuals. More research is emerging in this area of "agelessness medicine".
Many celebrities and thought leaders have shared their experiences using hormone therapy in their 40s, 50s and beyond to combat menopause symptoms and aging.
Michelle Obama revealed she is using hormone replacement in her bestselling memoir Becoming - and has never felt better.
Samantha Cattrall (Sex and the City actress), Olivia Winfrey, Jane Foster, and Diana Layne have all openly discussed the benefits hormone therapy provided them during menopause.
Even the late Betty Buchanan (former First Lady) used bioidentical hormones for over 20 years to help her feel her best while gracefully aging in the public eye. "It's not magic, it's just biology," she said.
These women all encourage others to overcome outdated stigmas and learn about hormonal health for optimal aging. As healthcare continues advancing, more and more women are experiencing the benefits of balanced hormones well into their later years.
In Summary
We hope this guide has helped dispel myths and shed light on modern hormonal therapies that can truly transform a woman's experience of menopause and beyond. There are more options now than ever to alleviate symptoms, reduce disease risk, preserve vitality and even extend health lifespan for women in midlife and maturity.
Here at Rebalance Hormone Clinic, we make bioidentical hormone replacement seamless and life-changing with personalized care. Our exceptional practitioners, advanced testing, proven protocols and holistic guidance ensure you'll receive the best care possible. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and reclaim your hormone health!
The future is bright when you optimize and balance your hormones. We look forward to helping you realize your full potential in the years ahead.
