Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through, marking the end of a woman's menstrual cycles. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause, which is when hormonal fluctuations and symptoms often begin. This transitional time typically starts for women in their late 40s and early 50s.
On average in the United States, women experience menopause around age 51, but it can happen earlier or later depending on many factors. During perimenopause and menopause, levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone start to decline in the body due to the ovaries producing less of these hormones. Lower hormone levels cause changes that often lead to common menopausal symptoms.
Fluctuating and eventually lower amounts of estrogen and progesterone cause a variety of symptoms and changes during perimenopause and menopause. These impacts can vary greatly from woman to woman, with some experiencing mild effects and others more severe. Types of symptoms include:
Other issues like hair thinning, skin changes, heart health impacts, brain fog, headaches, joint pain, and weight gain may also happen during this transition. Paying attention to symptoms and getting needed support can help women navigate menopause changes more smoothly.
Menopause hormone therapy (MHT), also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT), can provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms when tailored to a woman's needs. Estrogen therapy with or without progesterone (often bioidentical hormones) boosts waning hormone levels. When hormones are properly balanced again, many bothersome menopause symptoms subside.
MHT is highly effective at easing hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and pain, sleep issues, bone loss, and mood instability during perimenopause and menopause. Our experienced providers examine health history and risk factors and then determine appropriate therapies for symptom relief with close follow-up monitoring.
The goal of Balance Hormone Clinic' menopause treatments is helping patients feel like themselves again by:
Our providers carefully evaluate patients and monitor therapies to maximize benefits and safety. Follow-up blood tests, health assessments, and dosage adjustments ensure optimal treatment courses tailored to each woman. We believe custom-fit menopause therapies lead to the best outcomes.
MHT regimens utilize various forms of estrogen and progesterone to restore hormone levels. Main therapy categories include:
Estrogen therapy replenishes estrogen in order to relieve hot flashes, night sweats, *vaginal atrophy symptoms (dryness, discomfort, pain), and supports heart and bone health. Multiple estrogen forms and dosing methods provide options for custom-fit plans.
Common types of estrogen therapy are:
For women with a uterus who take estrogen therapy, an added progestogen protects against uterine overgrowth and cancer risk. Synthetic progesterone or similar acting compounds can be taken as a pill, injection, skin gel/cream, intrauterine device, or implant. This is called combination hormone therapy.
Progestogen therapy options include:
"Bioidentical" refers to plant-derived hormones that are chemically identical to the estrogen and progesterone naturally made by the body. Derived from soybeans & yams, these are popular for versatility in customizing treatment based on each woman's changing needs.
Bioidentical hormones come in many forms: Pills, powders, injections, creams, gels, implants, sprays, etc. Compounded at specialty pharmacies, combinations and doses can be adjusted and tweaked over time more finely than commercial products allow.
Starting menopausal hormone therapy begins with health evaluations determining what regimen can provide symptom relief while minimizing risks based on history and needs. Follow-up care ensures evolving treatment effectiveness and safety.
Initial visits & assessments establish baselines for tailoring long-term treatment plans which are monitored and adjusted at ongoing follow-ups.
Protocols for beginning therapy often start with:
Follow-up blood tests help gauge progress. Patients give feedback about ongoing symptom relief versus side effects. Tweaks to formulations and doses continue as needed into maintenance phases.
Catching perimenopausal shifts early allows for better easing of transition into menopause. Tracking subtle changes helps identify declining hormones needing support before symptoms escalate and potentially impact health long-term.
Being proactive about menopause care means fewer struggles with sleeping, dramatic hot flashes, mood swings, pain, infectious risks, and bone loss down the line when imbalances are more pronounced. We help decode complex symptoms to determine optimal therapies for this critical transition time.
Women notice menopause symptoms on average 4-5 years before periods end. Perimenopausal hormone fluctuations often start gradually in the mid-40s. If you notice these signs of waning estrogen/progesterone, meet with us to discuss options even before missing periods:
The earlier hormones are assessed, the sooner we can counteract drops leading to worse symptoms. Be in touch at first signs of perimenopause before discomforts escalate. Finding the right treatment helps ease this transition for improved wellbeing.
Studies show that some women going through menopause find relief from uncomfortable symptoms through alternative therapies like acupuncture and aromatherapy. These non-hormonal treatments can help alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes for some women without the side effects of medications.
You have options for safetly navigating changing hormones during midlife. So, why choose Balance Hormone Clinic for your menopause treatment needs? What sets our compassionate woman-focused care apart?
Our board certified women's health nurse practitioners (NPs) offer top-level expertise in perimenopause and menopause care. Specialized for over a decade solely in hormone therapies for women, our NPs stay sharp through constant education on the latest advancements.
Complex nuanced women's health transitions require sharp analytical skills and keen instincts. Our NPs have finely tuned abilities to assess subtle shifts and determine solutions for relief while preventing over-interventions. Compassion comes first when women feel vulnerable, overwhelmed by changing hormones affecting multiple aspects of health and self.
Every woman has a unique menopause journey depending on health histories, backgrounds, symptom profiles and risk factors. Our individualized care philosophy rejects one-size-fits all therapies.
What works for your best friend might fail for you and vice versa. Beyond hormone changes, lifestyle elements like diet, exercise, and stress levels impact how you experience menopause. Your treatment integration depends on all interrelated factors.
Our NPs listen attentively to understand your whole health picture before designing a treatment plan aligned to your needs for the best outcome success and safety. Follow-ups refine therapies over time adapting to your evolving hormonal transitions.
You want a pleasant experience each visit while dealing with a vulnerable life phase. Our Annapolis office provides a convenient hometown atmosphere staffed by friendly clinicians invested in women's wellbeing. Appointment conversations feel more like trusted friend talks than cold clinical encounters.
Our NPs answer every question, explain confusing concepts, and describe what to expect compassionately. We aim to fully support women feeling unsure about the road ahead. Menopause can make you feel alone, but having knowledgeable advocates there with you each step eases uncertainties.
Come see for yourself the Balance Hormone Clinic difference! Contact us when menopause concerns arise to harness treatments early. Our Annapolis office greets you with skilled personalized care for this important transition in every woman's health journey. We help guide you gently through with understanding and hormone therapy relief.
Lifestyle adjustments when entering perimenopause and menopause can help minimize bothersome symptoms in addition to hormone therapies. Simple positive changes also improve lifelong health beyond the menopausal transition years. Recommendations include:
Eating nourishing whole foods boosts wellbeing hormonally and beyond. Some tips:
Routine workouts have extensive health benefits like:
Aim for at least 30 minutes daily of heart-pumping activity (walking, weights routine, etc) alongside taking any staircase chances, parking farther out, etc.
Hormone fluctuations can destabilize moods, heightening anxieties and emotions like sadness or irritation. Make sure to prioritize soothing self-care habits:
Don't ignore feelings dragged down by the menopause rollercoaster. Seeking treatment gets hormones rebalanced for steadier thinking.
Balance Hormone Clinic wants to ensure you have full support during your menopausal years beyond our office's walls. Here are top-rated Annapolis-area establishments to take advantage of while going through hormone changes:
