Getting quality care from a menopause specialist or endocrinologist specializing in menopause is important because they have the expertise to:
Don't struggle with menopause changes on your own. The menopause experts at Hormone Harmony in Auburn can provide the solutions you need.
Many women are hesitant to seek treatment due to misconceptions about menopause care. But there are excellent options to relieve short-term symptoms and protect long-term health. Bioidentical hormone therapy is customized based on your hormone levels and prescription strength can be adjusted based on follow-up labs. It effectively relieves hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, and mood changes for most women.
Lifestyle adjustments like avoiding triggers, dressing in layers, using fans, practicing relaxation techniques, and more can provide additional relief for hot flashes. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, limiting alcohol, and smoking cessation help ease other menopausal symptoms and have widespread health benefits. Non-hormonal medications and supplements may also provide symptom relief in some cases.
The doctors at Hormone Harmony will partner with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs and preferences. Many options are available to help you feel more comfortable during this transition.
The first step in developing an optimal treatment plan is accurate diagnosis. This requires blood tests of hormone levels - not just tracking periods. The key hormones our certified menopause practitioners check are:
Checking all key hormone levels is essential to correctly diagnosing menopausal status and determining if you're a candidate for hormone therapy. We'll check your levels, then repeat testing at follow-up visits to ensure proper hormone balance is maintained.
Every woman experiences menopause differently due to factors like age, genetics, health status, and symptoms. Cookie-cutter treatment plans don't make sense. Our menopause doctors take a personalized approach based on:
Treatment options may include:
We'll collaborate with you to find the right solutions. Follow up tests will be done to ensure your hormone levels remain optimized.
While hormone replacement therapy has traditionally been the go-to treatment for menopause symptoms, research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy can also be highly effective. CBT helps women manage troublesome symptoms by identifying and changing negative thought patterns and developing coping strategies. This non-hormonal approach provides an alternative way to improve quality of life during this transitional time.
Hormone Harmony has provided specialized menopause and hormone therapy to women in the Auburn area for over 25 years. Our menopause specialist team includes:
We use state-of-the-art diagnostics for hormone testing in our on-site lab. The latest bioidentical hormones and delivery methods are available, including patches, gels, pills and pellets. You'll get compassionate, individualized care from our women's health experts.
If you're struggling with menopausal symptoms, contact Hormone Harmony today to schedule an appointment with our endocrinologist specializing in menopause. Getting an accurate diagnosis and following our tailored treatment recommendations can help you feel like yourself again.
We'll be your partner throughout perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can help you find relief.
Hormone Changes During Menopause
Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is defined as occurring 12 months after her last menstrual period. It happens when the ovaries stop releasing eggs and produce lower levels of estrogen and progesterone - the key female reproductive hormones.
Perimenopause is the 2-10 year transition period leading up to menopause when hormone levels begin to fluctuate and decline. Women often start experiencing symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and disrupted sleep during this stage.
Postmenopause is the stage after menopause has occurred, starting when 12 months have passed since the final period. While symptoms often ease in the years after menopause, some women need extended treatment to manage bothersome symptoms.
Let's look at how the key hormones change leading up to and after menopause:
Estrogen is responsible for developing and maintaining female sex characteristics. Your doctor will check three types:
During perimenopause, estradiol production starts to decline as ovarian function decreases. But overall estrogen levels may fluctuate up and down.
Once menopause officially occurs, estradiol levels decrease substantially while estrone and estriol are still produced at lower levels. This leads to menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, and bone loss.
Progesterone works together with estrogen to regulate the menstrual cycle. Levels rise after ovulation, preparing the uterus for pregnancy.
During perimenopause, cycles become irregular as ovulation occurs less consistently. This leads to more dramatic fluctuations in progesterone.
After menopause sets in, progesterone levels are minimal with no ovulation occurring. This contributes to menstrual irregularities, hot flashes, and sleep disruption.
Testosterone plays an important role in sex drive, energy, bone strength, and more for women. Levels start to decline during perimenopause as the ovaries age.
Testosterone depletion accelerates after menopause. Low testosterone contributes to low libido, fatigue, muscle loss, and bone loss.
FSH and LH levels rise during perimenopause and menopause because the ovaries are no longer responding to their signals. Growth hormone and DHEA also decline with ovarian aging.
Measuring levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, FSH, and DHEA guides our doctors in determining the best treatment options to relieve your symptoms while protecting your health.
Key Menopausal Symptoms and Treatment Options
Fluctuating and declining hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause lead to common symptoms. Knowing what to expect and your treatment options provides reassurance. Here are some of the most troublesome menopausal symptoms and how we can help:
Hot flashes are sudden feelings of intense body heat, flushing, and sweating. They result from decreasing estrogen sending confusing signals to the hypothalamus which regulates temperature. Hot flashes often come with rapid heart rate, anxiety, headaches, and sleep disruption.
Treatment options:
We'll work with you to determine if estrogen alone or combined with progesterone is appropriate based on your health profile. Delivery method - pills, patch, gel or pellets - depends on your preference.
As estrogen levels fall, the vaginal walls lose elasticity and lubrication. This can cause dryness, itching, burning, painful sex, increased urinary tract infections, and light bleeding.
Treatment options:
Night sweats and hot flashes from fluctuating estrogen and progesterone can cause frequent waking and poor sleep quality. This leaves many women feeling exhausted.
Treatment approaches include:
Shifting estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels can trigger changes in mood - anxiety, irritability, depression and difficulty concentrating.
We help by:
Lower estrogen accelerates bone remodeling and the decline of testosterone contributes to reduced muscle mass. This combination often leads to aches, pain, and feeling physically weaker.
We can help you:
Lifestyle Recommendations for Menopause
While hormone therapy is extremely effective for relieving menopausal symptoms, making positive lifestyle changes provides additional symptom management and has widespread health benefits. Recommendations include:
Practicing meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques helps lower stress and anxiety levels to ease emotional and physical symptoms. Consider taking a class or getting mental health counseling.
Aim for at least 30 minutes per day of moderate exercise like walking, swimming, cycling or light strength training. This helps manage weight, boost mood, prevent bone loss, and improve sleep.
Eat a balanced diet focused on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, high-fiber carbohydrates and healthy fats. Limit sugar, salt, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods that can trigger hot flashes. Stay hydrated.
Smoking exacerbates hot flashes and impairs overall cardiovascular function. Quitting improves symptoms, lung health, oxygen circulation and lowers risks of various diseases. Ask us about smoking cessation aids.
Being overweight or obese often worsens hot flashes. Losing excess weight through diet and exercise goes a long way in easing symptoms. Even a 5-10% reduction can make a difference.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle provides additional relief for menopausal symptoms on top of your hormone treatment plan. Your health and wellbeing during and after menopause depends on taking a multi-pronged approach. We will be your partner in managing symptoms through hormone optimization, lifestyle strategies, counseling and any other needed support.
Frequently Asked Menopause Questions
If you're starting menopause transition, you likely have lots of questions about what to expect and the best treatment options. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What are the first signs of perimenopause?
Do I still need birth control during perimenopause?
Yes, you can still get pregnant until menopause is confirmed. Use non-hormonal birth control like condoms, diaphragms, or copper IUDs.
How do you confirm menopause?
Menopause is diagnosed after 12 months without a menstrual period. We confirm by testing hormone levels - blood tests are more definitive than tracking cycles.
How long do menopausal symptoms last?
Symptoms peak during perimenopause and the first 1-2 years after menopause. But some women need ongoing treatment for persistent symptoms.
Is hormone therapy safe?
There are risks with any medication but the benefits generally outweigh the risks when hormones are prescribed appropriately. Bioidentical hormones customized to your needs based on lab testing are considered the safest options.
What are the health benefits of hormone therapy?
Relieving menopausal symptoms and preventing bone loss are the main goals. Keeping your hormone levels optimized may also have beneficial effects on your heart, brain, skin, energy, and sexual function.
How long is hormone therapy taken?
If you start before age 60, guidelines recommend taking it for 5-7 years. But it can be taken longer as needed for symptom relief and bone support with regular evaluation by your doctor.
Ask us any other questions! We're here to provide the information you need to understand menopause and make informed decisions about your care.
Menopause Care and Resources in Auburn
We understand this transition can be challenging. Let us reassure you that solutions are available to get your symptoms under control so you can continue enjoying life to the fullest. Auburn offers great amenities and a supportive community. Here are some local resources that can help during your menopause journey:
