Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through as they age. The term "menopause" refers to the point when a woman stops menstruating permanently. This usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause is diagnosed when a woman has had endocrinologist specializing in menopause no menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months.
The years or months leading up to menopause are called perimenopause or the menopausal transition. During this time, hormone levels fluctuate and start to decline, leading to irregular periods as well as common physical and emotional symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.
The decline in hormones that occurs during menopause, especially estrogen, also increases a woman's risk for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease. That's why it's so important to understand treatment options available. Proper menopause care can help alleviate symptoms, prevent long-term health issues, and improve overall wellbeing.
At Harmony Hormone Clinic in Union City, we specialize in providing customized hormone replacement therapy (HRT) plans to help women manage menopause symptoms and hormones changes. Our exceptional menopause experts have advanced certification in menopause hormone treatment. We partner with each patient to evaluate their unique hormone levels and health profile in order to create tailored regimens incorporating bioidentical hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and more.
Key benefits of our menopause and hormone therapy services include:
At Harmony Hormone Clinic, we predominantly use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). This involves hormones that are molecularly identical to those naturally made in the female body. Commonly prescribed bioidentical hormones include:
Research shows bioidentical hormones can be safer and more effective than traditional synthetic hormone medications. They seem to produce less side effects and reduce certain health risks in menopausal women. We individualize combinations, doses, and delivery methods - like gels, patches, pellets - based on each woman's needs and preferences.
Our first step working with any menopause patient is completing essential hormone tests and assessments. We take time listening to a woman's health history and symptoms. However, advanced lab testing allows our clinicians to pinpoint specific imbalances contributing to unwanted menopause effects.
Key hormone labs we frequently order when evaluating menopause patients include:
Testing provides objective data on a woman's ovarian function, estrogen status, and much more. We also assess cortisol, melatonin, insulin, and other hormones as needed. Our clinicians interpret results to uncover suboptimal levels negatively impacting health. This enables targeted, effective treatment planning.
We partner with several high-quality local labs to ensure convenient, accessible testing without extensive waits. Patients can get in-demand blood draws and analysis completed right away.
} Blood analysis through advanced menopause hormone panels is vital for accurately assessing hormone deficits and guiding menopause experts care. Harmony Hormone Clinic offers leading-edge testing with rapid turnaround times for treatment planning. }
Once testing uncovers specific low hormones, our menopause hormone specialist customizes treatment with bioidentical hormone replacements. Plans can include various hormone combinations, doses, and delivery methods tailored to the patient.
We directly replace declining hormones - like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone - to replenish menopausal bodies to optimal, youthful levels. This alleviates uncomfortable symptoms and empowers women to feel healthy, vibrant, and their best.
Treatment options we offer include:
- Oral tablets - Transdermal patches - Topical estrogen creams - Vaginal estrogen inserts/creams/tablets/rings
Progesterone Replacement - Progesterone pills - Progesterone creams - Micronized progesteone capsules - Progesterone suppositories
Testosterone Replacement - Testosterone injections - Testosterone pellets - Testosterone creams - Testosterone gels - Testosterone sprays - Testosterone tablets
Our clinicians help patients understand potential benefits, drawbacks, and side effects of each bioidentical preparation. Frequency of use, cycling protocols, and more are tailored to the individual woman.
We also provide nutraceutical and herbal supports, like DHEA, maca root, and black cohosh, that may help in certain cases. Healthy lifestyle measures are also critical parts of treatment plans when appropriate.
Studies show that practicing yoga can help alleviate many symptoms of menopause. Specific yoga poses that twist the abdomen may stimulate blood flow and hormone production in the ovaries and improve mood, hot flashes, insomnia, and more - providing a natural way to make this transition period more comfortable.
Below we cover top areas all women should understand related to menopause care, hormone balancing, and optimizing health in middle age and beyond.
In perimenopause, periods usually become irregular and unpredictable. Some months they may be heavier, last longer, or be accompanied by worsened PMS. Other months a woman may skip her period altogether. These fluctuations directly result from variable estrogen and progesterone generation from the ovaries.
} Perimenopause is diagnosable when cycles extend beyond 38 days or become irregular. Hormone changes cause period abnormalities for an average of 4 years until menopause }
Our perimenopause treatment approach includes:
Stabilizing hormones helps minimize frustrating period surprises during the menopausal transition. It also ensures adequate circulating levels to prevent issues like bone loss and heart complications.
Up to 80% of women experience bothersome hot flashes and/or night sweats either leading up to or during menopause. These sudden sensations of intense warmth and sweating primarily stem from falling estrogen. However, stress, spicy foods, alcohol, warm environments also spark flare ups.
For many women, hot flashes disrupt daily life - causing distraction at work, intimacy troubles, anxiety about unpredictable timing/location, and sleep deprivation. Thankfully, we now have excellent treatment options for robust relief.
Our multi-faceted vasomotor symptom action plan includes:
We tailor combinations of therapies to each woman's needs and preferences. Most find significant improvements in hot flash frequency and intensity within 1-2 months.
Declining hormones after menopause commonly cause genitourinary issues like vaginal dryness, pain, itching, burning, urinary urgency or frequency, incontinence, and recurrent infections. Up to 50% of postmenopausal deal with GSM.
Thankfully, targeted local estrogen creams reverse these problems wonderfully through direct application to vaginal tissues. We often couple this with oral probiotics to prevent overgrowth of unhealthy bacteria causing infections. The approach typically resolves symptoms within weeks.
For more advanced cases, we can provide additional therapies like estrogen tablets, hormone-modulating lasers, platelet rich plasma, or radiofrequency treatments. Returning moisture, health and comfort to delicate tissues improves sex lives, confidence and quality of life.
Hormone fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause often manifest as troublesome mood instability - anxiety, irritability, sadness, brain fog, trouble focusing and handling stress. Providing emotional and mental health assistance is a top priority in our care plans.
We help women proactively work through psychological struggles amplified by hormone deficits and life changes. Our menopause specialists counsel patients on healthy coping outlets, stress reduction, mindfulness practices, lifestyle balancing, and relationship dynamics. Certain antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications used short-term can also rapidly stabilize mood.
In more serious cases, we refer patients to trusted mental health professionals for further psychotherapy and psychiatry care. Support groups provide solidarity for dealing with shared struggles. Healthy community and self-care boosts resiliency.
Bone loss accelerates in menopause since estrogen drops sharply halting its protective effects. All women require adequate calcium and vitamin D for building bone mass throughout life. However, extra prevention emphasis is vital after menopause to curb osteoporosis risks.
We advise at least 1000-1500 mg of calcium and 2000-5000 IU vitamin D3 daily. Weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercise is also key - walking, using resistance bands, yoga, Pilates. These activities trigger processes that stimulate bone regeneration and strength.
Certain medications like bisphosphonates may additionally help higher risk patients prevent concerning bone density decline. We utilize leading-edge DXA scans to monitor changes so therapy adjustments can be made. Prioritizing bone health is imperative to avoid fractures that severely reduce independence and quality of life.
} Harmony Hormone Clinic offers 360 degree osteoporosis prevention - hormone optimization, specific supplements, fitness guidance and DXA monitoring to protect bone health! }
Some women naturally gain a modest amount of weight during menopause - usually between 5-15 lbs. Shifting fat storage patterns also emerge, with more abdominal and thigh distribution. These body changes largely result from the dominance of estrogen over testosterone as we age.
We help patients tweak diets and ramp up activity levels to maintain healthy weights if desired. However, the scale alone doesn't tell the whole picture. Bioidentical testosterone therapy often wonderfully transforms body composition, reducing fat and increasing muscle tone beyond expectation.
Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone deficits all contribute to accelerated skin aging changes like dryness, wrinkles, sagging, thinning hair/nails, and poor wound healing. Collagen and elastin fibers weaken without adequate hormones reducing youthful plumpness and glow.
Our multi-modal approach to improving appearance includes:
Combination therapies restore hormones, nutrients and energy vital for beauty from within. Patients see restored radiance, thickness and shine that positively impacts self-confidence.
} Harmony Hormone Clinic individualizes science-backed treatments for renewing outward appeal and self-assurance during menopause. Schedule a consultation to learn more! }
It's common to experience drained yet restless sensations as female hormones shift. However, regulated bioidentical hormones - especially testosterone, thyroid and DHEA - reliably heighten drive, concentration and stamina.
We also guide patients on “biohacks” for amplified energy:
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Our cutting-edge modalities reverse menopause exhaustion so women can pursue career, travel, family and fitness goals uninhibited.
Declining estrogen from perimenopause into menopause doubles a woman's risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet this connection is rarely discussed. Our clinicians educate patients on critical steps for reducing likelihood of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes and heart attacks later in life.
Key recommendations include:
We also utilize advanced testing like coronary artery calcium scans and carotid ultrasounds to catch early warning signs not apparent on standard workups. Prevention is paramount for staying vibrant and independent long-term.
Harmony Hormone Clinic empowers women to take charge of wellness during midlife and beyond through smart lifestyle adjustments that complement medical therapy.
Lifestyle fine-tuning amplifies the power of balanced hormones and wellbeing therapies. Our integrative care plans ensure woman can thrive through menopause gracefully on every level - physically, mentally and socially.
What sets Harmony Hormone Clinic apart from ordinary gynecology or primary care? As leading menopause experts and hormone specialists, we offer:
Our goal is for patients to thrive during the menopausal transition and beyond. We listen to women's needs and craft flexibleplans that suit unique priorities. Cutting-edge solutions alleviate frustrating symptoms so vibrant, active lifestyles can continue uninterrupted by changing hormones.
We also coordinate seamlessly with each woman's other healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care on all fronts. You are supported completely.
} The Harmony Hormone Clinic interdisciplinary team offers concierge-level service delivering tomorrow’s solutions today. Contact us to discover how we can help you flourish! }
Our clinicians possess advanced fellowship training focused specifically on optimizing women’s health and hormones. We stay continuously updated on emerging science to best serve patients.
You can feel confident entrusting your care to our exceptional Union City menopause experts and hormone specialists:
