Menopause is like taxes - unavoidable, but there is no reason to suffer

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Menopause is the descriptive term used as women age and their ovaries start producing less of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. This starts at an average age of 45, but is variable based on genetics, environment and your overall health. Perimenopause is the beginning of the reduced production and can last from 12 months up to five years in most women. Symptoms will slowly resolve as you enter the post-menopausal phase, but the lack of hormones going forward can cause many issues.

 

What does menopause feel like?  These are some of the very common symptoms:

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• Irregular periods

• Hot flushes and night sweats

• Vaginal dryness, loss of libido and tender breasts

• Bloating, weight gain and digestive issues

• Mood swings, depression, irritability and headaches

• Burning tongue, gum issues

• Difficulty with sleep, concentration, memory and fatigue

• Changes in skin, nails, muscle soreness 

 

Why is important to address these falling hormone levels?  Estrogen is critical to the function of the heart and blood vessels, brain health and bone maintenance. In addition, progesterone is protective against breast, uterine and ovarian cancer and testosterone is needed for muscle, heart and brain health.  It is important for us to address all of these hormones in a safe and effective way to avoid:

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• Osteoporosis and fractures

• Alzheimer’s and other dementias and cognitive decline

• Heart disease and heart failure

• Strokes

 

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) safe?  Yes!  There has been some controversy regarding HRT in the past with conflicting studies.  The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) was a large study over many years, and showed an increase in cardiac events and cancers, but the WHI study had women start HRT 10 years after menopause and used synthetic progesterone and horse estrogen, not bio-identical hormones.  More recent studies using bio-identical hormones in women closer to menopause showed no such increase in heart attacks and in fact had a reduction in Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and cancers.

 

What is Bio-Identical HRT?  Unlike the synthetic or equine hormones noted above, bio-identical hormones are structurally identical to our own hormones, so they bind to the receptors as intended and are metabolized in our body into non-toxic substances.  Thus, we get the effect that we want for our overall health and well-being, without the dreaded side effects.  There are commercially available patches, pills and creams as well as compounded creams and gels that can be tailored specifically to the clients needs.  Depending on your labs and symptoms, Dr Jay can prescribe you the perfect combination of Progesterone, Estrogen and Testosterone to reclaim your youth and vigor.