We’ve developed a base of experience and a record of success to help you get rid of unpleasant menopausal symptoms.
If you’re of perimenopausal or menopausal age, there’s a good chance that these (and other) symptoms are due to hormonal imbalance or insufficiency. Hormonal changes are a normal part of aging. It doesn’t mean they’re pleasant.
As women get older, they experience hormonal changes associated with menopause. Levels of specific hormones can drop, and the balance between hormones can change. These deficiencies and imbalances, while something that happens as part of a woman’s normal course of life, can lead to a variety of unpleasant symptoms. They include:
- hot flashes and night sweats;
- vaginal dryness;
- loss of interest in sex;
- anxiety;
- sleep problems;
and more
But know this: female hormone imbalance and insufficiency can be treated and their symptoms greatly relieved with hormone replacement therapy.
Our clinic helps you take back your comfort and vitality with specialized care.
We have developed a base of knowledge and experience, a record of success, and a number of key efficiencies that other providers can’t claim. In fact, we treat a number of women sent to us by their doctors, who recognize the need for more informed, nuanced care.
Our individualized attention is backed by a detailed understanding.
When it comes to hormones, “nuance” is the right word. And particularly so for women, whose treatment with hormone replacement therapy is not as straightforward as it tends to be for men.
Every woman is unique, meaning one of a kind. At the same time, symptoms can be the result of low levels of a hormone, or two hormones, or three, or the result of imbalances. In addition, levels can be affected by the stress and toxins that we normally encounter as we live our lives.
Our experienced, compassionate medical professionals evaluate and carefully consider all of the many factors involved, including:
- estrogen (estradiol) and progesterone levels;
- testosterone levels (free and total);
- human growth hormone;
- DHEA-S hormone;
- cortisol levels;
- thyroid function;
- symptoms;
- lifestyle;
- health history.
Comprehensive testing aimed to get you feeling not just better, but great.
We run bloodwork and conduct a thorough evaluation and history, then take the care and time necessary to create a treatment plan that will work for you. One important consideration is the fact that “normal” hormone levels are not the same as optimal levels.
Treatment is designed specifically for your needs and the best results.
In addition to striving to help you feel great, we strive to get you there quickly. Here are the treatment methods we may employ to achieve this for you:
Lifestyle modifications – Diet, sleep, and other lifestyle factors are important to how you feel generally and to hormone levels and balance. Modifying them can make a significant difference.
Stress management – Stress is the enemy of good health, and it can affect hormone levels. We help you control it.
Nutritional supplements – Our bodies are biochemical mechanisms, and what we put into them plays a role in our hormone production and use.
Compounded hormones – We replace deficient hormones with hormones compounded for you specifically.
Continual monitoring and adjustment for maximum efficacy and safety.
Hormone replacement therapy is not one-size-fits-all care. Not even a little bit. We continually watch and adjust for changes in hormone levels and symptoms in order to ensure you’re always receiving the right dose for you. This is also how we’re able to minimize the risks associated with HRT. Not everyone does this, but we feel it’s vitally important.
Types of HRT for Women
Estrogen Therapy
Estrogen Therapy: Doctors generally suggest a low dose of estrogen for women who have had a hysterectomy, the surgery to remove the uterus, and for women who’ve had a bilateral oophorectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries).
Estrogen comes in different forms. The daily pill and patch are the most popular, but the hormone also is available in a vaginal ring, gel, or spray.
Estrogen pill — Pills are the most common treatment for menopausal symptoms. Among the many forms of pills available are conjugated estrogens (Cenestin, Estrace, Estratab, Femtrace, Ogen, and Premarin) or estrogens-bazedoxifene (Duavee).
Follow a doctor’s instructions for dosing. Most estrogen pills are taken once a day without food. Some have more complicated dosing schedules. As noted above, estradiol is the same estrogen that the ovary makes before menopause. (note there are also combination pills that include both estrogen and progestin)
Estrogen patch — the patch is worn on the skin of your abdomen. Depending on the dose, some patches are replaced every few days, while others can be worn for a week. Examples are Alora, Climara, Estraderm, and Vivelle-Dot.
Combination estrogen and progestin patches — like Climara Pro and Combipatch — are also available. Menostar has a lower dose of estrogen than other patches, and it’s only used for reducing the risk of osteoporosis. It doesn’t help with other menopause symptoms.
Topical Estrogen – Creams, gels, and sprays offer other ways of getting estrogen into your system. Examples include gels (like Estroge and Divigell), creams (like Estrasorb), and sprays (like Evamist). As with patches, this type of estrogen treatment is absorbed through the skin directly into the bloodstream.
The specifics on how to apply these creams vary, although they’re usually used once a day. Estrogel is applied on one arm, from the wrist to the shoulder. Estrasorb is applied to the legs. Evamist is applied to the arm.
Vaginal estrogen — Vaginal estrogen comes in a cream, vaginal ring, or vaginal estrogen pills. In general, these treatments are for women who are troubled specifically by vaginal dryness, itchiness, and burning or pain during intercourse. Examples are vaginal tablets (Vagifem), creams (Estrace or Premarin), and insertable rings (Estring or Femring).
Dosing schedules vary, depending on the product. Most vaginal rings need to be replaced every three months. Vaginal tablets are often used daily for a couple of weeks; after that, you only need to use them twice a week. Creams might be used daily, several times a week, or according to a different schedule.
Estrogen/Progesterone/Progestin Hormone Therapy
This is often called combination therapy since it combines doses of estrogen and progestin, the synthetic form of progesterone. It’s meant for women who still have their uterus. Taking estrogen with progesterone lowers your risk for cancer of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.
While generally used as a form of birth control. Progesterone can help treat many menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes
Oral progestins – Taken in pill form, progestin medications include medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) and synthetic progestin pills (norethindrone, norgestrel). Many experts now treat the majority of their menopausal patients with natural progesterone rather than synthetic progestins.
Natural progesterone has no negative effect on lipids and is a good choice for women with high cholesterol levels. In addition, natural progesterone might have other advantages when compared with medroxyprogesterone acetate.
Intrauterine progestin – Not approved for this use in the United States, the low-dose intrauterine devices (IUD) levonorgestrel are sold under the brand names: Liletta, Kyleena, Mirena, and Skyla). If you had one of these IUDs when you enter perimenopause, your doctor may suggest that you keep it in until after menopause is complete.
Star your therapy after a free detailed consultation with one of our experts. Get in touch here!