Menopause officially begins when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a period. Perimenopause is the 2-10 year transition period leading up to menopause, when hormone levels naturally start to decline and periods may become irregular. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can occur anytime between 40-58.
During perimenopause and menopause, the ovaries produce less of the key hormones estrogen and progesterone. This drop in hormones is what leads to most bothersome symptoms like:
Lower hormone levels may also increase risks for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease. That's why it's so important to see an endocrinologist menopause specialist to evaluate your risks and determine the best treatment approach.
While menopause symptoms can disrupt day to day life, there are many safe and effective treatment options available, so no woman has to suffer through this transition alone.
The knowledgeable and compassionate providers at Balance Hormone Center create truly customized menopause treatment plans to meet each woman's needs. They understand that no two women's experiences are exactly alike, so treatments are tailored accordingly.
Your treatment plan may include:
The providers at Balance Hormone Center stay up to date on all of the latest research and medical advances in menopause treatment. They work closely with each woman to weigh the pros and cons of different therapies and choose the safest, most effective options customized to her needs.
Some key factors they evaluate when developing a personalized plan include:
Rather than taking a one-size fits all approach, the providers at Balance Hormone Center listen to understand the full context of your unique situation. This enables them to make precise treatment recommendations to help you achieve the relief you're looking for.
Hormone therapy can be a safe and effective option for relieving moderate to severe menopause symptoms and improving quality of life. When symptoms are significantly interfering with sleep, work, or relationships, hormone therapy is often recommended.
The two main types of hormone therapy are:
Estrogen therapy helps alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and prevents bone loss. The progesterone balances the estrogen to avoid overgrowth of uterine tissue.
There are a variety of different FDA-approved estrogen and progesterone products to choose from including pills, patches, creams, gels, vaginal rings, implants, and shots. Your Balance Hormone Center provider will explain the pros and cons of each option to determine what best meets your needs and preferences.
The dosages can be customized to your individual needs as well - some women need higher doses to control stubborn symptoms, while lower doses are sufficient for others. The providers at Balance Hormone Center take great care to prescribe the minimal doses needed to achieve optimal relief of symptoms.
When initiated before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset, hormone therapy is approved for treatment of moderate to severe symptoms. Potential benefits beyond symptom relief include reduced bone loss and fracture risk, and improvement in mood and sleep disturbances related to menopause.
Estrogen and progesterone therapy is not right for all women though. Your provider will carefully review your medical history and risk factors to determine if hormone therapy is safe for you based on current medical guidelines. Women with a history of breast cancer, blood clots, heart disease, liver disease, or stroke may be advised against hormone therapy.
But for the majority of women dealing with disruptive menopause symptoms, hormone therapy can be life-changing. With the latest advances in treatment, relief is possible without increasing health risks when prescribed appropriately. The compassionate providers at Balance Hormone Center will have an in-depth discussion with you about your individual risks and benefits to help you make an informed decision.
In addition to hormone therapy and medications, making certain lifestyle changes and using complementary therapies can help ease menopause transition symptoms. The caring providers at Balance Hormone Center provide women with practical tips and resources to improve quality of life holistically during this transition.
Adopting healthy habits is one of the most effective and safest ways to manage troublesome menopause symptoms:
Some women find relief from natural remedies like dietary supplements, herbal teas, acupuncture, massage, and cooling techniques:
Be sure to discuss any herbal products or supplements with your Balance Hormone Center provider to ensure they do not interfere with other medications you take. While complementary approaches like these may provide modest relief, they are not as consistently effective as prescription hormone therapy and medications. But they can be very worthwhile when combined with your formal treatment plan.
Many women are unaware that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. CBT helps women change negative thought patterns and manage stress, which can reduce the severity of symptoms. Research shows that CBT works as well as or better than medications for some women going through menopause.
The compassionate providers at Balance Hormone Center understand how disruptive and frustrating menopause symptoms can be to your daily life. Their sole focus is helping women find the right balance and relief, so they can feel like themselves again.
In addition to tailored treatment plans, they also provide:
The collective knowledge and experience the Balance Hormone Center team provides is unmatched. You can feel at ease knowing you are in the most capable hands with Balance Hormone Center guiding you through menopause comfortably and safely.
There are many reasons women across Chula Vista trust Balance Hormone Center for their menopause and hormone-related healthcare needs:
Women come to Balance Hormone Center from across San Diego because of their unparalleled expertise in hormone health. They set the gold standard for evidence-based, results-driven menopause treatment.
Chula Vista's beautiful coastal location, mild Mediterranean climate, abundance of recreation and healthy eats make it an especially wonderful place to live during midlife and beyond. The challenging symptoms many women experience during the menopause transition do not have to inhibit enjoyment of all that this community has to offer. With expert treatment from Balance Hormone Center guiding the way, women are empowered to make the most of this new phase of life.
The providers are eager to collaborate with you to find the safest, most effective solutions tailored to your unique needs. Together, you can develop a care plan that enables you to feel your best physically and emotionally as you journey through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.
While menopause marks the end of fertility, it is important to remember that it ushers in a whole new liberating phase where you get to put your needs first. The providers at Balance Hormone Center want to ensure you can embrace this transition gracefully and joyfully. Reach out today to learn more about the customized treatment options available to help you reach optimal wellbeing on your own personal menopause journey.
The most common first signs are changes in your menstrual cycle - periods become irregular, heavier or lighter, and the time between cycles starts varying more. Mood changes like irritability or anxiety and new onset hot flashes are also common early indicators. But keep in mind every woman's experience can be different.
Yes, if hot flashes are frequent and disruptive to your daily life, treatment is recommended even if you have no other symptoms. Untreated frequent hot flashing raises your risk for osteoporosis and heart disease, so it's important to seek treatment early.
One of the advantages of estrogen/progesterone therapy from Balance Hormone Center is that it can easily be discontinued at any time if you are unsatisfied or change your mind. After stopping hormone therapy, it may take 3-6 weeks for hot flashes to recur but treatment can be restarted if you find symptoms return and remain bothersome.
For most healthy women, the benefits of hormone therapy are believed to outweigh the risks when used for 5 years or less. Your provider will monitor you closely and evaluate if treatment beyond 5 years is appropriate based on your individual situation and evolving health needs.
Most women experience significant improvement in symptoms within 1-3 months of starting hormone therapy. The providers at Balance Hormone Center are experts at finding the optimal doses and delivery methods tailored to your needs to ensure you achieve satisfactory relief as quickly as possible.
The most common side effects are breast tenderness, bloating, headaches and irregular spotting, especially when first starting treatment. Serious risks like blood clots, stroke and heart disease are rare in healthy women under 60 on low hormone doses. Your provider will discuss your individual risk profile in depth.
Yes, if you have any remaining uterine tissue after hysterectomy you still require progesterone / progestin therapy along with estrogen to prevent cancer. Your provider will explain whether progesterone is recommended in your individual case based on details of your surgery.
Your insurance plan will determine your out-of-pocket costs for physician consult fees, lab work, and prescriptions. If costs are prohibitive, the billing team will work closely with you to find affordable payment options. They also assist with pre-authorizations, referrals, and any insurance questions. Please don't hesitate to discuss cost with them.
Menopause is a major life transition that presents physical, mental, and emotional challenges for many women. But going through it doesn't have to mean suffering - with proper care, this natural transition can be made much smoother. The expert physicians at Balance Hormone Center offer personalized treatment plans to help women achieve the relief they seek.
Their cutting edge therapies, holistic guidance, and compassionate support empower women to feel their best through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. If you are a woman in Chula Vista looking for top-quality care for bothersome menopause symptoms, contact Balance Hormone Center today to learn more about your treatment options. Their sole focus is your optimal health, comfort and wellbeing during this transition and the vibrant years that lie ahead.
