Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through as they age, marking the end of their reproductive years. The term "menopause" refers to the point when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but it can occur earlier or later for some women.
Leading up to menopause, women may experience perimenopause, which includes irregular periods and other symptoms caused by hormone fluctuations. After menopause occurs, women are no longer able to get pregnant due to the depletion of ovarian follicles. While menopause is a normal part of aging, it can come with unpleasant symptoms that disrupt quality of life. Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options available to help women manage menopause smoothly.
At Renew Hormones, our caring and knowledgeable certified menopause practitioners specialize in individualized menopause treatment plans to help women thrive during this transition.
The hormonal changes of menopause can trigger a variety of symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary symptoms, mood changes, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, hair and skin changes, fatigue, decreased libido, and brain fog.
The wide variety of menopause symptoms can significantly disrupt a woman's quality of life. However, the right treatment approach can prevent or minimize many of these issues. Renew Hormones provides individualized care to help women feel their best.
Since hormone imbalance is the root cause of menopausal symptoms, testing key hormone levels is an essential step in developing an effective treatment plan. The main hormones that should be evaluated include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, FSH, and thyroid hormones.
At Renew Hormones, we use cutting-edge testing to get a comprehensive picture of your hormone status. This enables our practitioners to create fully customized treatment plans to address each woman's unique hormonal needs.
There are various treatment options available to alleviate the symptoms associated with menopause and hormone changes, including hormone therapy (estrogen, progestin, testosterone, bioidentical hormones, compounded hormones) and non-hormonal options (SSRIs, SNRIs, gabapentin, clonidine, vaginal estrogen).
Our practitioners stay up-to-date on the latest research to provide patients with a full range of individualized and combination treatment options.
At Renew Hormones, we make the menopause transition easier by offering comprehensive hormone testing, customized treatment plans, and ongoing support. Our certified menopause practitioners have advanced training in the specialized field of menopause medicine. We provide thorough lab testing, individualized treatment plans using the latest medical therapies and bioidentical hormones, ongoing monitoring and dosage adjustments, a compassionate and caring approach, careful tracking of treatment effectiveness, and access to in-house services like nutritional counseling and compounding.
At Renew Hormones, your symptoms will be taken seriously, and you will receive state-of-the-art individualized care.
| Formulation | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Estradiol | Relieves urogenital and vasomotor symptoms | First pass through the liver; higher clot risk |
| Transdermal Estradiol (patch, gel) | Avoid first pass metabolism; steady estrogen levels | Skin irritation at application site |
| Vaginal Estrogen | Treats vaginal symptoms | Minimal systemic absorption |
| Oral Conjugated Equine Estrogens | FDA-approved; derived from plant sources | Contains multiple estrogen types; higher clot risk |
| Estradiol Valerate Injections | Long-acting; steady hormone levels | Requires needles |
| Patient Factors | Treatment Considerations |
|---|---|
| Age | Lower hormone doses sufficient for younger women |
| Time since menopause | Higher doses often needed further from menopause |
| Symptoms | Tailor regimen to address specific bothersome issues |
| Medical history | Choose safest options based on health conditions |
| Uterus status | Progestin needed with estrogen if uterus intact |
| Lifestyle | Formulation convenience and patient preference |
| Hormone levels | Target levels in physiologic range for age |
| Response | Adjust doses based on treatment effectiveness |
There are many common myths and misconceptions about menopause. Here are some facts to set the record straight:
Myth: Menopause causes women to lose their sex drive. Fact: Lower estrogen levels can lead to vaginal dryness and discomfort, which can indirectly impact libido. However, addressing these issues through lubricants, moisturizers, vaginal estrogen, and potentially testosterone therapy can help restore satisfying intimacy and sexual function for most women.
Myth: Menopause inevitably leads to weight gain and makes it impossible to lose weight. Fact: Weight management during menopause may require adjustments to diet, exercise, and lifestyle habits. When tailored to your new hormone profile, it is absolutely possible to maintain or lose weight after menopause.
Myth: Women should tough out menopause symptoms without medical treatment. Fact: Suffering through hot flashes, disrupted sleep, and plummeting quality of life is completely unnecessary. Various safe and effective prescription treatment options are available to manage symptoms. Non-prescription remedies can also provide relief.
Myth: Hormone therapy is unsafe. Fact: For the majority of women who start treatment under age 60 and use appropriate doses, hormone therapy is a safe option that provides significant benefits for menopausal symptoms and long-term health. As with any medication, there are some risks to consider.
Myth: Once you start hormone therapy, you have to continue it forever. Fact: Many women only require hormone therapy for a limited time to get through the most symptomatic phases of menopause. Under the guidance of a menopause specialist, the treatment regimen can be adjusted over time and eventually discontinued once symptoms subside.
The field of menopause medicine is continuously evolving with new research leading to innovations in treatment approaches, such as novel delivery methods, lower doses, tissue-selective estrogen complexes, synergistic hormone combinations, body-identical bioidentical hormones, compounded hormones, and matchtimed dosing.
At Renew Hormones, we offer the latest therapies and continually incorporate new advances into our patients' personalized treatment plans.
While hormone therapy serves as the foundation of treatment for bothersome menopause symptoms, making certain lifestyle changes can further amplify the benefits, including maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, good sleep habits, and effective stress management techniques.
At Renew Hormones, our practitioners provide personalized lifestyle recommendations to complement your hormone treatment plan for optimal wellness during menopause.
The hormonal changes of menopause influence a woman's mental health and sexuality in important ways. Women may experience depression, decreased libido, and other sexual function issues during this transition. At Renew Hormones, we help patients address all aspects of sexual health and wellbeing related to menopause, not just physical symptoms.
Optimizing health during midlife has lifelong benefits. Our practitioners take an integrative approach to menopause care that goes beyond symptomatic relief to help women thrive in midlife and beyond, focusing on maintaining hormonal balance, adopting an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, minimizing risks for chronic conditions, supporting brain health, and increasing health span.
Many high-profile women have come forward in recent years to share their own struggles and successes in coping with menopause, helping to de-stigmatize this transition and offer hope to millions of women experiencing menopause.
At Renew Hormones, we understand the challenges of menopause and are dedicated to providing compassionate, personalized care to help women navigate this transition with confidence and ease. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable menopause practitioners.
