Female Menopause and Perimenopause Therapy

About Female Menopause and Peri-Menopause

Every woman is aware of the ebb and flow of constant hormonal changes in her body, from the time she enters puberty until the end of her last menstrual period. This complex interplay of hormones continues after menopause until she reaches her early 50’s. Hormone replacement therapy offers a solution to the many physical symptoms of menopause.

About Menopause and the Perimenopausal Transition

The regular cycling of these hormones begin to change as early as the mid-thirties and symptoms likely begin in the mid-forties as women begin the process known as peri-menopause. It is the time when levels of key hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone begin to fluctuate and is accentuated by declines in other hormones such as growth hormone, DHEA and thyroid. Peri-menopause continues until periods stop and the woman enter menopause.

Surgical menopause involves a woman suddenly entering menopause by surgical removal of the ovaries. It can happen at almost any age and without proper hormone replacement, symptoms of hormone deficiency will be quite severe.

Though treated as a disease by doctors, women know menopause is a natural and inevitable transition from one stage of life to another. Puberty marks the beginning of reproductive life -- menopause marks the end.

The Symptoms of Menopause

During peri-menopause (known as "the change") women will still have a menstrual cycle, although the cycle may become erratic and a woman may skip periods as hormone levels fluctuate. This is only one symptom of menopause. Other symptoms may include:

hot flashes
breast tenderness
worsening PMS
decreased libido, diminished sex drive and loss of sensitivity to stimulation
fatigue, trouble sleeping
irregular periods
vaginal dryness
dry skin
mood swings and possible depression
difficulty concentrating and memory problems
loss of bone density, osteoporosis
hair loss

What About Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the loss of bone density and is a serious threat to a woman’s long term health. Our bones contain cells that are capable of growing new bone tissue and reabsorb old bone. This process continues throughout our lives. Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone help our bodies absorb calcium from the intestinal tract. Specifically, estrogen slows the cells that break down bone matter and progesterone and testosterone stimulate the cells that grow new bone tissue. Another hormone (growth hormone) helps rebuild lost bone. Growth hormone can begin to decline in the mid-twenties and continues to decline as a person ages. During peri-menopause, women can lose 1% to 6% of their bone mass each year.

Hormone replacement therapy is a widely accepted and successful way to treat the symptoms and negative effects of menopause and should be started at the onset of menopause to reach maximum benefits.

If you think you may be suffering with symptoms of menopause or perimenopause, we invite you to contact the Youthful Aging Center today to get sound advise on ways that you can alleviate all of your discomforting symptoms.

Recommended Reading:
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