Menopause is a natural transition that all women experience as they age. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause, when hormone levels become erratic and start to decline. This leads into menopause itself - defined as 12 months without a menstrual period in a row. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can happen from 40s to mid 50s.
This hormonal shift sparks changes throughout the body. Common menopausal symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, trouble sleeping, mood swings, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, weight gain, and slowing metabolism. The extent and mix of symptoms is different for each woman. Lifestyle choices, genetics, medical history, and more play a role. Support for managing symptoms and an overall plan tailored to each woman's situation is important.
The Vital Hormones Clinic Menopause Center offers integrated care to help women through perimenopause and menopause. Our team includes certified menopause practitioners who specialize in this area. We take the time to understand your unique situation and needs. Custom treatment plans are created that incorporate hormone therapy, medications, nutritional support, lifestyle changes tailored just for you.
We also understand that menopause care requires attention to the emotional aspects as well. Our practitioners provide counseling and support resources to help women process these changes. Knowing what to expect and having compassionate experts guide you makes a significant difference. We partner with you to optimize your physical and emotional health during this transition.
To best support women through menopause, it helps to understand what is happening in the body. The key factor is declining estrogen levels. Other hormones are involved as well. Imbalances in these hormones lead to the various symptoms experienced.
Perimenopause is the 2 to 10 year transition period leading into menopause. Hormone levels fluctuate widely, which sparks confusing symptoms. Periods may be heavier or lighter. PMS symptoms often get worse. Mood swings, trouble sleeping, hot flashes, and more may come and go. Every woman's experience with perimenopause timing and symptoms is unique.
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Menopause is reached when a woman has no periods for 12 months in a row. At this point hormone levels are consistently low. Some women feel relief as symptoms stabilize. But for many, symptoms either persist or even get more severe during menopause. Support for managing symptoms is extremely helpful at this stage.
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The first step in developing a menopause treatment plan is confirming that menopause is indeed the underlying cause of symptoms. Doctors specializing in menopause will start with an evaluation of health history and a physical exam. They will ask detailed questions about periods, symptoms, medical conditions, family history, and more.
Precise lab tests help establish hormone levels. These include:
Results from lab work and clinical assessments allow our practitioners to diagnose menopause. They can also uncover other issues that may be contributing to or exacerbating symptoms. This is why specialized care is so valuable.
Here is a 55-word interesting, unexpected and positively-framed real fact about menopause treatment: Many women find that cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and other mind-body techniques can effectively ease troublesome menopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings without medication side effects. These complementary approaches help women manage menopause transition in a natural, empowering way.
The practitioners at our menopause clinic have advanced training and focus specifically on supporting women through hormone changes in midlife. There are significant advantages to working with healthcare providers who specialize in this stage of life.
Doctors specializing in menopause understand the intricate dynamics of hormonal shifts. They stay current with the latest research around strategies for optimizing short and long-term health during this transition. Our practitioners develop expertise by working with menopausal women every day. This translates into more precise diagnoses, better treatment plans, and higher quality care.
The Vital Hormones Clinic invests heavily in ongoing education for our menopause doctors and staff. They regularly attend conferences, take part in continual learning, and connect with peers to discuss emerging research. This ensures our practitioners apply evidence-based best practices tailored specifically to each woman’s needs.
Our certified menopause practitioners know that menopause care is far more than prescriptions and lab tests. They provide emotional support and resources to help process these significant life changes. We consider mindset and stress levels as key contributors to one’s experience. Our team is compassionate, caring and committed to women thriving during menopause.
Every woman experiences menopause differently based on lifestyle, medical history, genetics, stage of life, and more. endocrinologist specializing in menopause develop custom wellness plans that consider all aspects of your health and life circumstances. Recommendations go beyond hormones alone to include nutrition, fitness, mental health support and more.
Hot flashes are perhaps the most infamous discomfort of menopause. They affect over 60% of Western women. A hot flash is intense heat in the upper body, sometimes coupled with profuse sweating that makes it tough to get comfortable. They disrupt sleep, concentration, moods and more.
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Options for relief include:
Our practitioners help identify triggers and fine tune relief strategies that are most effective for your situation. Tracking hot flash frequency and intensity along with potential contributing factors helps guide treatment plans.
Many women report difficulties with memory, concentration, speaking ability and recall speed during menopause. Mental fogginess can lower confidence and performance. Neurotransmitters are impacted by the hormonal shift. Serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine and other chemical messengers take a hit. This affects cognition, memory and overall brain power.
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Relief strategies include:
Moodiness, anxiety, sadness, irritability and sleep disturbances often come with menopause as well. This emotional roller coaster relates to fluctuating serotonin, estrogen and testosterone. Support for coping with these changes includes professional counseling, support groups, self-care practices like meditation, and medical management.
Many women notice extra padding around their midsection during perimenopause and menopause. The hormonal influences on metabolism and fat storage shift. Lean muscle mass tends to decline as well, dropping daily calorie needs. Often women still eat the same amounts, but now gain weight more easily. Thyroid issues, insulin resistance, inflammation and stress hormone changes also play a role.
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No two women gain weight for the exact same reasons during menopause. Testing and assessments allow our practitioners to pinpoint areas of metabolism and hormones to target. Effective nutrition and fitness plans keep weight stable.
Plummeting estrogen levels lead to thinning vaginal tissue. This fragility can contribute to irritation, dryness, infection risk and pain during intimacy. Some women lose elasticity as well. Declining androgen hormones often lower sex drive. Many also grapple with body image issues during menopause. All of these factors can equal a notable drop in sexual satisfaction.
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Relief options include:
Addressing sexual health challenges should be done as early as possible. Lasting tissue changes can develop without support. Our compassionate practitioners have in-depth discussions around these sensitive issues. There are a variety of medical and holistic therapies that can help restore enjoyment and comfort during intimacy.
Estrogen plays an important role in bone remodeling - the ongoing balance of removing old areas of bone and building new strong sections. During perimenopause, bone breakdown accelerates while new bone formation slows. This causes loss of bone mineral density, leaving women more vulnerable to osteoporosis and fractures.
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Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days along with sufficient calcium and vitamin D has been shown to reduce bone loss around menopause. Our practitioners may recommend specific osteoporosis medications and bone builders like Prolia or Forteo depending on your situation. Priority goes to optimizing bone health to prevent future injuries.
The discomforts and health risks associated with menopause make it all too easy to just suffer in silence. But there are more treatment options now than ever before. New medications, therapies and lifestyle strategies can truly help in reducing symptoms and protecting your wellness long-term.
The key is working with certified menopause practitioners who understand the intricacies of this transition and how to achieve hormonal balance consistently. Our specialized team stays on top of the latest advancements so we can provide leading-edge care tailored specifically to you. We partner together to help you feel and function at your best through perimenopause, menopause and beyond.
We are proud to have supported Vidor area women through midlife changes for over a decade. Our personalized approach, compassion and commitment to quality of care sets Vital Hormones Clinic apart. We make navigating menopause easier so you can continue thriving in all areas of your life.
Dr. Jane Smith and Dr. Theresa Gonzalez lead our menopause specialty care team as board certified OBGYNs. Each practitioner focuses specifically on hormonal therapies, emotional support and wellness planning for menopausal women. We also have registered dietitians, counselors and specialists available to address unique needs.
We understand the importance of maintaining mental health and staying active through menopause. The Vidor area offers many ways to do this with a mild climate and close community. Our clinic provides recommendations of local health related businesses like these:
Hormone Testing - Vidor Medical Labs - KJOH Diagnostics
Parks for Walking - Claiborne Park - 10 miles of wooded trails - Tyrrell Park - Botanical gardens perfect for strolling
Relaxation - Mid County Day Spa - Massages and body treatments - Salty Dog Yoga Studio - Variety of yoga classes
Fitness - Vidor Athletic Club - Classes, weights, pools - Orange Gym - Affordable neighborhood gym
Healthy pleasures like nourishing meals, massage, meditation, or learning new hobbies support women through every stage of life. Our practitioners help uncover specific lifestyle factors that may worsen your menopause symptoms. We empower sustainable changes to help you feel your best from the inside out.
We urge you not to accept discomfort as an inevitable part of aging. Significant symptom relief and renewed energy is within reach. endocrinologist specializing in menopause and our caring team can help you thrive in midlife. We specialize in seamless menopause solutions tailored just for you.
