Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through, marking the end of the reproductive years. The average age for menopause onset is 51, but it can happen anytime between the ages of 45-55. It is diagnosed after a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
The transition is initiated by changing hormone levels over 2-8 years beforehand, known as perimenopause. Estrogen and progesterone levels become irregular and eventually decline significantly, while follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increases. This brings an end to ovulation and menstruation.
Common symptoms experienced include:
For most women, menopausal symptoms last around 5 years but they can persist up to a decade or more. Around 20% of women have very severe symptoms that disrupt daily life.
While menopause is natural, it does increase health risks midlife and beyond. The drastic drop in estrogen is associated with accelerated bone loss and increased chance of osteoporosis. Lower estrogen also leads to redistribution of fat to the belly, elevated cholesterol, and higher incidence of heart disease. For some women, menopause symptoms can negatively impact quality of life without relief.
Timely treatment can prevent long term health consequences and provide immediate relief from disruptive symptoms. Diagnostic blood tests measure hormone levels and look for related health risks.
Treatment is especially recommended if you:
Seek help sooner rather than later at the first onset of perimenopause or menopause symptoms. Even if symptoms seem manageable at first, they often get progressively worse over the months. Early treatment interventions can be very effective at easing this transition and lowering disease risks.
The main therapeutic goals are to:
The most common and effective treatment options include:
The best treatment options can be complex and depend on the unique medical profile of each woman. Our compassionate Balance Hormone Clinic providers partner with you to:
We recognize that this transition can be very disruptive and even distressing for many women. We are here to listen and find solutions so you can get back to thriving and enjoying life.
Acupuncture has emerged as an effective complementary therapy for managing troublesome menopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes. Small studies have found that regular acupuncture treatments can reduce the frequency of hot flashes by up to 50% for some women, providing a non-hormonal option for those who cannot or prefer not to take hormone replacement therapy.
While hormone therapy is often the cornerstone treatment, making certain diet and lifestyle changes can provide meaningful benefits:
Integrating positive lifestyle adjustments enhances hormonal balance and overall disease prevention during the menopausal transition and beyond.
Our clinic was founded by top OB-GYN specialists in women's hormonal health who are passionate about helping patients navigate menopause smoothly. We offer:
We also run menopause education classes and support groups to provide helpful information, resources, and connections during this transition.
The greater Plainfield area offers wonderful amenities to support positive lifestyle changes during menopause therapy including:
Living in Plainfield during this transitional life stage has plentiful advantages. The area enables access to top-notch specialized menopause care while also offering great opportunities to improve lifestyle factors like nutrition, fitness, and stress balance.
We hope reviewing the key information above is helpful as an initial orientation into understanding menopause treatment. Please
