Restoring hormonal balance during menopause
Night sweats. Weight gain. Depression. Mood swings. Sound familiar? If you are suffering from these symptoms and approaching your 50s, you might be experiencing menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms.
As women age, their bodies change. The ovaries begin to gradually slow down, menstrual cycles become unpredictable, and the body doesn’t produce hormones the way it once did. This is called perimenopause, or “pre-menopause.” While periods are irregular during this time, it is still possible to get pregnant.
Once a woman has not had a period for 12 straight months, she can determine it’s menopause, the end of menstruation. During this time, some women see noticeables change in their bodies.
They begin to experience symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, such as night sweats, hot flashes, memory lapses and reduced sex drive. Other symptoms of a hormonal imbalance can include migraine headaches, insomnia, weight gain, depression and increased risk of female cancers.
Just as menopause is different for every woman, the available treatment options are, too.
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is one method used to balance a woman’s hormones during menopause. This therapy uses hormones that are structurally identical to those found in the human body and extracted from natural sources, resulting in few, if any, unwanted side effects.
BHRT hormones can be compounded to suit a woman’s specific hormone replacement needs. Treatment through BHRT can help restore optimal hormone balance, improve sleep quality, restore bone density, support immune function, reduce endometrial and breast cancer risks, remove unwanted facial hair, and reduce occurrence of menopausal symptoms and the risk of heart disease.
If you are going through menopause, it’s important to remember to live a healthy lifestyle. Get regular checkups, eat right, stay active, and get plenty of calcium to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Menopause can be a new beginning, so make the most of it and take care of yourself.
Vitality is a bio-identical hormone replacement therapy clinic in Cape Girardeau, Mo., that works with women to help naturally restore hormonal balance. For more information, visit vitalitycape.com or call (573) 895-3090.