The onset of menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. The term "menopause" refers to the point when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months and no longer ovulates. This signals that the ovaries have stopped producing the female hormones estrogen and progesterone.
On average, menopause occurs around the age of 51, but it can happen earlier or later depending on various factors. The years leading up to menopause are called "perimenopause." This transitional stage can begin 8-10 years before the final menstrual period when hormone levels naturally start to fluctuate and decline.
Common changes associated with menopause and perimenopause include:
Additionally, the decline of estrogen levels in particular is linked to other health risks like osteoporosis and heart disease. Managing menopausal symptoms and long-term health is where hormone therapy can help significantly.
Hormones act as chemical messengers within the body that regulate many essential functions. When natural hormone levels shift and become imbalanced during perimenopause and beyond, wide-ranging symptoms can occur.
Some major hormones that change are:
Understanding the intricacies of these vital hormonal pathways provides the insight needed to properly evaluate hormone levels and help women achieve balance again. This specialized realm of care is what Equilibrium Hormone Institute excels at.
Equilibrium Hormone Institute provides cutting-edge, integrative care focused specifically on treating menopause and alleviating difficult symptoms that can accompany this transition. We offer both traditional and complementary treatment approaches because no two patients are alike.
Our services include:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) replaces hormones that decline during perimenopause and menopause. Adding back estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and other hormones through gels, patches, pellets or other methods can effectively:
We closely monitor each woman to ensure hormone levels are optimized for her unique needs. This includes checking blood levels and carefully adjusting dosages of bioidentical hormones as needed.
Nutraceuticals like dietary supplements and specialized nutraceutical mixtures can also help manage unpleasant menopause symptoms. We provide treatments like:
These can be used alongside hormone therapy or on their own depending on the patient’s needs and preferences. Lifestyle modifications are also recommended.
We also offer advanced treatments to effectively treat genitourinary syndrome that causes vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, incontinence and recurrent UTIs. Options like platelet-rich plasma (PRP), fractional CO2 laser therapy, ThermiVa, and more can rejuvenate vaginal tissue and restore comfort.
Our compassionate, menopause specialist team supports women throughout treatment with check-ins to monitor progress and adjust care plans when needed. We also provide nutritional counseling, mental health resources, workshops, community referrals and more.
Image: A menopause specialist consulting with a patient
If menopause symptoms are significantly impacting quality of life, timely treatment is recommended. Many women try to push through, but suffering in silence is unnecessary. There are many effective solutions available, so patients should not hesitate to seek proper medical care. Some signs it is time to pursue treatment include:
Determining the root hormonal causes of symptoms through blood tests allows us to craft targeted treatment plans featuring hormone therapy, vaginal rejuvenation, or nutraceuticals as needed. We also review comprehensive history and check for underlying issues like thyroid disorders that may require additional support.
Catching changes early optimizes treatment success and can prevent symptoms from cascading into more disruptive effects on health and wellbeing down the road. We empower women to take control of their menopause transition.
In short, timely intervention helps women feel like their best selves again physically and emotionally. We tailor state-of-the art rebalancing therapies to the unique needs of each female patient.
Our clinic features board-certified healthcare practitioners including menopause specialist doctors and nurses practitioners specializing in menopause care for women in the Lehigh Acres community.
We understand:
Our experts stay current on the latest advancements in the field via:
✔ Ongoing medical education and conferences ✔ Active membership in NAMS, EMAS, ISSAM and other professional organizations ✔ Regular review of latest clinical research and data
We provide personalized care rooted in scientific evidence with empathy and compassion. Let us help you ease this transition and start feeling your best again.
Many women are unaware that certain lifestyle changes can ease menopausal symptoms without medication. Simple steps like avoiding triggers, layering lightweight clothing, lowering room temperature, and trying yoga or meditation can provide relief. Small adjustments can make a big difference in managing this transition.
While menopause is inevitable for women as part of the natural aging process, managing the changes smoothly is possible. From hot flashes disrupting work to painful sex due to vaginal dryness, symptoms can take a toll. But restoring balance through hormone replacement aligns the body and mind for peak functioning again.
At Equilibrium Hormone Institute, we empower menopause patients to take control of their health through expert prescribing of bioidentical hormones, vaginal rejuvenation, nutraceuticals, and lifestyle support tailored to the individual. Treatment helps to:
While no two patients are alike, our integrative solutions molded to your unique needs can help you feel your best physically and emotionally during the menopause transition and beyond. We are here to listen and guide you on the path to revitalized wellbeing.
Local Lifestyle Support for Menopause Patients
We understand the process of hormone testing and working towards hormonal balance can take time. During this period, we encourage women to nurture body and mind with wholesome local outlets in the Lehigh Acres area like:
We encourage engaging in fun hobbies, spending time outdoors, joining new social circles, practicing yoga or mind-body therapies, eating nourishing foods, and more self-care activities that align with your interests. Finding your sense of community can make a powerful difference during menopause treatment.
Frequently Asked Menopause and Hormone Questions
Yes, it is a natural biological process. But NO you do not have to suffer through it! There are many safe and effective medical options for easing frustrating menopausal symptoms. From customized hormone therapies to vaginal health treatments, solutions are available to help you feel balanced and comfortable again.
Not necessarily. We generally recommend women in their 50s stick with treatment for at least 5 years for optimal bone, heart, and brain support until the natural hormone decline levels out in the 60s. Then, we can try slowly weaning off therapy while monitoring for symptom recurrence. Some patients do resume or continue treatment in later years as needed if troublesome symptoms crop up again or bone loss accelerates. Every woman is unique so duration varies.
It is actually never too late to gain benefits from customized menopausal hormone therapy, although starting sooner maximizes advantages. Even initiating treatment 5-10 years after the final period can still help mitigate osteoporosis risk, boost brain health, improve hot flashes, support sexual health and desire, lift mood and energy levels, and more. We can develop programs tailored to your needs regardless of when you become our patient.
First, we sit down for a thorough history gathering both gynecological background and a full health overview. Then we check follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) blood levels which indicate ovarian reserve and menopausal status. If levels confirm postmenopause, we run an advanced hormone panel testing estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, T3, T4, TSH for comprehensive analysis of deficiencies and imbalances to address. Tracking symptom severity, lifestyle factors, and family health history helps guide customized treatment plans.
There are many complementary self-care strategies that support treatment success:
✔Balanced nutrition - Nutrient and phytoestrogen-rich diets aid hormone metabolism
✔Stress management - Yoga, meditation, social support, and adequate sleep conserve cortisol
✔Regular exercise - Stimulates beneficial endogenous hormones and neurotransmitters
✔Healthy weight - Excess adipose tissue can alter hormone levels so maintaining ideal BMI helps
✔Smoking/alcohol cessation - Eliminating these preserves hormones and overall wellness
We also suggest connecting with community groups, volunteering, journaling, outdoor time, supplements like maca and DHEA prohormones, and more depending on the individual patient’s needs and interests.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has shed light on the effective treatments available to ease the frustration of menopause symptoms for women in the Lehigh Acres region and empowered you to take proactive control of your health during this transition. Our compassionate, specialized team is here to listen and craft integrative solutions tailored to your unique needs. Contact Equilibrium Hormone Institute today to learn more and schedule your initial consultation.
