Peri / Menopause
“I see menopause as the start of the next fabulous phase of life as a woman.
Kim Cattrell
Now is a time to “tune in” to our bodies and embrace this new chapter.
If anything, I feel more myself and love my body more now, at 58 years old, than ever before.”
Menopause is inevitable, either because of surgery or natural aging. When your ovaries no longer produce high levels of hormones, the natural changes we think of as “menopause” take place. Ovaries are the reproductive glands which both store eggs and release them into the fallopian tubes, and produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone as well as testosterone. Together, estrogen and progesterone are the controlling hormones that cause menstruation. As well, estrogen also influences how your body uses calcium and maintains cholesterol levels in the blood.
Many women confuse menopause with perimenopause.
Perimenopause or “menopause transition”: Perimenopause can begin eight to 10 years before menopause when the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen. It usually starts when you’re in your 40s. Perimenopause lasts up until menopause, the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last one to two years of perimenopause, the drop in estrogen accelerates. At this stage, many people may experience menopause symptoms. But you are still having menstrual cycles during this time and can get pregnant.
Menopause: Menopause is the point when you no longer have menstrual periods. At this stage, your ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen. Menopause is diagnosed when you’ve gone without a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
What are the symptoms of menopause?
You may be transitioning into menopause if you begin experiencing some or all of the following symptoms:
- Hot flashes (a sudden feeling of warmth that spreads over the body).
- Night sweats and/or cold flashes.
- Vaginal dryness; discomfort during sex.
- Urinary urgency (a pressing need to urinate more frequently).
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
- Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings, mild depression).
- Dry skin, dry eyes or dry mouth.
People who are still in the menopause transition (perimenopause) may also experience:
- Breast tenderness.
- Worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Irregular periods or skipping periods.
- Periods that are heavier or lighter than usual.
Some people might also experience:
- Racing heart.
- Headaches.
- Joint and muscle aches and pains.
- Changes in libido (sex drive).
- Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses (often temporary).
- Weight gain.
- Hair loss or thinning.
At Enhance Aesthetics, we understand what you are going through. With comprehensive testing, we can begin a regimen of bio-identical hormones to help you throughout this transition.
Bioidentical hormones are different from those used in traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in that they’re identical chemically to those our bodies produce naturally and are made from plant estrogens. Bioidentical hormones are safer because they are “natural” and identical in makeup to the hormones the body produces naturally. The hormones used in traditional HRT are made from the urine of pregnant horses and other synthetic hormones. Call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our practitioner to talk about your concerns.