Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through as they age. It marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycles and fertility. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can happen anywhere from 40-55 years old.
In the years leading up to menopause, women may experience peri-menopause, which comes with hormonal fluctuations and symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. This is all caused by the ovaries making less of the key hormones - estrogen and progesterone.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other treatment methods can provide relief from the sometimes debilitating menopausal symptoms. Treatment helps:
The longer you go without treatment, the worse the symptoms may become over time. Don't hesitate to seek help.
The first step is getting the right tests done to check your hormone levels. The key hormones that change during menopause and need to be evaluated are:
Estrogen is responsible for many female characteristics and functions. Declining estrogen during perimenopause and menopause causes issues like:
Progesterone works together with estrogen to regulate the menstrual cycle. Low progesterone can lead to symptoms like:
Testosterone plays roles in energy levels, sex drive, muscle and bone strength in both men and women. Low testosterone can cause:
The medical providers at Vitality Hormone Clinic have specialized training and extensive experience in treating hormone imbalances related to perimenopause, menopause, and andropause.
We provide customized treatment plans to help women and men regain optimal hormone levels and relieve uncomfortable symptoms that interfere with quality of life.
Our goal is to help patients feel healthy, energized, and empowered as they transition through the natural aging process.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can take different forms based on what works best for the unique needs of each patient.
Since falling estrogen levels are often the main culprit behind menopausal symptoms, estrogen therapy is commonly used to provide relief. Estrogen can be taken as a skin patch, vaginal creams, pills, gels or sprays.
Some of the benefits of estrogen HRT are:
When women still have a uterus, the estrogen is combined with progesterone. This helps prevent the lining of the uterus from thickening too much from estrogen alone (which could increase cancer risk).
Adding progesterone also provides extra protection for bones and can improve mood as well.
Some options for combined HRT:
Some women may also benefit from adding small doses of testosterone along with estrogen. Potential benefits include:
At Vitality Hormone Clinic, we can measure your testosterone levels and determine if supplemental therapy with DHEA, testosterone pills, patches or gels could help.
There are many forms of hormone therapy to choose from. The medical providers at Vitality Hormone Clinic determine the right treatment plan through our initial evaluation, lab testing and discussions about lifestyle and preferences.
We carefully monitor patients during treatment through follow up visits and lab work to ensure safety and optimal outcomes. Dosages are adjusted accordingly.
In addition to HRT, we offer alternative treatment options that can provide relief from menopause symptoms or enhance the benefits of hormone therapy. This includes:
Supplements that help promote hormone balance and wellbeing during menopause include:
For struggling with vaginal dryness, painful sex or incontinence - we offer non-surgical vaginal rejuvenation treatments. These stimulate collagen production and blood flow using lasers or radiofrequency technology.
We provide guidance on lifestyle, diet and other natural ways to promote hormone balance and minimize menopausal symptoms including:
The first step is booking your comprehensive evaluation with one of our hormone specialists at Vitality Hormone Clinic in Jacksonville.
Here's what you can expect:
Don't hesitate to take control and seek the treatment you deserve! Our caring medical staff is here to support you every step of the way. We look forward to helping you thrive during this transition into a new and exciting phase of life!
