Menopause is a natural transition marking the end of a woman's reproductive years. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. During this time, hormone levels fluctuate and start to decline, leading to changes in menstrual bleeding and various symptoms.
Many women experience symptoms related to menopause, resulting from declining estrogen levels. Common symptoms include:
Menopause is typically diagnosed when a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. To confirm, doctors may order blood tests measuring hormone levels (estrogen, FSH).
Some women go through early menopause, either naturally or due to surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Blood tests help determine this.
Women experiencing moderate to severe menopause symptoms are encouraged to seek treatment at a menopause specialist clinic like Vital Hormones Clinic.
Lifestyle measures alone are not always enough. Hormone therapy and other medical options can provide relief from symptoms and help prevent long-term health consequences of hormone changes.
Hormone therapy (HT), including estrogen alone or with progestogen, is an effective medical treatment for menopausal symptoms.
HT is approved to treat hot flashes and night sweats, which it does very effectively through restoring estrogen levels.
Other benefits:
The risks related to HT differ depending on type, dose, and duration of use. Short-term, low-dose therapy is considered safe for most women.
Potential side effects include spotting, breast tenderness, and bloating. Risks can include blood clots, stroke, heart disease, breast and endometrial cancer.
At Vital Hormones Clinic, our menopause specialists carefully consider each woman's medical history and needs to determine the best HT approach. Options may include:
While hormone therapy is often crucial for symptom relief, lifestyle measures can provide additional help both during and after treatment.
Eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly helps reduce menopause symptoms and risk of long-term conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
Practicing effective stress management techniques minimizes mood swings, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues related to hormone changes. Useful strategies include:
Smoking can worsen hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Quitting offers health benefits like reduced risk for various cancers and heart disease. Speak to your doctor for cessation support.
When seeking personalized menopause treatment in Midlothian, Vital Hormones Clinic is an exceptional choice. Reasons to choose us include:
Our clinic is staffed by board-certified healthcare providers specially trained in menopause and hormone therapy:
We develop custom treatment plans tailored to each woman's needs and preferences.
In addition to hormone testing and medical therapies, we help women implement lifestyle changes essential to managing menopause:
As the only dedicated menopause clinic in Midlothian, we understand the local community and climate. We incorporate this knowledge into our care.
For example, given Midlothian's mild weather, we guide women toward outdoor relaxation spots and walking routes to enjoy during treatment. These include Garfield Park, Pioneer Park, and Midlothian Meadows Forest Preserve.
Studies show that practicing yoga can help relieve many menopausal symptoms. Specific poses that twist, stretch and stimulate organs, glands and nerves in the abdomen and pelvis may aid hormonal balance, mood, sleep and hot flashes during this transition.
If you feel you may be approaching menopause or suffer from related symptoms, take steps now to protect your health. Here is an overview of starting care at our Vital Hormones Clinic:
Call our Midlothian office or book online to schedule an initial menopause consultation. We offer extended hours to accommodate busy schedules.
Our first step is complete medical testing to confirm menopause and check hormone levels and health markers:
Local labs like Midlothian Medical Complex can perform needed tests.
With test results, our menopause doctors devise a customized treatment plan. This may include:
Follow-up appointments monitor progress and adjust therapies as needed.
Menopause can present challenges, but timely treatment tailored to your needs helps ensure this transition won't prevent you from enjoying life.
As leading Midlothian menopause specialists, we equip women with individualized care, medical therapies, up-to-date information, and lifestyle support for relief through menopause and beyond.
Contact Vital Hormones Clinic today to start regaining your vitality. We are here to listen and help you thrive!
