The Most Effective Ways to Treat Menopausal Symptoms

The Most Effective Ways to Treat Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause may be a “natural” part of aging for women, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a pleasant and enjoyable experience. Many women have significant symptoms in the months and years leading up to the end of their periods (a time known as perimenopause), and some women continue to experience those symptoms even after menstruation has stopped. While you can’t prevent menopause from occurring, there are treatments aimed at reducing or relieving symptoms so you can lead a more comfortable, more “normal” life. Knowing all your treatment options is the key to finding a course of therapy that works best for you.

What causes menopause symptoms?

Menopause occurs when your body begins slowing down its production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones involved in menstruation and reproduction. In fact, when we hear the word estrogen, most of us think solely of the hormone’s effects on those two functions. Actually, estrogen and progesterone play roles in many other processes as well, and that means when the supply of these hormones declines, we can experience a wide range of symptoms at varying degrees of severity. Depending on how your body reacts, the symptoms you experience could be a lot different from those your friend or even your sister experiences.

Hot flashes are arguably the most well-known symptom of menopause, but they’re hardly the only one. Other symptoms include:

• Night sweats
• Irritability or moodiness
• Problems sleeping
• Difficulty focusing
• Urinary incontinence
• Loss of sexual desire
• Fatigue
• Loss of muscle tone
• Weight gain
• Thinning hair on your scalp
• Increased hair growth on your face
• Dry skin
• Vaginal dryness
• Painful intercourse
• Changes in appetite
• Very heavy menstrual flow or unpredictable periods

Yep, that’s a lot of symptoms, and what’s more, your symptoms can change throughout perimenopause, which can really take a toll on your quality of life.

Finding relief for menopause symptoms

Since menopause affects so many aspects of your life, it makes sense your treatment should be comprehensive. At Expect Wellness, Dr. Hall uses a “whole patient” approach to menopause care, customizing each treatment plan to suit the symptoms, lifestyle, overall wellness, and goals of the individual patient.

Lifestyle changes

To begin with, Dr. Hall can help you adopt some important lifestyle changes that can help reduce some of your symptoms. For instance, “fine-tuning” your diet to include fewer fats, more soy, and more fiber can improve your energy, and it can also improve symptoms of constipation which can sometimes occur when periods become irregular. Getting more exercise can also help by maintaining a healthy weight and stabilizing your mood. Plus, being more physically active can also help you get better sleep so you feel less fatigued.

TempSure Vitalia®

If you have symptoms of vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, or painful intercourse, Dr. Hall might recommend TempSure Vitalia, a state-of-the-art treatment that uses laser energy to gently but effectively restore the vagina. TempSure Vitalia stimulates collagen development to restore tonicity in the vagina, and it can also help promote natural lubrication so intercourse is more comfortable. Treatments may also decrease your risk of itching, irritation, and infections, all of which are more common in women with vaginal dryness.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

HRT is a popular option for many women because it can treat so many symptoms. Dr. Hall uses bioidentical hormones, synthetic hormones that use the same chemical structure as the hormones your body naturally produces. In traditional hormone therapy, the hormones used had a different chemical structure, which made it more difficult for the body to use the hormones and, importantly, very difficult to eliminate them. That meant the hormones would build up and cause potentially dangerous medical problems. Because bioidentical hormones are “recognized” and used just like your natural hormones, your body is able to process them and eliminate excess, so it’s much safer than traditional HRT. Hormones can be administered in several ways. Dr. Hall recommends pellet therapy, which uses tiny “pellets” implanted under your skin. The pellet releases hormones over time to mimic the way your body releases natural hormones for optimal effects.

Let Dr. Hall customize a menopause treatment plan for you

Don’t let menopause symptoms take a toll on your quality of life. At Expect Wellness, we can help you find the relief you need. To learn how we can create a treatment plan just for you, book an appointment online today.