At HormoneHarmony in Havre de Grace, we understand that menopause can be a challenging transition. As a certified menopause practitioner with over 15 years of experience, I've helped countless women address sometimes debilitating symptoms and embrace this new phase of life. In this guide, you'll discover facts about menopause in regard to: Causes and Timing Symptoms and Health Risks Hormone Replacement Therapies Lifestyle Changes and Alternative Treatments Importance of Specialized Care I'll also highlight details about HormoneHarmony and why we're widely considered the region's menopause care experts. My goal is to educate and empower you to make informed decisions about managing menopause for optimal health and wellbeing.
Menopause marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycles and fertility. It's diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period.
The average age for menopause onset is 51, however, it can start between the ages of 40-58. This phase commonly lasts between 1-3 years as the ovaries gradually produce fewer reproductive hormones like estrogen.
When periods stop before age 40, it's considered premature menopause which affects roughly 1% of women. Premature menopause has multiple causes such as genetics, autoimmune disorders, or medical treatments like chemotherapy.
Fluctuating and declining hormones during perimenopause and menopause can trigger a variety of symptoms including:
Furthermore, the hormonal changes of menopause are linked to long term health risks like osteoporosis and heart disease when left untreated. Let's look closer at menopause, bone health and cardiovascular concerns.
That's where specialized menopause evaluation, testing and treatment can help mitigate risks and support long term wellbeing.
While healthy lifestyle choices are imperative, hormone replacement therapies are often needed to effectively manage moderate to severe menopause concerns.
There are two main categories of treatment:
Delivery methods include:
HormoneHarmony customizes treatment plans based on each woman's menopause types, symptoms, health profile, preferences, and treatment goals:
Relief of hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbances
Reduced risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis
Possible improvements in mood, memory and concentration
Restored vaginal tissue health and sexual function
Slowed skin aging and reduced facial wrinkles
Decreased risk factors for diabetes and heart disease
There are also specialized therapies to help prevent thinning hair and hair loss which can accompany menopause for some women.
Every treatment plan is tailored to maximize benefits and minimize risks on an individual basis. Most women can use low dose hormone therapy for menopause safely for many years under the guidance of a menopause expert. However, therapy isn't right for everyone. Read on to learn about who should avoid hormone treatments.
Women with a history of the following conditions require specialized evaluation before using hormone therapy:
HormoneHarmony conducts thorough diagnostic testing and risk assessments to determine if hormone therapy is advisable and what dosage and delivery method works best based on your health status.
We also offer effective non-hormonal therapies for symptom relief.
Now let's look at the lifestyle measures that complement hormone treatments to help women thrive through menopause and beyond.
While lifestyle measures help, clinical studies find the most significant menopause symptom improvements from professional medical care. Let's look at key reasons HormoneHarmony stands out as Maryland's preferred menopause treatment center.
HormoneHarmony was founded by Dr. Jane Smith, a board certified OB-GYN with a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. As a menopause expert trained at Mayo Clinic, she has an unmatched knowledge of the intricate hormonal and physiological changes across a woman's life stages.
Dr. Smith is a national educator and researcher in the field. Her bestselling books and educational programs empower women worldwide to understand hormone wellness.
At HormoneHarmony, we provide complete menopausal care including:
In addition to Dr. Smith, we have a diverse care team of nurses, nutritionists and mental health counselors. We partner closely with specialists in gynecology, endocrinology, cardiology and gastroenterology to ensure your individual needs are met.
Our goal is managing menopause for the best possible quality of life. We'll design an integrative care plan allowing you to feel like your pre-menopause self again.
We welcome you to schedule a risk assessment and consultation with our warm, down-to-earth team. You'll find a judgement-free zone focused completely on evidence based solutions tailored to your needs.
We're honored to support your menopausal transition and beyond through compassionate, personalized care as your dedicated menopause practitioners.
