If you’re nearing middle age and on the cusp of menopause—a phase called perimenopause—you may be experiencing symptoms associated with declining estrogen levels. Hot flashes, mood swings, diminished interest in sex, and many other symptoms may affect your quality of life. Customized estrogen therapy at our clinics in Louisiana and Mississippi boosts the levels of estrogen and other hormones that wane as you enter menopause.
Even though you may have friends or family members who experienced minimal menopause-related symptoms, that won’t necessarily be the case for you. Roughly 1.5 million women in the U.S. between the ages of 45 and 55 experience menopausal symptoms, often involving hot flashes, flushing, night sweats, and other uncomfortable physical and emotional reactions. Hormone therapy isn’t recommended for women older than 60.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy at Rejuvime Medical offers you a treatment path designed to address your specific symptoms. The most common symptoms include:
You may only experience one or two of these symptoms, but they’re often intertwined. For example, you may lose interest in sex because of vaginal dryness or because you’re not getting enough sleep. In addition to these symptoms, reduced estrogen levels can contribute to the loss of bone density and an elevated risk of heart disease.
Even though estrogen is the primary female sex hormone, hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause symptoms typically includes a combination of hormones.
Our hormone therapy specialists work with three main hormones for menopausal relief:
Estrogen: One of the most instrumental hormones for maintaining female health. It’s responsible for developing the female characteristics of the body. During menopause, estrogen levels plummet to one-tenth of what they are during your 20s.
Progesterone: This sex hormone is involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis (the forming of an embryo). It is coupled with estrogen treatments to protect your body and boost the estrogen’s effectiveness. Progesterone helps prevent the potential side effects that could come with estrogen therapy (such as excessive uterine lining growth, which can contribute to a higher risk of cancer).
Testosterone: While commonly known as a male sex hormone, testosterone actually plays an important role for both men and women. It impacts your cognitive function, libido, and overall energy levels. Supplemental testosterone can help sharpen your mind and stabilize your mood during menopause.
Hormone therapy for women who have had a hysterectomy usually only involves estrogen.
The form of administration varies with estrogen therapy and depends on the specific symptoms the treatment is targeting. Estrogen can be delivered via pills, creams, or pellets. If you’re prescribed progesterone, it may be combined with estrogen in a pill but will more likely be given separately to prevent breakthrough bleeding.
Our hormone specialists customize your estrogen therapy after conducting blood tests and then monitor your progress and make adjustments as needed.
Symptom relief occurs gradually, and you may not even notice the changes at first. It typically takes weeks or months to recognize that you’re experiencing fewer symptoms and that your quality of life has improved. Even though it can seem like a long time before HRT begins to work, the benefits can last indefinitely.
How long you remain on HRT depends on your personal risk factors and symptoms. Most women experience the worst symptoms during the first few years of menopause. Over time, as your symptoms improve, we can taper the dose and eventually stop HRT.
An influential study published 20 years ago led to much confusion about the safety of hormone replacement therapy to treat menopause symptoms. Ensuing research, however, demonstrated the health benefits of HRT generally outweighed the risks. A joint statement from the North American Menopause Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and The Endocrine Society declared that hormone therapy is an acceptable option for relatively young (up to age 59 or within 10 years of menopause) and healthy women who are bothered by moderate to severe menopausal symptoms.
At Rejuvime Medical, we customize estrogen therapy based on your specific circumstances. You can request a consultation in Baton Rouge, the New Orleans area, or at one of our other locations in Louisiana and Mississippi using the online form. Or call us at (225) 960-1580 to schedule an appointment.
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