Here at The Teggatz Clinic we specialize in menopause medicine. What is menopause medicine? Isn’t menopause a natural process?
Menopause is the natural transition in a woman’s life whereby her periods have stopped for 12 months. The years leading up to menopause represent a gradual decline in reproductive hormones which can be a tumultuous time in a woman’s life. This phase, called perimenopause, can last up to 10 years. The average age of menopause is 52 but is considered normal after age 45. This means that beginning at age 35, a woman can begin experiencing the effects of the decline in her reproductive hormones- namely estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
These symptoms can be mild for a few lucky women, and I’ve had patients say they “sailed through” menopause hardly noticing the change. This is the exception rather than the rule in my experience. Most women experience a significant change in their physical, emotional and cognitive well-being that can be mildly to significantly disruptive to their lives. Many women are not prepared for the disruption these symptoms cause since women live up to 50% of their lives AFTER menopause! It is time we give perimenopause and menopause the attention they deserve.
Here’s a list of the most common symptoms experienced by women during this time:
- Hot flashes, night sweats and warm rushes
- Brain fog and cognitive decline- this is very real; the brain relies on estrogen!
- Fatigue
- Mood changes varying from irritability and mild anxiety to full blown depression, generalized anxiety and suicidal ideation or attempts
- Decreased libido and loss of intimacy with partners
- Night waking, loss of quality sleep which drives inflammation and disease
- Joint pains
- Vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse
- Skin changes
- Weight gain and body composition changes- more fat around the waist and loss of muscle tone
To top it off, this occurs during the time many women are at the height of their careers, are caring for children, and often are caring for aging parents. Self-care gets dropped to the bottom of the list while women take care of everyone else, and the bottom line is that women suffer.
I have made this period in a woman’s life my professional focus because I see the need to empower women with the knowledge and tools to not only survive this period in their lives, but to thrive. Too often I have heard from women “I just don’t feel like myself anymore,” or “I feel like I am losing my mind.” There are very real, major changes going on in a woman’s body during this time, and not enough attention and medical research has been given to helping women during this season of their lives. Unfortunately, I frequently hear “I told my doctor about my symptoms, and she said this is a normal part of aging and there is nothing I can do about it.” It seems this way of thinking is slowly changing. For instance, there is now specialized training in menopause medicine which I have undertaken. Many people believe ob-gyns and primary care physicians are trained to care for women during this critical time of change, but the reality is woefully little time is spent in medical school, let alone residency, helping doctors know how to help women through perimenopause and menopause.
The good news is there is REAL help available! There are lifestyle changes that every woman can do to minimize her symptoms, namely optimizing sleep, reducing or eliminating sugar, alcohol and caffeine, eating an anti-inflammatory, whole foods, mostly organic diet high in plant-based foods, adequate protein and fiber and healthy fats. Reducing exposure to the toxins we are bombarded with in our modern environment is possible and necessary. Many toxins in the environment mimic our hormones and bind to our hormone receptors and their negative effects are very real. Learning to manage our stress is easy to say but is difficult to put into practice. Managing stress is necessary as stress hormones drive inflammation and can negatively affect sex hormones, making symptoms worse. I tell my patients that prioritizing self-care, movement and exercise and strength training during this stage of life is non-negotiable if we want to age gracefully. I have seen the women who make meaningful connections and who manage or better yet eliminating toxic relationships experience greater happiness and satisfaction in life as well as improve symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, anxiety and depression and even hot flashes.
The most significant and meaningful treatment for perimenopausal symptoms by far is the use of bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT) with estrogen, progesterone and testosterone when needed. These are the most powerful biochemical messengers that our bodies are designed to thrive on. Their decline during perimenopause and menopause are what drive all the symptoms women experience. More importantly, however, their decline drives the loss of bone, muscle, cardiovascular and cognitive health, bladder, skin and vaginal health and are what contributes to urinary incontinence and diapers, osteoporotic fractures and walkers, wheelchairs, and nursing home admissions. Short-term use of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps women feel like themselves again. Longterm, the bottom line is BHRT helps women live longer, healthier lives.
If you are having symptoms of perimenopause and menopause and would like help navigating the changes you are experiencing, please come see us at The Teggatz Clinic. I promise we will listen to your concerns and empower you to thrive. Let this be the best time of your life for the rest of your life.
