Menopause treatment Noblesville, IN - Hormone Harmony

Understanding Menopause and Its Symptoms

Menopause occurs when a woman's ovaries stop releasing eggs. This halt in estrogen production signals the end of fertility. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause, which can last up to 10 years as hormone levels fluctuate. This instability is what causes many of the bothersome symptoms associated with menopause.

Some of the most common menopause symptoms include:

• Hot flashes - Sudden feeling of intense warmth in upper body, sometimes with sweating and red skin. Can occur a few times a month or multiple times a day.
• Night sweats - Severe hot flashes at night leading to drenching sweats and disrupted sleep.
• Vaginal dryness - Thinning and dryness of vaginal tissue due to less estrogen. Can cause pain during sex.
• Mood changes - Irritability, anxiety, depression, trouble focusing, "brain fog."
• Sleep issues - Hot flashes or changing hormones disrupt sleep. Insomnia is common.
• Urinary problems - Need to urinate more frequently or urgently as lining of urethra gets thinner. Increased risk of UTIs.
• Changing cholesterol - Shifting estrogen leads to higher LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol.
• Loss of bone density - Lower estrogen accelerates bone loss, increasing risk of osteoporosis.
• Weight gain - Metabolism slows down as muscle and fat distribution changes. Tendency to put on weight in belly.
• Hair and skin changes - Hair may thin, skin becomes drier and more wrinkled.

Not every woman experiences significant discomfort during menopause. Those with moderate to severe symptoms can find relief through lifestyle adjustments, hormone therapy, prescription medications, alternative medicine, and more.

Hormone Therapy and Treatment Options

The main treatment for bothersome menopause symptoms is to supplement the hormones that are diminishing. This can be done through:

• Estrogen therapy - Usually prescribed as a low-dose estrogen pill, skin patch, vaginal ring, or cream. Replaces estrogen to reduce hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary issues, and bone loss.
• Combination therapy - Estrogen combined with progestin to balance the risk of uterine cancer from estrogen alone. Taken as a daily pill.
• Bioidentical hormones - Made from plant compounds to match natural estrogen, progesterone and/or testosterone. Compounded by a pharmacy into pills, patches, gels or creams.
• Tibolone - Synthetic steroid hormone that acts like estrogen but also relieves hot flashes. Available as a pill.
• Testosterone - Small amounts of supplemental testosterone can improve libido, energy, mood, and bone density. Given as pill, skin patch, gel or pellet.
• Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) - Medications like tamoxifen, raloxifene, ospemifene that act like estrogen on bones and vagina but not breast or uterus. Pill form.
• Antidepressants - Certain SSRIs and SNRIs can reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings for some women.

Hormone Harmony aims to find the optimal hormone therapy for each patient based on medical history, risk factors, symptoms and lifestyle. Treatment plans are customized and adjustable over time. Our clinicians stay up to date on the latest research to provide the safest, most effective options.

We also offer compounded bioidentical hormones prepared in our on-site pharmacy to match each woman's individual hormone needs. Many patients see excellent relief from custom bioidenticals.

Lifestyle Changes and Complementary Therapies

While hormone therapy is the foundation of menopause treatment, making certain lifestyle adjustments can amplify the benefits. Here are some tips:

• Healthy diet - Focus on whole foods like vegetables, fruits, lean proteins to improve cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight. Get enough calcium and vitamin D for bone health.
• Regular exercise - Aerobic, strength training, yoga - all helpful to reduce hot flashes, improve mood, sleep, heart health. Aim for 150 minutes per week. Great local gyms include Hormone Harmony Fitness Center, OrangeTheory Fitness, LA Fitness.
• Stress relief - Try yoga, meditation, deep breathing, massage. Manage stress levels for better mood, sleep, and health. Top spas include Serenity Day Spa, Massage Heights, Hand & Stone Massage.
• Stay cool - Use fans, avoid hot tubs and saunas, dress in layers, keep room temperature cool at night.
• No smoking - Smoking worsens hot flashes and health risks. It's a great time to quit! Talk to your doctor about stop-smoking aids.
• Limit alcohol - No more than one drink per day as alcohol can trigger hot flashes.

Hormone Harmony also offers complementary therapies like acupuncture, herbal remedies, diet plans, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and more to reduce menopause symptoms naturally. Let our holistic health experts craft a personalized care plan to fit your needs.

The Benefits of Menopause Treatment with Hormone Harmony

Seeking treatment for menopause through Hormone Harmony offers many advantages for women in the Noblesville area including:

• Relief from debilitating symptoms like night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia and more through expertly prescribed hormone therapy, medications or alternative medicine.
• Customized treatment plans tailored to your unique medical history, risk factors and preferences.
• The latest hormone therapies and compounded bioidentical hormones made on-site to fit your body's needs.
• Ongoing monitoring and dosage adjustments for optimal symptom control as hormones fluctuate.
• Advice on lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, stress management to complement hormone therapy.
• Compassionate care from our women's health experts to make menopause more manageable.
• Convenient telehealth options in addition to our Noblesville office for visits.
• Help preventing long-term menopause risks like heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
• Improved energy, mood, sleep, sexual function, focus and overall quality of life.
• Empowerment to thrive through the changes of menopause and embrace this new life stage.

The transition through perimenopause and menopause is different for every woman. At Hormone Harmony, we offer the full range of treatment options along with caring support to help you find the solutions that are right for your menopause journey.

We are dedicated to guiding Noblesville-area women to better health and wellbeing during menopause and beyond.