Menopause is a normal part of the aging process for women. Menopause is due to low hormone levels and marks the end of your reproductive years. Your estrogen levels decrease dramatically during this time, which causes most of the symptoms commonly associated with menopause such as hot flashes.

Menopause begins with a phase often referred to as perimenopause. During perimenopause, the supply of mature eggs in your ovaries decreases and your production of estrogen and progesterone fluctuates and also diminishes. This typically lasts three to five years and can include frequent or skipped periods, shorter cycles, increased PMS, mood swings and hot flashes that come and go unpredictably.

The symptoms of menopause can include:

• Hot and/or cold flashes, night sweats
• Joint or muscle pains
• Decreased or Loss of interest in sex - low libido
• Dry eyes, skin or mouth
• An urge to urinate more often, especially at night
• Insomnia, trouble getting to sleep or falling back asleep
• Emotional issues - irritability, mood swings, anxiety or mild depression
• Mental health issues - "brain fog", forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness - often due to chronic sleep deprivation
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Discomfort during sex (due to vaginal dryness, this might develop later)

After menopause, women are also more susceptible to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis (loss of bone density), and urinary incontinence. Nearly all of the above conditions can be improved with the careful use of hormone therapy.

There are treatments available at Pasadena Pellet Therapy to help you with the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.

Treatment options include:

• Lifestyle changes-increase exercise, avoiding stress, healthy diet, decrease carbs
• Vitamins, supplements and non-prescription medications
• Non-hormonal prescription medications
• Hormone therapy (including low-dose hormone pills, skin patches, topical gels or creams, or bioidentical hormone therapy in the form of pellets placed under the skin)

To determine the correct course of action, the doctors at Pasadena Pellet Therapy will take into account your age, overall health and medical history, as well as what your symptoms are, how often they occur, their severity, and what you’re currently doing to deal with them.

We will educate you on menopause and determine which of your symptoms are from menopause and which are connected to the natural process of aging. Your tolerance for specific medicines, procedures, or therapies is taken into consideration before a customized treatment plan is created just for you.