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Menopause Explained: Understanding Symptoms, Treatments, and Long-Term Wellness

Introduction

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years, typically occurring around age 51 when menstrual periods stop permanently. While this natural transition can bring challenging symptoms that affect your quality of life, there are effective treatments available—and you don’t have to go through it alone. Support and care can make all the difference.

Menopause

At MD Total Wellness in Brea, CA, we specialize in individualized care to alleviate menopause symptoms and support overall health. Led by Allison Mollet, PA-C, a certified menopause specialist, our team provides compassionate guidance to help you navigate this transition with ease.

Understanding Menopause

Menopause is defined as the point when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, signaling the end of ovarian function. It usually happens between ages 45 and 55, with an average age of 51 in the United States. During menopause, hormone levels decline significantly, leading to various physical and emotional changes. Unlike perimenopause, which involves fluctuating hormones, menopause represents a stable low-hormone state. Understanding this transition—including common symptoms, potential health impacts, and available treatment options—can help you navigate the changes with confidence and feel more in control of your health.

Common Symptoms of Menopause

The drop in hormones during menopause can cause a range of symptoms that affect daily life. These may include:

While some women experience mild symptoms, others experience symptoms that are highly disruptive. Early intervention can provide symptom relief and prevent long-term health issues like osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease.

Managing Menopause with Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) is a well-established approach to restoring hormonal balance using hormones that are chemically identical to those naturally produced by the body.  Customized BHT typically includes estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, carefully tailored to your unique needs to help relieve symptoms effectively. By replenishing depleted hormones, this therapy addresses the root cause of menopausal symptoms, offering support for both physical and emotional well-being. 

The Advantages of BHT

Choosing BHT offers numerous benefits for symptom relief and long-term health:

  • Estrogen and progesterone reduce hot flashes and night sweats, improving sleep and daily comfort.
  • Balanced hormones help stabilize emotions and enhance mental clarity.
  • Estrogen alleviates vaginal dryness and urinary issues, enhancing intimacy and reducing infection risk.
  • BHT initiated soon after menopause can decrease osteoporosis and cardiovascular risks.
  • BHT, particularly testosterone, boosts energy, supports libido, and maintains muscle strength, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle.
  • BHT supports skin elasticity, hair health, and metabolic function, helping you maintain youthfulness.

Research shows that BHT can offer these benefits with a favorable safety profile, especially when compared to synthetic hormone options, making it a well-tolerated and effective choice for many women navigating menopause.

Administration Methods for BHT

BHT is tailored to your preferences and needs, with various delivery options:

  • Available as transdermal patches, gels, creams, vaginal inserts, subcutaneous pellets, or injections. Non-oral forms are preferred to minimize clotting risks and other side effects.
  • Generally prescribed as oral capsules to safeguard the uterus and aid sleep.
  • Delivered via creams, gels, injections, or pellets. Oral forms of testosterone are generally not used.

Addressing Misconceptions About Hormone Therapy

The 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study raised concerns about synthetic hormone therapy, reporting small increases in risks such as breast cancer and heart disease. This led to widespread caution and a decline in hormone use. However, more recent research and reanalyses have shown that bioidentical hormones, especially when started early in menopause, do not carry the same risks and even offer protective benefits. Experts now endorse the use of bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) for women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, emphasizing that the benefits often outweigh the risks. Because bioidentical hormones cannot be patented, they receive less pharmaceutical promotion and are less commonly used in conventional healthcare, although evidence supports their safety and use.

Navigating Treatment Challenges

Optimizing bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) takes time and a personalized approach, as each woman’s response is unique. Factors such as lifestyle, genetics, and existing health conditions can all influence how your body responds to treatment, often requiring thoughtful adjustments along the way. Partnering with an experienced provider is key to tailoring your regimen and monitoring your progress through both symptoms and lab results.

Expert Care at MD Total Wellness

At MD Total Wellness in Brea, CA, we offer comprehensive menopause management with personalized BHT plans. Allison Mollet, PA-C, MSCP, brings specialized expertise to create treatments aligned with your goals. Our offerings include:

    • There is no-one-size-fits-all approach to BHT. We tailer personalized plans based on your labs, goals, symptoms, and preferences.
    • We provide ongoing follow-up and monitoring to optimize your therapy and get your “hormone footprint” right.

Empower Your Menopause Journey

Embrace menopause as a new chapter—don’t let symptoms hold you back. Schedule a free consultation with Allison Mollet, PA-C, MSCP, at MD Total Wellness in Brea, CA, to reclaim your vitality and safeguard your future health.

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