Menopause
Peri-menopause may occur anytime between the ages of 35-50. Wide hormonal fluctuations bring on missed “periods” alternating with normal menses. Marked emotional changes, i.e. PMS, can occur all month long when ovulation ceases causing less progesterone in the bloodstream and an excess of estrogen.
Menopause is 12 months cessation of menstruation. Common symptoms of Menopause are:
- No Symptoms
Palpitations- Headaches
- Night sweats
- Memory difficulty
- Drying or irritation of vagina
- Depression
- Weight gain
- Low libido
- Hot flashes
Many women will ask, "what is a hot flash?". It is a sudden feeling of heat, increased heart rate (palpitations), flushing of skin, sweating, and insomnia. Menopause is a biological and psychological event in a woman's life. The issue with many women is a decreased quality of life when postmenopausal years are suppose to be the best years of their lives.
Women can have a better quality of life:
- Fewer menopausal symptoms
- Maintain youthful appearance
- Avoid wrinkles
- Maintain sex life
- Maintain healthy bones
- Avoid heart problems
- Avoid senile changes
Women are requesting anything to maintain quality of life. Is this prevention or is it healthy aging?
Aging is a decline in the immune function. The body's muscle function and strength decreases while fat masses increases. Bone density decreases and we experience diminished capacity for cellular protein synthesis. Aging eventually leads us to age-related diseases. Healthy aging medicine slows the loss and decline of aging.
A medical intervention program utilizing natural hormone replacement can delay the aging process and allow us to live for a longer period in a relatively intact state. This is "quality-of-life" medicine. This is preventive medicine.
Hormone Replacement Therapy will probably be the most important decision a woman will make in her lifetime. The issue is "Quality of Life". Every woman faces enormous confusion with making this decision – it is a nightmare! This is a decision that should be made after much research and discussion with varying sources. It is NOT a 10-minute office visit decision. Whatever the decision is, it always needs to be revisited and re-evaluated.