Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through, marking the end of menstrual cycles and fertility. While a normal part of aging, menopause can bring uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irritability, and interrupted sleep. The hormonal changes associated with menopause can also increase risks for certain health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.
The good news is that menopause symptoms can be treated! Hormone therapy is an effective option for relieving menopause symptoms and protecting long-term health. This is especially true when treatment begins early in menopause. At Harmony Hormone Clinic in Amarillo, we specialize in individualized hormone therapy to help women thrive through menopause and beyond.
Below you'll find a comprehensive guide to our menopause services. We'll explain how hormone therapy works, who can benefit, and what to expect during treatment at our welcoming Amarillo clinic. Discover how our expert physicians and staff can partner with you for optimal menopause care.
Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years. It's diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. This happens because the ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control menstrual cycles.
Menopause typically begins between the ages of 45-55. The average age is 51 in the United States. However, it can occur earlier due to surgery, cancer treatment, or certain autoimmune disorders. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. This transitional time can last up to 10 years!
During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate and start to decline. This sparks common symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. Once estrogen levels have sufficiently dropped off, the final menstrual period occurs and a woman is considered menopausal.
The most bothersome symptom for many women is hot flashes - sudden feelings of intense warmth and sweating. Night sweats can disrupt sleep. But menopause impacts more than comfort. The estrogen drop also causes physical changes like vaginal dryness and thinning hair or skin. Mental health can suffer too. Many women report mood swings, anxiety, irritability, trouble focusing, and memory lapses.
Over time, low estrogen from menopause contributes to higher risks for serious health conditions:
The good news? Menopause hormone therapy can prevent these declines in health! But treatment should begin soon after menopause starts for the greatest benefits.
Menopause hormone therapy restores estrogen to more youthful levels. This relieves troublesome symptoms and rejuvenates tissues that depend on estrogen. There are two main types of hormone therapy:
Estrogen is the primary hormone responsible for menopause symptoms. During treatment, estrogen tablets, patches, gels, or vaginal rings supply steady hormone levels. This stabilizes body temperature and reduces hot flashes. Estrogen also prevents bone loss, vaginal thinning, and some of the cardiac effects of menopause.
However, estrogen alone can increase the risk of endometrial cancer in women with a uterus. So, most patients require a combination of estrogen plus progestin (EPT). The progestin protects uterine health by preventing overgrowth of the endometrium.
Both types of hormone therapy come in various formulations. Our physicians work with you to choose the route of administration and dosing schedule best suited to your lifestyle and health needs.
Acupuncture has emerged as an effective complementary therapy for managing menopause symptoms. Clinical studies have shown acupuncture can help reduce hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, anxiety, and depression in peri- and postmenopausal women. As an ancient Chinese practice, acupuncture provides a natural way to find relief during this transitional life stage when hormone levels are fluctuating.
The following women can benefit from hormone therapy:
Hormone therapy is generally not recommended for women with:
Harmony Hormone Clinic physicians review your health history and risk factors to determine if hormone therapy is appropriate for you. The best candidates start treatment near the onset of menopause for optimal benefits.
Our compassionate physicians and staff provide attentive care to women in Amarillo and the surrounding Texas Panhandle region. At your initial visit, we:
Follow-up appointments monitor your response to therapy. We adjust dosing if needed to keep symptoms controlled while avoiding side effects. Patients are typically seen 1-2 times yearly for ongoing care.
In addition to in-office appointments, you have phone and email access to your Harmony Hormone Clinic provider. We also offer telehealth visits for your convenience.
Hormone therapy is a long-term commitment. Most women remain on treatment for relief of menopause symptoms and continued health protection. Our goal is to make hormone therapy as easy and effective as possible while you go through this transition.
The natural aging process of menopause shouldn't hamper your quality of life. With individualized treatment from Harmony Hormone Clinic, you can feel like yourself again. Our personalized care helps you:
We also understand the holistic nature of menopause care. That's why our guidance extends beyond medication to include:
Our comprehensive approach helps women transition through menopause safely and gracefully. You deserve to feel your best during this next phase of womanhood. Contact Harmony Hormone Clinic today to schedule a consultation about hormone therapy tailored to your specific needs.
