Menopause symptoms and treatment using BHRT

03/07

BHRT

Hormone Replacement

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Overview of menopause and statistics

Menopause is a natural process and occurs when a woman permanently stops having menstrual periods (diagnosed after 12 months of no menstrual periods). The reproductive cycle begins to slow down and eventually stops. Patients begin to make less estrogen, a hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle.

According to statistics from the National Library of Medicine, approximately 1.3 million women in the United States become menopausal each year. The average age is 51– 52 years old, but 5% of women experience early menopause at 40, and there are 1% of cases when a woman experiences premature menopause before the age of 40.

Perimenopause – "transition period", time when the body makes a natural transition to menopause, which marks the end of reproductive age.

Menopause – "the end" of the monthly menstrual period and reproductive system.

Postmenopause – is the period after menopause when a woman does not have her period for more than a year. In postmenopause, menopausal symptoms may lessen or stop completely, but some women continue to experience symptoms for longer.

Causes of menopause

Resources state that women who smoke and are underweight experience menopause faster, though being overweight does not seem to have an impact. Often, menopause occurs at about the same age as the patient`s mother. But it is worth remembering the peculiarity of the female body, and that this manifests in each woman in its own way.

It’s worth noting that menopause can occur for other reasons besides natural factors. These include premature menopause, which we have already mentioned: when a woman has an ovarian failure, it is associated not only with smoking but also with radiation exposure, and chemotherapy drugs, which impair the blood supply to the ovaries.

Surgery Menopause can also occur when a woman underwent surgery to remove one or both ovaries; after all, the ovaries produce hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. Therefore, such surgery results in menopause immediately. Moreover, such women, unfortunately, experience more severe menopausal symptoms than if menopause had occurred naturally. This is because hormonal changes occur suddenly rather than gradually over several years. If it is an operation to remove the uterus, it usually does not cause immediate menopause, but a woman no longer has menstruation.

Chemotherapy Cancer treatment can stop a woman's periods, which is not a necessary consequence of chemotherapy treatment, but it is possible.

As a rule, menopause brings big changes in a woman’s life, because it takes away the ability of women to give birth. However, this is not the only consequence, menopause is also accompanied by a number of symptoms and various manifestations. In this article, we will describe how menopause manifests itself and what hormone therapy treatments we offer.

Menopause symptoms

Every woman’s body is unique. According to the National Institute on Aging, there are women who have mild symptoms, some who do not experience discomfort, and some who may have more severe symptoms – and what is very interesting is that it also depends on ethnicity and race.

The main symptoms that can occur:

Hot flashes. In some women, these hot flashes can last for several years, and the woman experiences sudden hot flashes all over the body or in just the upper part. The face and neck may turn red, red spots may appear on the back or arms, and heavy sweating or cold shivering may occur.

Sleep. There may be problems with sleep – a person wakes up too early or has difficulty falling asleep. There may be night sweats.

Loss of bladder control. Urine may leak out during exercise, sneezing, coughing, or laughing, or there is a sudden urge to urinate. This happens because the vaginal and urethral tissues lose their elasticity. A woman may also have more urinary tract infections.

Mood swings. Scientists do not know what this is due to, so they often conflate it with things like family problems, children growing up, or parents aging - such everyday problems that people are always concerned about.

Body changes. Due to changes in hormones, a person can lose muscle and gain more fat, slower metabolism, and loss of breast fullness. Skin and hair may become thinner

Sexuality and genital health. A woman's vagina may become drier due to reduced moisture production and loss of elasticity. Therefore, sexual intercourse may cause discomfort for a woman, and the desire for sexual intercourse may decrease due to decreased sensitivity.

Menopause treatment using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

One of the most effective ways to reduce symptoms of menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

What is the difference between HRT and BHRT?

HRT involves the use of manufactured hormones from synthetic sources, while bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) involves the use of hormones derived from natural sources.

BHRT is produced in a laboratory from plants (wild yam, cactus, or soy), but the structure and function of these hormones are identical to those of hormones produced by the human body.

BHRT can be beneficial because it contains hormones that are similar to the ones naturally produced in the body, which can lead to fewer side effects and a more comfortable transition for the body.

Mega Aid uses bioidentical hormones for perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms.

As the amount of hormones decreases with age, this causes the symptoms we described earlier.

Visit our page about Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy treatment:

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More advantages of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy: improves sexual experience by increasing estrogen levels; makes nails and hair stronger by increasing the production of proteins such as collagen; promotes better sleep, as hormone therapy helps to stabilize hormonal levels; reduces menopausal symptoms (night sweats, mood swings, lack of energy, hot flashes).

Bioidentical hormones are quite common, with studies showing that approximately 1 to 2.5 million women in the United States over the age of 40 are taking combined bioidentical hormones.

Types of hormones used in replacement therapy for menopause

Progesterone and testosterone are the most common bioidentical hormones, and Mega Aid also uses estradiol, pregnanolone, and estriol in hormone replacement treatment plans.

Progesterone: helps to improve vaginal symptoms, including dryness, itching, burning and pain during intercourse. Prevents mood swings and disorders such as depression and anxiety. In one study of progesterone supplementation, it was proven that progesterone supplementation contributed to higher quality deep sleep and less night sweats.

Testosterone: is responsible for the sex drive in a woman's life, including libido, pleasure, orgasm, and self-esteem in general. Testosterone also promotes better concentration and prevents tiredness. Many women notice that taking testosterone improves their mood and energy levels.

Estradiol: is a female sex hormone that is the most powerful form of estrogen in the body. Studies have shown that estradiol can reduce stress by decreasing the release of cortisol in response to physical stress. Estradiol is also effective in treating hot flashes. Last but not least, a study by the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles found that taking estradiol shortly after menopause can lead to a reduction in cholesterol deposits in the arteries, which prevents the progression of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the main cause of cardiovascular disease.

Pregnanolone: the 5 main benefits can be summarized as improved cognitive function and memory, as it helps neuronal growth in the brain, reduces negative emotional reactions, depression and anxiety, improves sleep quality, and promotes weight loss.

Estriol: alleviates hot flashes and night sweats, also reduces the risks of urinary tract infections and urge incontinence and strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis.

Mega Aid manufactures a bioidentical hormone replacement compounds in a USP-compliant laboratory that is customized to specific patient needs. Since the human body is unique and requires an individualized approach, compound treatment can be a perfect option.

To simplify medication regimen, Mega Aid has the ability to make a single BHRT medication with multiple hormones in customized dosage according to patient needs. Such approach may be far more convenient for patients than prescribing several separate drugs with different regimens.

If you are interested in our approach to the treatment of menopausal problems, you can book a meeting with our dedicated Pharmacy Liaison:

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