Five Common Symptoms of Menopause That Hormone Replacement Therapy Treats

/in , /by

Menopause – the end of a woman’s reproductive years – typically occurs around the age of 51. But the age of menopause onset is highly variable – from the late 30’s in some women to the early 6os in other women. Leading up to menopause – during the period called peri-menopause – the ovaries begin producing lower quantities of the so-called “sex hormones” (including estrogen) that control reproduction.

But estrogen and the other hormones regulate more than just fertility. In fact, almost every function of a woman’s body is influenced to some degree by the body’s sex hormones. Estrogen affects metabolism (the ability to burn calories and store fat), weight gain, bone strength, mood and mental state, libido and much more.  

So, as hormone production decreases during menopause and perimenopause, most women experience a wide variety of unpleasant side effects. Symptoms of menopausal hormone decline include: hot flashes, sleep problems, low sex drive, dry & itching vagina, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, bone loss, and more.

Fortunately, modern advancements in hormone replacement therapy can be very effective in offering long-lasting relief from many of the uncomfortable or painful problems of menopause. In this article, Austin, TX hormone replacement specialist Dr. Ruthie Harper explains how hormone replacement therapy can help alleviate some of the most common symptoms of menopause.

#1. Treatment for Hot Flashes During Menopause

Hot flashes are probably the most universal symptom of perimenopause and menopause. These sudden bursts of body heat can be uncomfortable as well as embarrassing, as they can be accompanied by flushing and profuse sweating.

Up to 75% of women experience hot flashes, also known as hot flushes, as they approach menopause. Hot flashes are a “vasomotor symptom,” which means they are triggered by abrupt blood vessel dilatation. Extreme body heat and excessive perspiration are caused by the increased blood flow.

Experts from the Harvard School Of Medicine and the Mayo Clinic believe that estrogen replacement therapy is the best and most effective treatment for severe hot flashes and night sweats induced by menopause.

In a clinical trial including 3,329 people, administering oral estrogen, or estrogen plus progestin, reduced hot flashes in menopausal women by 75%.

#2. Treatment for Fatigue During Menopause

Although testosterone is most often associated with men, it has a vital function in increasing energy in both men and women. Testosterone is a hormone that has many functions, beyond sexual prowess. Testosterone also helps the body produce the proteins that are essential for muscle maintenance and for boosting energy in both men and women. So, low testosterone levels due to menopause can cause extreme tiredness in women.

Similarly, a thyroid hormone deficit can cause tiredness during perimenopause and menopause. The thyroid regulates numerous functions of one’s metabolism. Therefore, proper thyroid hormone balance is crucial for keeping one’s energy levels up.

So, in addition to regulating a woman’s estrogen levels throughout menopause, thorough blood testing should be used to examine her entire panel of hormones, including her thyroid functions.

#3. Treatment for Vaginal Dryness & Painful Intercourse During Menopause

Estrogen is a female “sex hormone” that keeps the vaginal walls thick and healthy while also generating moisture to keep it lubricated. Estrogen is also responsible, in part, for a woman’s libido or “sex drive”.

Because of low estrogen levels after menopause, more than half of women experience vaginal dryness and discomfort during intercourse. The vaginal walls shrink, lose flexibility, and produce less lubricant when estrogen production diminishes with menopause. Additionally. estrogen decline can cause a woman to lose interest in sex.

But, estrogen replacement therapy can help a woman’s body rebuild thicker, more elastic and lubricated tissue in the vagina, allowing her to enjoy sexual intimacy once again! Additionally, hormone therapy to replace estrogen and other sex hormones can reignite a woman’s sex drive, so that she once again becomes interested in sex.

#4. Preventing Weight Gain During Menopause

Weight gain – notably around the midsection or belly – is often caused by the hormonal decline and imbalance of menopause in a variety of ways.

To begin with, when estrogen levels are low, metabolism slows, resulting in increased fat accumulation on the body. Furthermore, decreased estrogen levels impair fat cell breakdown, resulting in fat buildup, weight increase, and a larger waist circumference (“belly fat”). And, in instances when there is an excess of androgens (male hormones), the risk of obesity is increased even more.

To make matters worse, after menopause levels of the hormone leptin, which tells the brain when it’s time to eat, decline. As a result, a woman’s appetite often increases during menopause, which can lead to increased calorie consumption, further exacerbating weight gain.

Fortunately, rebalancing hormones with hormone replacement therapy can help perimenopausal and menopausal women reverse weight gain, develop more muscle and reduce fat storage.

#5: Osteoporosis Treatment During Menopause

One of estrogen’s many vital tasks is to encourage bone-forming cellular activity. As a result, the bones lose calcium as estrogen levels drop throughout menopause.

Several recent studies have found that hormone replacement therapy, rather than bisphosphonate medications, is the most effective approach to prevent fractured bones caused by osteoporosis. In addition to preventing fractures, estrogen has been demonstrated to preserve spinal discs in a way that non-hormonal treatments have not.

Numerous “synthetic” medicines are now available to treat osteoporosis (including Fosamax and Boniva), but these can come with undesirable – and in some cases dangerous – side effects. So most medical experts believe it is preferable to address the underlying cause of the osteoporosis, estrogen insufficiency, with hormone therapy whenever possible.

Natural Menopause Treatment – Austin, TX

In addition to treating many of the most obvious symptoms of menopause – including fatigue, painful intercourse, vaginal dryness, weight gain, hot flashes and osteoporosis – hormone replacement therapy also helps prevent many serious diseases.

Research has shown that the benefits of menopausal treatment with hormone replacement can also help stave off serious illnesses including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and more.

Thanks to modern advancements in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy there is no need to suffer in silence with the painful and frustrating symptoms of menopause. If you’re a woman in the greater Austin, Tx area going through perimenopause or menopause, talk to Dr. Ruthie Harper about whether hormone replacement therapy is suitable for you.

Menopause Treatment – Austin, TX: (512) 343-9355

Hormone Therapy for Menopause Treatment

/in , /by

Six Symptoms of Menopause That Hormone Therapy Can Help

As a woman’s reproductive years come to a close, her body begins to reduce production of certain “sex hormones” including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. This period of transition, known as menopause, occurs on average around the age of 51. However, menopause can occur as young as the early 40’s – or as late as the early 60’s. For some women, menopause can also be brought on even earlier due to medical conditions or surgery (such as a hysterectomy) that affect a woman’s uterus and/or ovaries and their ability to make female hormones in a healthy and balanced way.

Unfortunately, the “sex hormones” that regulate reproduction, also affect virtually every other aspect of a woman’s health: from libido, to metabolism and weight gain, to mood and energy as well as bone density and so much more. For this reason, most women experience a wide variety of body changes and unwanted side effects as their hormones decline during menopause.

The most common symptoms of menopausal hormone decline include such unpleasant side effects as: hot flashes, low libido (sex drive), vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse, embarrassing urinary incontinence, sleep problems, unwanted weight gain, mood swings, low energy, bone density loss (osteoporosis), and more.

But, the good news for menopausal women is that replacing declining hormones can offer long-lasting relief from most of the frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms of menopause.

In this article Austin, TX hormone replacement expert Doctor Ruthie Harper explains how hormone replacement therapy can help alleviate the signs and symptoms of menopause – so you can continue to live a full and happy life during and after menopause.

#1. Menopause Treatment for Hot Flashes

The symptom most commonly associated with menopause are bothersome hot flashes – sometimes called “hot flushes”. Hot flashes are estimated to affect up to 75% of perimenopausal and menopausal women. In addition to being uncomfortable, hot flashes can cause embarrassing perspiration which often occurs at the worst times, or can occur at night commonly called “night sweats” that disrupt a woman’s sleep.

Hot flashes are caused by the body’s “vasomotor” system – meaning that they result from a sudden dilation of the blood vessels. The resulting increase in blood flow is what causes the sensation of extreme heat and profuse sweating.

But in a recent medical study of 3,329 participants, simply replacing estrogen (or estrogen plus progesterone) resulted in a 75% reduction in hot flashes. Most experts, including those at the Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic, all state that the most effective treatment for menopausal hot flashes and night sweats is hormone replacement.

#2. Menopause Treatment for Low Energy

While most women realize that estrogen levels affect their health, many people don’t understand that testosterone – commonly thought of as a male hormone – is also an important female hormone and plays a substantial role in a woman’s energy level. Testosterone is the hormone that helps the body build proteins needed for muscle maintenance and energy.  It is also critically important for healthy wrinkle free skin (think why men have fewer wrinkles than women as thy age). So, when testosterone levels decline in women, it can lead to chronic and even debilitating fatigue and rapid aging.

Low energy during menopause can also be the result of deficient levels of thyroid hormones. The thyroid releases hormones that regulate “metabolism” – which refers to the body’s ability to store and use energy (think low energy and weight gain). And, one of the most common times for the onset of thyroid disease during is perimenopause or menopause.

So, in addition to restoring a woman’s estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause, it is important to study her complete panel of hormones, including thyroid hormones. This is accomplished through comprehensive blood testing. Rebalancing estrogen, testosterone and thyroid hormones can often restore a woman’s energy and help her resume a healthy weight – so she can continue to live life with vitality at every age.

#3. Menopause Treatment for Low Sex Drive

In addition to experiencing hot flashes and fatigue during menopause, many women also find that their interest in sex – or their ability to become aroused or achieve orgasm– also declines. Sadly, many women believe that a low libido is just a “normal fact of aging.”  So, many menopausal women do not seek medical treatment for their loss of sex drive following menopause.

Women need to know that they CAN continue to have a satisfying sex life at every age. Clinical studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy can improve libido, arousal, sensation and sexual responsiveness in women.

#4. Menopause Treatment for Vaginal Dryness & Painful Sex

Vaginal itching and dryness – often accompanied by pain during intercourse – is one of the most uncomfortable side effects of menopause. Sadly, after menopause more than 50% of women suffer from vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.

The most common reason for vaginal dryness and pain during sex is the decline in estrogen that results from menopause.  The estrogen in a woman’s body is responsible for maintaining thick, healthy, elastic tissue in the vaginal walls, as well as producing the moisture needed to lubricate the vagina during sex.  But, as estrogen production decreases during menopause, the vaginal walls become thin, lose their elasticity, and secrete fewer lubricating fluids. 

Replacing the body’s missing estrogen with hormone replacement therapy can help a woman’s body rebuild thick, strong, elastic vaginal walls, and improve production of vaginal lubrication. As a result, sexual intercourse becomes enjoyable again!

#5. Menopause Treatment for Weight Loss

If you are a perimenopausal or menopausal woman you probably already know that it becomes harder each year to maintain your weight. And, during menopause, a woman’s weight genuinely can “shift” – with more fat being stored around the belly.

This is because the hormonal decline that occur during menopause causes weight gain – especially around the belly. But hormone replacement therapy can help you prevent weight gain, lose the weight you may have gained and tone up that mid-section!

When estrogen levels are low, the body’s metabolism slows down – which results in increased fat storage on the body (especially around the middle). Additionally, low estrogen levels mean that the body is less able to break down or “burn” fat, which also results in fat accumulation, weight gain and more “belly fat”.

Further adding to the problem, levels of the hormone leptin also drop during menopause. And this is the hormone that signals the brain to feel “full” when eating. So, most women actually do have a bigger appetite and feel hungrier during menopause – leading to the consumption of more calories.

Fortunately, replacing declining hormones can help curb the appetite, stimulate the metabolism, and encourage fat burning. As a result, the body can more easily lose weight, build muscle, and not store as much fat around the mid-section.

#6. Menopause Treatment for Osteoporosis

An invisible – but dangerous and even deadly – side effect of menopause is osteoporosis. This is because one of estrogen’s many essential duties is to stimulate the cellular activity that produces strong bones. So, during menopause when estrogen levels decline, the bones lose calcium and become thinner and more prone to breaking.

Sadly, up to fifty percent of women who are over the age 50 will suffer a broken bone due to osteoporosis! But since osteoporosis has no visible external symptoms, many women do not even realize that they have lost bone density after menopause, until they experience a fracture.

Several recent clinical studies on menopausal women, however, have reported that estrogen replacement after menopause can prevent fractures due to osteoporosis. These controlled medical research experiments have universally reported that hormone replacement should be the first choice of therapy for osteoporosis, rather than bisphosphonate medicines such as Fosamax and Boniva.

So, rather than relying on “synthetic” drugs, integrative and preventative doctors prefer to treat the underlying cause of osteoporosis – which is estrogen deficiency – with hormone replacement therapy.

Natural Menopause Treatment – Austin, TX

In addition to treating hot flashes, low libido, fatigue, painful sex, vaginal dryness, weight gain, hot flashes and osteoporosis, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to help prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and many other life-threatening medical conditions.

If you are a woman who is experiencing the challenges of perimenopause or menopause, schedule an appointment with Doctor Ruthie Harper in Austin, TX to see if hormone replacement therapy is the right treatment for you. Dr. Harper has taken care of menopausal women for over 20 years and will conduct a thorough and personalized hormone analysis and customize a menopause treatment plan that is safe and balanced for your unique needs.

And if you are outside of the Austin, TX area, or prefer to use telemedicine, Dr. Harper can schedule a tele-consultation, and have remote blood work done in your area, so you can start living your best life again throughout menopause and beyond!

Menopause Treatment – Austin, TX: (512) 343-9355

4 Ways to Lose Weight After Menopause

/in , /by

Menopause refers to the change in a woman’s life when her menstrual cycles cease, and she is no longer “fertile” (producing eggs). As normal hormone production continues to decline during perimenopause and menopause, a variety of troublesome symptoms may start to occur, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and more.

But no side-effect of menopause is more frustrating than weight gain. Eventually the hot flashes and mood fluctuations will go away – but most women are stuck for the rest of their lives with the unwanted weight gain that accompanies menopause.

And weight gain is much more than just a cosmetic issue! Weight gain not only dramatically decreases a woman’s self-esteem, it also can significantly increase her risk for virtually every major chronic disease, including: heart disease, stroke, Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, and even cancer.

In this article Austin, TX menopause and hormone expert Dr. Ruthie Harper explains what causes weight gain during menopause – and how you can effectively prevent new weight gain and lose those unwanted pounds.

Hormonal Causes of Weight Gain After Menopause

Menopause results in rapid changes in a woman’s reproductive / sex hormone levels, including estrogen and testosterone. And these hormones play a key role in how the body both burns “calories” and stores fat.

During menopause estrogen levels decline, which decreases the rate with which the body “burns” and converts stored energy (fat).  Simply put, low estrogen levels slow down the metabolism, which increases fat storage on the body.

Additionally, lower estrogen levels result in less fat breakdown, which results in further fat accumulation and weight gain. And, if the balance between estrogen and testosterone gets out of balance, an excess of androgens (male hormones) can increase the risk of obesity.

Finally, to compound the problem, the levels of the hormone leptin – which signal the brain to feel “full” after eating – also drop. So, women actually do feel hungrier as a result of menopause, which leads to eating more.

Frustratingly, in addition to weight gain, fat distribution also shifts in the perimenopausal woman as well. So, waist circumference (“belly fat”) also increases disproportionately in women after menopause at a greater rate.

How to Lose Weight After Menopause

The good news is that Austin, TX medical weight loss expert Dr. Ruthie Harper offers several safe, effective and 100% natural methods of improving weight loss after menopause. Even better, every weight loss plan is customized to each woman’s individual lifestyle, body metabolism, hormone levels and fat loss needs.

#1. Modify Exercise to Lose Weight After Menopause

One way to avoid weight gain after menopause is to modify the type of physical activity you perform, in order to maintain or build lean body mass and optimize hormones. Dr. Harper has designed specific exercise regimens specifically for post-menopausal woman to help offset the increase of fat and decrease of muscle mass that accompanies aging.

Certain non-impact exercises such as spinning, cycling and rowing can help reduce total fat mass, and decrease waist circumference, belly fat, and BMI. And, adding a form of training called HIIT (high intensity interval training) has been shown to be more beneficial than aerobic exercise in the post-menopausal woman.

Resistance training and twice-weekly yoga have also been shown to help menopausal women increase metabolism, decrease belly fat and gain muscle mass.

 #2. Sleep Support to Lose Weight After Menopause

Menopause is linked to insomnia, which studies have shown leads to increased hunger, a bigger appetite and lower fat burning. Dr. Harper can prescribe natural supplements including melatonin, 5-HTP, and GABA that are customized in our office, to ensure you get the quality and quantity of sleep you need to prevent post-menopausal weight gain.  

#3. Macronutrient Rebalancing to Lose Weight After Menopause

Decreases in female hormones can cause increased insulin levels as well as insulin resistance – which can increase body fat and make losing weight more difficult. Dr. Harper can test your blood to identify your dietary deficiencies – and then rebalance your macronutrients (the amount of carbohydrate, fat and protein) to help you take off weight and keep it off.

An eating program (not a diet) will be recommended and customized for each woman, that is carefully designed after measuring the patient’s unique individual blood chemistry and hormone levels.  

#4. Hormone Treatment to Lose Weight After Menopause

Hormonal imbalance is one of the main reasons for weight gain and fat accumulation after menopause. So, to be truly effective, a fully personalized and integrative postmenopausal weight management program also needs to include diagnosis, replacement and balancing of any hormone deficiencies or imbalances.

Dr. Harper offers 100% natural bio-identical hormone replacement at her Austin, TX practice.  Unlike synthetic lab-created hormones, these are 100% naturally derived and identical in structure to human hormones. As a result, the body will recognize, use and metabolize them properly – without the dangerous side-effects of synthetic hormones.

After thorough and comprehensive blood testing, Dr. Harper will customize a bioidentical hormone regimen designed just for you, based on your unique hormone levels and deficiencies. Unlike one-size-fits-all prescription hormones (with standard dosages that may not fit your needs), BHRT therapy is specifically formulated and compounded in dosages that are tailored to each patient on an individual basis.

Lose Weight After Menopause – Austin, TX

Dr. Harper’s is nationally recognized as one of the most experienced bioidentical hormone replacement doctors in the country. She specializes in treating women during all stages of life, with a special focus on women in perimenopause and menopause – having helped more than 10,000 patients in her 20 plus years of integrative and holistic medical practice.

If you live in the greater Austin, TX area and are frustrated and discouraged by the weight gain of menopause, Dr. Harper can help you get your body and your life back – with a caring, comprehensive, natural, and integrative approach to wellness and weight loss that is personalized just for you.

Menopause Weight Loss – Austin TX: 512 343-9355