Menopause symptoms and treatment options
Ellie Wright is an acupuncturist practicing in Glendale, AZ. Dr. Wright evaluates and treats patients based on the concepts of oriental medicine. Acupuncturists complete their evaluations by getting a patient history and looking at and touching the body. Then, they place very fine acupuncture needles into specific points... more
Menopause comes with a wide range of symptoms including hot flashes, insomnia, depression, anxiety, joint pain, weight gain, heat intolerance. In some cases, there are long-term complications such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and sexual dysfunctions. Estrogen has the benefit of reducing the menopausal symptoms and most of the time needs to be balanced with progesterone. When testing it is best to take into consideration and test the entire hormones: 3 types of estrogen (estrone, estriol, estradiol), estrogen ration to progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid as these hormones have a domino effect on each other.
Here are the options of hormonal therapies: HRT (hormone replacement therapy), BIH (bioidentical hormones therapy), and plant-based hormones or phytoestrogens.
The menopausal women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) therapy are at higher risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease (blood clots). Bioidentical hormones are another option in alleviating the symptoms that can be prescribed through a compounding pharmacy as creams, lozenges to bypass the liver.
Another option is phytoestrogens, natural extracts from plants that function as natural selective estrogen receptor modulators. Our bodies have two types of estrogen receptors one is “B” or beta receptors present in the skin, bones, brains and these receptors have an affinity for phytoestrogens they present with the advantages of providing the benefits of increasing the natural estrogen in the body without the increase of blood clots. The other type of estrogen receptors is “A” or alpha located in the breast and uterus that is stimulated by the artificial estrogen (HRT) and by bioidentical hormones (BIH) and presents with hormonal cancer risks.
The benefits of plant-based estrogens or phytoestrogens do not stimulate the lining of the uterus but still provide the relief from the menopausal symptoms and help with long term benefits such as bone density. For this reason, phytoestrogen and phytoprogesterone are other options of alleviating symptoms especially in patients concerned with hormone cancer risk.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Wright
Magnolia Personalized Medicine
http://www.magnoliapersonalizedmedicine.com
6237342473
