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The season after perimenopause and menopause can be an exciting time in a woman’s life, but the slow transition is difficult for many. Perimenopause, which can last for more than a decade, is your body’s way of preparing for eventual infertility by decreasing the production of certain hormones. Menopause takes place when you have gone an entire year without a menstrual period. The symptoms for both tend to be the same. Some of the most common ones include:
Many over-the-counter products exist to help women with the discomfort of perimenopause and menopause. However, most women visit their primary physician to seek relief of the debilitating symptoms. The most common outcome in this case is to receive a prescription for hormone replacement pills. One major problem with this approach is that every woman who is struggling with hormonal upheaval receives the same medication. Unfortunately, synthetic hormones may cause significant side effects and fail to bring long-term relief. Virginia Menopause and Perimenopause Doctors who offer Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy prefer this approach because it utilizes natural plant ingredients instead.
Another issue with the traditional approach to treating perimenopause and menopause symptoms is neither of these conditions are a disease. Medical schools in the United States teach a disease model rather than patient-centered care. People are reduced to their disease and prescribed medication to treat it. However, every woman experiences the hormonal changes of midlife differently. That’s why taking the time to determine which hormones are unbalanced and understanding how the patient’s symptoms affect her life is so important. You may not have this experience at your regular doctor, but you can certainly expect it with Virginia Perimenopause and Menopause Doctors.
Do you look back fondly on the time before hormonal changes turned you into someone you don’t recognize? With Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, you can get there again. After selecting a doctor from our directory, call his or her office to request a consultation and physical. The Perimenopause and Menopause Specialist you visit may spend up to an hour speaking with you in order to understand your symptoms. He or she also wants to ensure that you understand what Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is and clarify your goals for treatment. In order to provide you with a customized therapy plan, your doctor determines your current hormone functioning with a blood test or saliva sample. You also need to consent to a physical exam to make sure that you are healthy enough to start the program.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy targets the six primary hormones in women, which include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, pregnenolone, cortisol, and thyroid. Each one produces unique symptoms when out of balance, which is why an individualized treatment approach can help you feel better faster. Before you can start receiving bioidentical hormones, you and your doctor will decide which method of administration works best for you. Injections are the most common, but you may also be able to receive the replacement hormones another way. Your doctor will determine the most therapeutic dosage for you before starting therapy.
Because your provider cares about the outcome of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, he or she supervises each session and monitors your progress closely. This ensures that someone is available should you experience any side effects. It also enables your provider to adjust your individualized compound if necessary. The nature of this alternative approach to hormone balancing allows you to build a relationship based on trust and understanding with your doctor. To get started, review our directory of Perimenopause and Menopause Specialists in Virginia and call for your first appointment today.
