Menopause is a natural transition in a woman's life when her monthly menstrual periods stop permanently and she can no longer get pregnant naturally. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. During perimenopause, estrogen levels become unpredictable and start declining, causing changes in menstrual flow and in how a woman feels both emotionally and physically.
Key signs of perimenopause and menopause include:
On average, women reach menopause around the age of 51, but it can happen anytime between the ages of 40 and 55. Every woman's experience is different and symptoms vary. How severe they are depends on factors like lifestyle, genes, and overall health.
Natural menopause happens because a woman's ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This occurs:
Some factors that affect when menopause starts include:
Understanding the causes and risk factors for early or premature menopause can help guide decisions about evaluation and management.
The hormone changes of perimenopause and menopause cause a variety of signs and symptoms, which are different for every woman. They range from mild to quite severe. Symptoms also tend to come and go. Common ones include:
Paying attention to menopause signs and symptoms is important, as they can disrupt work, relationships, and quality of life. But there are effective solutions available, including hormone therapy.
The good news is menopause symptoms can be treated! Lifestyle measures like diet, exercise, and stress relief may help provide some relief. There are also prescription and over-the-counter treatment options. Two main categories of medical treatment for menopause symptoms are:
Hormone therapy brings relief by replacing the estrogen loss occurring during menopause. The type of hormone therapy depends on a woman's menopause type and personal health profile.
Potential benefits: - Relieves hot flashes and night sweats - Restores vaginal health improving sexual function - Stabilizes mood and improves cognition - Reduces risk of bone loss and fractures - Lowers likelihood of colon cancer
Risks are generally low in healthy women starting therapy before age 60.
These alternative therapies may help provide relief:
The best treatment approach depends on each woman's symptoms and health status. Our menopause experts can help determine what's right for you.
Hormone therapy can provide immense relief from disruptive menopause symptoms when tailored to an individual’s needs by a menopause specialist. Here’s what to know about HT options:
Because estrogen levels drop significantly at menopause, replacing some estrogen can restore balance. Estrogen-only therapy is an option for women without a uterus. Types include:
Estrogen therapy is very effective at relieving hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful sex, and urinary symptoms.
Women with an intact uterus need progestin with estrogen to prevent uterine cancer. Progestin protects the uterine lining. Options include:
When combined progestin/estrogen therapy is taken as directed, the uterine cancer risk is extremely low.
Bioidentical hormones have a chemical structure identical to the hormones naturally made in the woman's body. Types include:
Made from plant sources, bioidentical hormones are considered natural. Custom-compounded combinations can be tailored to match each woman's hormone levels before menopause.
Studies show that practicing yoga can help relieve many symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, insomnia, and mood swings. While hormone therapy is often used, yoga provides a low-cost, accessible alternative with additional benefits like reduced stress and anxiety. Simple postures, breathing exercises and meditation can make a big difference in managing this transition.
At Balance Health Clinic Menopause Center in Copiague, Long Island, we provide customized care to help women enjoy better health, quality of life and vitality long after menopause. Our compassionate menopause experts offer:
?? Individualized Treatment Plans - We don’t take a “one size fits all” approach. After listening to your needs and goals, we design a personalized treatment plan to match your unique situation.
?? The Latest Therapies - We stay on top of the latest advancements in menopause treatment and optimize your care.
?? Ongoing Support - We partner with you throughout your treatment journey and make adjustments as needed.
?? Holistic Guidance - We look at the whole picture including lifestyle, nutrition, supplements and stress management techniques for maximizing wellness.
Our clinic is led by Dr. Sarah Kim, a board-certified OB/GYN and nationally recognized menopause specialist passionate about helping women thrive. With over 15 years of experience caring for menopausal patients, Dr. Kim brings compassion, expertise and a commitment to shared decision making.
Additional team members include a nutritionist, mind-body wellness coach and specialized women’s health nurse practitioners to support patients’ comprehensive needs.
We also collaborate with several men’s health physicians to coordinate couples care.
Seeking timely evaluation and individualized treatment from a menopause specialist brings many short and long term health advantages.
Promptly addressing troublesome vasomotor, sexual, bladder and emotional symptoms can restore comfort and quality of life when menopause symptoms escalate.
Certain symptoms like vaginal bleeding after menopause warrant medical assessment to rule out problems needing intervention. Osteoporosis risk also increases after menopause.
Estrogen therapy started before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause appears to lower risks for heart disease events in healthy women. It also helps avoid bone fracture.
Restoring hormonal balance boosts energy, sleep, mental clarity, emotional equilibrium and sexual intimacy - all key to healthy aging.
Treating menopause symptoms can help strengthen couple intimacy and communication during the stresses of midlife changes.
We encourage women not to delay if troublesome symptoms develop, but to seek evaluation right away for the best possible outcome. Our menopause experts offer customized solutions to help patients look and feel their best while navigating this transition.
Accurately diagnosing your menopause type and determining the best treatment begins with collecting key information through:
?? Medical History - We ask details about your symptoms, menstrual history, health conditions, medications and family background.
?? Physical Exam - This includes blood pressure, weight, breast exam and pelvic exam. We check hormone-sensitive areas like the vagina, uterus, ovaries and cervix.
?? Blood and Urine Tests - We may check follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, testosterone and thyroid levels with blood tests. Urine tests can rule out infection.
?? Endometrial Sampling - For women with a uterus, we may examine the uterine lining to detect risks requiring follow up.
These diagnostic tests aid development of your customized menopause treatment plan targeting the right therapies to your profile and goals.
Our caring, women-focused environment aims to make starting menopause treatment comfortable and seamless. Here’s what to expect at your first visits:
During your consultation, a menopause specialist will:
?? Thoroughly Explain - the process, expected outcomes and any risks
?? Explore Medication Options - Discuss hormones, doses, formats and regimens to match your needs
?? Set Realistic Expectations - Clarify likely improvements so you know what changes to expect
?? Answer All Questions - Ensure you understand everything before moving forward
?? Obtain Consent - Review/sign forms ensuring treatment aligns with your goals
After collecting pertinent health details and determining the optimal regimen, we create your customized treatment plan if appropriate.
At treatment initiation visits, we:
?? Provide Education - Clearly explain medication use, timing, side effects monitoring
?? Schedule Follow Up - Book appointments to evaluate your progress and tolerance
?? Offer Support - Give contact numbers if questions or concerns arise
?? Adjust if Needed - Modify medicine, doses or delivery methods if necessary
We recognize the transition of menopause treatment can be emotional. Our caring team provides exceptional support so you feel informed, confident and cared for throughout the process.
In addition to customizing estrogen and progesterone regimens, we offer testosterone replacement tailored specifically to women. As the main male sex hormone, testosterone plays an important role in women’s sexuality and wellbeing.
Declining testosterone levels can lead to low libido, lack of motivation and mental fogginess. Our women’s health experts judiciously prescribe small doses of supplemental testosterone to enhance vitality in menopausal females with low levels.
Benefits can include:
We carefully monitor lab levels and potential side effects to maximize benefits and safety with women’s testosterone replacement therapy.
Alongside hormone treatment, we provide lifestyle guidance personalized for each woman’s situation to amplify the benefits. Key areas to optimize include nutrition, mind-body wellness, physical activity and preventive care.
Eating a balanced, nutritious diet helps maintain energy, strong bones, weight and mood stability. We offer tips like:
Managing stress and nurturing mental health are especially vital during hormonal changes. Useful mind-body techniques include:
Regular physical activity keeps bones, muscles, weight and mood in optimal shape. Age-appropriate activities like walking, swimming or gentle strength training bring benefits without strain.
- Get regular medical checkups for blood pressure, cholesterol, cancer screening, bone density etc. - Have twice yearly dental cleanings and exams to maintain oral health - Keep up to date with immunizations, supplements and medications
Adjusting lifestyle factors empowers women to nurture body, mind and spirit during midlife changes for amplifying vitality into the later years. Our experts offer guidance tailored to each woman’s health profile and personal priorities to help bridge the menopause transition with grace.
The Long Island town of Copiague offers pleasant parks, cultural attractions and health resources to support women embracing hormone balance and self care. Useful local destinations include:
Lindenhurst Natural Pharmacy - Compounds bioidentical hormones and sells supplements
The Day Spa - Massage, facials and body treatments for relaxation
Great South Bay - Beaches, boating and seafood restaurants
Amityville Yoga Center - Variety of daily yoga and meditation classes
CoreLife Eatery - Organic, nutrition-packed meals to eat in or take out
Islip Fitness - Pool, weights, Zumba and indoor walking track
Discovering how to relax, nurture the senses, and stay active contributes hugely to emotional equilibrium when managing menopause’s ups and downs. We help patients learn skills and tap resources for sustaining whole self wellness long term.
Conclusion
The experienced practitioners at Balance Health Clinic Menopause Center strive to make the transition into menopause and beyond a positive, life-enriching passage through expert consultations and personalized treatment plans.
Our goal is for every woman to feel cared for and confident navigating changing needs during midlife and beyond. We pride ourselves on listening compassionately and designing customized therapies for supporting comfort, health and quality living.
To begin your menopause treatment journey or discuss any concerns in a caring, women-focused environment, please () with us today!
