A Patient’s Story

Andrea is a 49-year-old woman.  The last period she can recall having was around 10 months ago.  Her gynecologist informed her that she is most likely menopausal, although not officially so until she hasn’t had a period for 12 months. 
 
Although Andrea was delighted at the idea of never having to deal with another period again, her recent mental fogginess and mood changes have dulled her ability to enjoy just about anything.  She has been experiencing severe mood swings, making her irritable and anxious one moment, and depressed and weepy the next. 
 
As if the mood swings weren’t enough to put strain on her relationship with her husband, her sex drive has dwindled to nothing.  Andrea also notices that she has been gaining more weight in the mid-region, despite her efforts to exercise and eat right.  To add to her problems, her energy level has markedly declined and she wonders if this is in part attributed to her inability to sleep due to the recurring night sweats.
 
Andrea is very distraught and frustrated with the way she feels, which is compounded by her believing there is no alternative, other than to use the prescription for Premarin (horse based estrogen), prescribed by her gynecologist.  Andrea’s gynecologist informed her that Premarin should be used at the lowest possible dose and only for a short period of time due to the increased risk of breast cancer, stroke and heart disease.

 
What is Menopause?

Andrea is experiencing many of the symptoms of menopause.  Menopause is defined as the complete cessation of menstrual periods.  For some women it is a smooth and painless transition into the second half of life.  For a great majority, however, it is a time of anguish and torment, riddled with the symptoms and diseases caused by the abnormal drop in sex hormone levels…otherwise known as “premature aging”.
 
 

What are the Common Symptoms?

• Hot flashes
• Mood swings
• Insomnia
• Loss of libido
• Abdominal weight gain
• Increasing cellulite and varicosities
• Accelerated wrinkling
• Loss of muscle tone
• Lack of interest in life…

What Age does Menopause Start?

Menopause usually begins around the age 50, although for some women it can begin as early as age 35 to 40.  Many women welcome menopause with open arms…the thought of never having to deal with periods again must have a cheerful ring to it…I can only imagine.  Unfortunately, from the medical perspective of aging, menopause frequently means the start of other unwelcome problems.

 
Other Information

For many women, menopause is not simply the cessation of periods, but rather the cessation of normal sex hormone production.  It is the sex hormones; estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, etc., that keep women young and vibrant.  These hormones feed all the tissues of the body including the brain, heart, muscles and bones.  Without these hormones, and even with the decline in these hormones, the brain, heart, muscles and bones begin to deteriorate.  We begin to suffer the diseases that we dismiss as part of the normal aging process; dementia, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, and even cancer.
 
It is important to understand that the above-mentioned diseases are not necessarily a normal part of the aging process.  They are, instead, the result of declining sex hormone levels and poor lifestyle choices.
 

What is the Treatment?

When I address menopause I usually start by testing hormone levels.  Depending on the symptoms you are experiencing, I typically test estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, thyroid and cortisol.  If hormone therapy is necessary, I always avoid the use of conventional and horse-derived hormones and instead only prescribe bioidentical hormones.  In addition, I always try to recommend therapeutic lifestyle changes, which can include nutritional recommendations as well as nutraceuticals (vitamins, minerals, amino acid, etc.) appropriate to your individual needs.