The transition into menopause, medically termed perimenopause, starts for most women in their late 40s to early 50s. It is diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. This natural transition is associated with changes in hormone levels that can lead to symptoms interfering with physical, mental, and emotional health.
During perimenopause, the ovaries gradually produce less of the key female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These fluctuations in hormones are associated with common symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, trouble sleeping, and mood changes. After menopause is reached, defined as 12 months without a period, symptoms may continue due to the complete drop in estrogen and progesterone.
Estrogen is essential for reproductive health and has protective effects on the brain, skin, bones, heart, and other tissues. Progesterone works alongside estrogen to regulate the menstrual cycle and support pregnancy. Both hormones start to decline leading up to menopause, with estrogen seeing the steepest drop-off after the final period.
The ovaries also produce small amounts of the hormone testosterone, which plays a role in sex drive and energy levels. Testosterone levels may dip around menopause as well. Thyroid function and stress hormones like cortisol may also be impacted.
Symptoms associated with menopause occur due to hormonal fluctuations and declines. They range widely in both severity and duration. Common symptoms include:
In the long-term after menopause, the consistent low hormone levels can increase risks for other health conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease if left untreated.
If menopause symptoms are moderate to severe and impacting daily life, hormone therapy may help provide relief. There are various delivery methods to replace depleted hormones, with treatments individualized to each woman's needs.
When initiated early on, hormone therapy can also help slow bone loss and reduce cardiovascular risks that are elevated after menopause. That's why it's important not to delay seeking treatment. Balance Hormone Clinic provides comprehensive menopause care, hormone testing, and individualized treatment plans to help women around Statesboro thrive through this transition.
Balance Hormone Clinic specializes in customized bioidentical hormone therapy to effectively treat menopause symptoms, optimize health in midlife and beyond, and slow aging. Our compassionate providers leverage the latest scientific advances paired with a functional, integrative approach to care.
Our medical director and nurse practitioners have over 25 combined years caring for menopausal women. We stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices through leading organizations like the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).
Our team is specially trained and experienced in:
You can trust our expertise to help you feel your best through midlife changes. We utilize advanced testing, high quality compounded bioidentical hormones, and complementary wellness strategies.
Bioidentical hormone therapy involves prescribing plant-based hormones that are molecularly identical to those made in the human body. Common types include:
These hormones are custom compounded in creams, oral capsules, pellets, gels and more to meet each patient's needs and preferences. Dosages can be precisely adjusted based on follow up labs and symptom response.
Research shows that bioidentical hormones effectively treat symptoms while avoiding increased health risks associated with traditional hormone replacement therapy. Our providers stay current on the latest evidence and best practices.
Hormone balance is highly individualized. That's why our approach is centered around precision - using lab testing to gain insight into your unique hormone profile and pinpoint areas of imbalance.
Initial testing may include:
Based on your test results, symptoms, health history and needs, our clinicians create a customized treatment plan. This includes selecting appropriate bioidentical hormones and delivery methods, dosage titration schedule, follow up testing cadence, and recommendation of complementary therapies like nutrition changes, stress reduction techniques, dietary supplements and more.
Follow up testing is key for monitoring the treatment plan and modifying as needed. We're with you each step of the way!
Bioidentical estradiol is the gold standard for treating hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, bone loss, and other estrogen-deficiency symptoms. As women enter perimenopause, estradiol production from the ovaries becomes less consistent, leading to fluctuating levels. After menopause when estrogen output halts completely, estradiol therapy can help fill the gap.
Based on testing and symptoms, our clinicians determine the optimal type, dosage, and delivery method - including oral, transdermal creams, vaginal inserts, pellets, gels and more. We also provide compound estriol and estrone which may have protective, complementary effects. Follow up blood tests help monitor levels, ensuring you stay in the ideal range for symptom relief and health promotion without excess.
Research shows estrogen therapy effectively treats hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary symptoms and insomnia. It also promotes skin elasticity, joint comfort, heart health, brain function and helps prevent conditions like osteoporosis.
When initiated early on, estrogen can slow the progression of bone density loss and reduce cardiac risk factors, which are elevated after menopause. That's why we encourage not delaying treatment.
The benefits are enhanced when balancing estrogen with progesterone therapy. Specific estradiol dosing and delivery systems is customized to your needs and preferences. We offer oral tablets, sublingual drops, transdermal creams, vaginal inserts, pellets and gels. Let's design the optimal plan together.
Testosterone levels also start declining with age, with an accelerated drop around menopause. Known as the “energy hormone,” testosterone promotes vitality, muscle tone, sex drive (libido), mood and cognition. Integrating bioidentical testosterone therapy helps counteract deficiency symptoms like low libido, lack of motivation, mental fog, and sexual discomfort that often accompanies menopause.
We provide testosterone as part of a comprehensive hormone restoration approach. Initial testing gives us insight into your free and total testosterone levels, along with other sex hormones. Based on your profile, preferences and symptoms, we design an individualized regimen using oral tablets, sublingual drops, pellets, creams or gels. Follow up testing ensures optimal dosage.
Clinical research demonstrates that physiologic testosterone therapy:
Testosterone is best used short-term when levels drop around menopause, and long-term if there is adrenal dysfunction or persistent deficiency. We monitor your response through lab testing and collaborate to make dosage adjustments as needed. Rest assured our approach is evidence-based, safe and effective.
Progesterone is essential for stabilizing the menstrual cycle and supporting pregnancy. Levels remain consistent until dropping off in perimenopause, along with estrogen. Replacing progesterone is important for countering symptoms like irregular periods, mood changes and insomnia.
Bioidentical progesterone also has protective health effects, with research showing it promotes heart health, bone density and healthy inflammation levels when used long-term.
If a woman still has her uterus, progesterone therapy is routinely included alongside estrogen to avoid overgrowth of the uterine lining. Women without a uterus can benefit from low-dose progesterone to help symptoms like sleep disruption, anxiety, irritability and hot flashes.
We offer oral capsules, sublingual drops, vaginal suppositories and topical creams. Starting dosage is based on testing and menopause status, then adjusted based on follow up labs and symptom response.
In addition to bioidentical hormone therapy, we provide recommendations around nutrition, supplements, stress management and lifestyle to help you thrive through midlife changes.
Eating patterns directly impact hormone levels, with research showing plant-rich Mediterranean style diets promote optimal levels. We counsel patients around meal timing, macronutrient balance and nutrients like fiber, antioxidants and phytoestrogens to help symptoms. Vitamin D and omega-3 fish oil are two key supplements as well.
Chronic stress dysregulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, interfering with optimal hormone function. We teach breathing exercises, mindfulness, yoga, and other proven techniques to induce relaxation while lowering cortisol levels. This complements hormone therapy.
Consistent movement helps reduce menopause symptoms both directly through boosting mood-regulating neurotransmitters, and indirectly by promoting healthy body composition, blood sugar regulation and cardiovascular function. Mixing cardio, weights and flexibility training is ideal. We provide customized plans.
Statesboro has wonderful amenities, outdoor spaces and small businesses supporting self-care during this transition. We refer patients to yoga studios like Nirvana Yoga, Pure Barre for group fitness classes, the Botanic Garden for relaxing nature walks, and shops like Beautycounter that offer natural skin care consultations. Supporting local wellness makes a difference.
Many women going through menopause find relief through cognitive behavioral therapy techniques like paced breathing and visualization. CBT can significantly reduce troublesome vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes without negative side effects associated with hormone replacement therapy.
If you're experiencing moderate to severe menopause symptoms, we encourage you not to delay - now is the optimal window for hormone testing and initiation of bioidentical hormone therapy to provide relief and confer protective effects.
Balance Hormone Clinic offers comprehensive testing, care and follow up support. We bill all major insurance plans or offer self-pay rates. Call to schedule a new patient appointment where we'll listen to your symptoms, collaborate around health goals, perform needed testing, and co-create an individualized treatment plan centered around bioidentical hormone therapy.
It would be our privilege to help you thrive through midlife changes into the vibrant chapter ahead! Call Balance Hormone Clinic today to schedule your evaluation.
