Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through, marking the end of menstrual cycles and fertility. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can occur earlier or later for some women. As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and menopause, women may experience symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and more.
The good news is that these symptoms are treatable! Hormone therapy can provide relief by replacing the hormones that decline with age. There are a few different types of hormone therapy available:
In addition to hormone therapy, lifestyle changes can also ease menopausal symptoms. Regular exercise, stress reduction techniques, dietary changes, and medications like antidepressants or supplements may also provide relief. Working with a menopause specialist can help determine the best treatment options for each woman's individual needs.
Vital Hormones Clinic is a top hormone clinic providing personalized care for women in Gulf Breeze and surrounding areas. Our certified menopause practitioner has advanced training in the latest evidence-based hormone therapies and complementary treatment approaches.
Some key reasons Gulf Breeze residents choose Vital Hormones Clinic for their menopause and hormone-related concerns include:
Whether you're struggling with troublesome menopause symptoms or simply hoping to age gracefully on a balanced hormone regimen, Vital Hormones Clinic has the knowledge and care to guide you through this transition.
Menopause symptoms arise due to declining estrogen and progesterone. Not all women experience significant discomfort during the menopausal transition, but about 25% have more bothersome symptoms that may warrant treatment.
Signs it may be time to consult our certified menopause practitioner include:
These common menopausal symptoms are thought to result from abnormal regulation of temperature control centers in the brain as estrogen declines. If your hot flashes or sweats are frequent or severe enough to impact work, sleep quality, or quality of life, treatment can help provide relief.
Vaginal atrophy develops from lower estrogen levels, leading to thinning vaginal tissue, decreased elasticity, dryness, etc. This not only causes discomfort but can also make you more prone to UTIs or irritation. Localized, low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy may help reverse these changes.
Hormone changes can definitely influence mood and thinking skills. If menopause has you feeling unlike your usual self mentally, we can help identify the root hormonal or other menopause-related triggers and get you feeling balanced again through personalized treatment.
Connecting with a menopause specialist can help determine whether these body changes are a result of menopause versus other conditions. Customized treatment gets to the root cause of your discomfort.
Don't resign yourself to suffering through menopause changes or "waiting it out." Our Gulf Breeze menopause clinic can help patients of all ages maximize comfort, health and vitality during the menopausal transition and beyond.
Understanding the physiology behind what occurs during perimenopause and postmenopause empowers women to make informed choices about their health. Here's an overview of some essential points about this life stage:
Perimenopause means “around menopause” and refers to the transitional years leading up the final menstrual period. During this time estrogen levels fluctuate while progesterone secretion declines more rapidly. It's common for cycles to become irregular and for women to start experiencing menopausal symptoms.
Perimenopause usually begins around age 45-47 but can start earlier. Changes can develop slowly over years or seemingly abruptly. Cycle irregularity, PMS changes, and intermittent menopause symptoms are all common signs of perimenopause.
Menopause is clinically defined as reaching 12 full months without a menstrual period. This milestone signals that the ovaries have stopped releasing eggs and producing most of their estrogen and progesterone. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can range from 40s to mid-50s.
In the years beyond menopause (postmenopause), the body continues adjusting to lower estrogen and progesterone levels compared to premenopause. Some women find that symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbance, or genitourinary problems flare on and off for years. Others feel their worst symptoms in the first 1-5 years after menopause before the body adapts.
Staying connected with your certified menopause practitioner helps ensure any emerging symptoms or health concerns that crop up postmenopause are appropriately evaluated and treated.
Studies show that practicing yoga can help reduce some of the most bothersome menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia. Certain yoga poses and controlled breathing techniques seem to positively impact hormone levels and promote relaxation, providing women going through menopause an accessible, drug-free way to find relief.
Various treatment options can provide relief from troublesome menopause symptoms. The best approach depends on several factors - the type and severity of symptoms present, your personal health history, risk factors, preferences, and treatment goals.
At Vital Hormones Clinic, common treatment options our menopause specialists may recommend include:
Benefits: - Effectively relieves hot flashes, night sweats - Treats vaginal atrophy to reduce dryness, pain, urine leakage - Prevent bone loss associated with low estrogen
Estrogen therapy with or without progestin is the most effective treatment for relieving vasomotor symptoms and urogenital discomfort. Oral tablets or skin patches can treat systemic issues while low-dose vaginal estrogen reverses atrophic changes locally. Our practitioners carefully consider your individual health history to customize safe hormone therapy if appropriate.
Benefits: - Improve overall health and wellbeing - Provide modest relief for some symptoms - Enhance results of other treatments
Simple lifestyle adjustments can complement hormone therapy or other medical treatments. Regular exercise, nutritious whole foods, adequate sleep, and stress-reducing practices help balance hormones and promote wellness during menopause. We offer patients personalized coaching to devise sustainable lifestyle upgrades.
Benefits: - Alternative relief for those who cannot or prefer not to take hormones - Target specific menopausal concerns
Based on your symptoms and health profile, we may suggest trying prescription or over-the-counter medications for sleep, mood, pain, or other issues related to hormone changes. Certain dietary supplements may also help counteract deficiencies or imbalances exacerbated by menopause. Acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, and other complementary modalities can also relieve menopausal discomfort.
Vital Hormones Clinic strives to offer the full spectrum of effective medical and non-medical treatment options backed by research. After a comprehensive evaluation, your practitioner will design a personalized treatment plan just for you.
Seeing a certified menopause specialist helps ensure you receive appropriate care early for optimizing comfort, health, and quality of life through the menopausal transition and beyond. Too often, women downplay changes happening in their body only to suffer for years before seeking help.
There are a several key reasons why timely evaluation and individualized treatment from a qualified menopause practitioner matter:
Trying to “tough out” significant menopause symptoms almost never works. Early treatment intervention when changes arise means faster relief. We can also help curb symptoms before they worsen if you come in during early perimenopause.
Letting vaginal atrophy or bone loss associated with low estrogen go untreated for too long increases the likelihood of permanent changes. We'll check for early warning signs and start preventive therapies promptly. Addressing problems early on gives the best chance of full reversal.
Severe night sweats interrupting sleep night after night often trigger cascading effects like low energy, concentration/memory glitches, and mood instability. Getting adequate restorative sleep prevents these secondary impacts. Don’t tolerate anything negatively impacting your zest for life!
Implementing positive lifestyle upgrades and non-hormonal symptom coping techniques early in menopause transition establishes healthy patterns that make it easier to manage this transition and beyond. Small consistent changes lead to big results over time!
We encourage women not to delay if you have concerns about symptoms occurring around menopause. Come in for a consultation where we can perform relevant assessments, labs or imaging to uncover the root cause then get you started on the right therapies for sustainable relief.
If you suspect you could be approaching perimenopause or menopause, we welcome you to book a new patient appointment at our Gulf Breeze hormone clinic serving menopause patients. Here's an overview of what to expect at your initial consultation:
First, your certified menopause practitioner will take a detailed history asking about your cycles, symptoms, medical conditions, family history, previous hormone use, and special concerns or goals for treatment. Patterns in your cycle changes and symptoms provide valuable clues.
Depending on your presentation, we may perform a physical exam, pap smear, blood pressure check, body composition analysis, or other assessments relevant to your situation. Discerning any nutritional deficiencies, weight changes, insulin resistance, cardiovascular risks and other subtle factors informs treatment planning.
Lab tests offer objective data about your reproductive hormone levels. Initial testing typically includes:
Follow up testing might include fertility hormones, vitamin levels, carotid intima media thickness and more. We use cutting-edge specialty labs for greater insights.
After analyzing your labs, exam findings and thorough history, your menopause specialist will summarize key issues and outline the recommended treatment plan. This multi-modal plan addresses lifestyle factors, nutritional support, hormone optimization, symptom relief and health promotion targets tailored to your unique needs.
We look forward to welcoming you as a new patient soon!
Our founder and head menopause specialist Dr. Jane Smith brings over 15 years' experience guiding women through perimenopause, menopause and beyond to optimal wellness. She is a board certified Ob-Gyn with an advanced certification in the menopause specialty from the North American Menopause Society.
Dr. Smith opts to practice functional regenerative medicine focusing on preventive health, hormonal balance and customized age management therapies rather than sick care crisis intervention. She remains dedicated to continuing education and advocacy for evidence-based, integrative treatment options for midlife hormone concerns.
Her passion lies in helping female patients preserve vibrancy, overcome discomfort that interferes with zest for living, and age gracefully on their own terms. Dr. Smith’s individualized care plans address the whole patient – mind, body and spirit. In addition to traditional and bioidentical hormone optimization protocols, first line therapies always include diet upgrades, stress reduction techniques, targeted nutraceuticals and movement/body awareness practices. She partners with her patients to devise sustainable lifestyle changes and mindset shifts that amplify treatment benefits.
Dr. Smith keeps her practice small, so all patients have direct access their own menopause specialist. She wants to develop genuine relationships with the women she treats over months and years.
Outside work, you can find Dr. Smith enjoying Florida’s beautiful beaches and parks with her family. She also volunteers extensively with several women’s health non-profits to raise awareness and improve access to specialized menopause care.
To schedule a new patient appointment with Dr.
Key Takeaways: Choosing the Right Menopause Specialist
Vital Hormones Clinic meets all these ideals for a premier menopause and hormone clinic serving Gulf Breeze and surrounding communities. We welcome you to join our practice family today!
