Estrogen & Menopause

What is menopause?

Menopause is the stage of life when you stop having monthly periods, and your reproductive function ceases. Technically, you are in menopause when you haven’t had a period for 12 months, and you aren’t pregnant or ill. Perimenopause is the stage before your periods stop for good and when you will start to notice menopausal symptoms, but most people use the term menopause to describe this transition or change of life.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

There are many symptoms associated with menopause, although every woman has a unique experience. Menopausal symptoms include:

• Hot flashes

• Mood swings and irritability

• Vaginal dryness

• Vaginal atrophy

• Fatigue

• Depression

• Loss of libido

• Weight gain

• Sleep disruptions

You may experience some, all, or none of these symptoms. The symptoms also tend to present on a spectrum with some women having more severe symptoms than others. Whatever your experience, this change of life is normal. You should have frank discussions with Steven Brody about your symptoms and experiences so that he can help you manage your symptoms and lead your best, healthiest life.

How is menopause managed?

Bioidentical hormones offer a dramatic opportunity to improve quality of life and reduce the risk of health problems. The most important fact is that Steven Brody uses totally natural hormones which are identical to the hormones found in a women's body. Our goal is to replicate the hormones of a woman between the age of 35 and 45.

In some cases, BHRT may help to alleviate some of your symptoms. Estrogen replacement therapy is often used to alleviate hot flashes, prevent osteoporosis, improve memory, sexual function, and sense of wellbeing. Many times, additional hormones are added if appropriate after testing.

Steven Brody offers customized care and treatment to address your specific individual needs. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to menopause symptom management. He will work with you to help you improve and maintain your health and wellbeing throughout perimenopause and menopause.

What should I do if I think I’m starting menopause?

If you are experiencing symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, call or book an appointment online to talk to Steven Brody about your symptoms and needs. While women typically begin to experience these symptoms in their late 40s and early 50s, some women may begin menopause earlier or later. Often finding solutions to combat your symptoms early helps you to manage your health throughout your transition.

Menopause and Memory

Our society is now experiencing major increases in the prevalence and occurrence of memory loss, cognitive failure, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. In some cases, these conditions are caused by fatty plaques in the blood vessels to the brain, considered a manifestation of atherosclerosis. In other cases, there is a genetic component. Sometimes it’s an issue relating to blood pressure and blood flow in the vessels leading to the brain.

We now know that a variety of substances can be utilized to enhance both short-term and long-term memory and reduce the likelihood of any progressive cognitive failure. In many cases, aggressive nutritional supplementation using bioactive compounds and polyphenols is used to delay any cognitive failure. Of great importance is the balancing of hormones, since decreases in estrogen and imbalances in the estrogen to androgen ratio can be associated with a greater propensity to developing memory loss. The risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can increase if the low levels of estrogen seen in menopause are untreated. Why is this? Estrogen helps with the control of blood vessel function, the amelioration of atherosclerosis and the detoxification of the brain.

Cortisol is a hormone coming from the adrenal gland. Stabilization of this hormone that can help both long and short-term memory, because the communication between brain cells at the receptor level are protected.

In concert with the improvements in risk reduction for memory loss, we now know that the risk of a stroke may decrease with proper hormone balancing. Why? Because smooth muscle blood flow can be sustained at a normal level as result of properly balanced hormones. Tissue from the central nervous system is destroyed when the blood flow to the brain is decreased. The importance of preventing stroke cannot be overemphasized because of the debilitating and morbid effects of losing tissue from the central nervous system.