Lately, you find yourself changing outfits throughout the day thanks to hot flashes that cause you to sweat right through your clothes. While this side effect of menopause is more of a hassle than anything else, there are more serious changes such as bone loss and sleep issues.
Each of the 1.3 million women who enter menopause annually in the United States faces their own unique experience. Some women sail through this hormonal transition with no problems, while others are stuck dealing with serious quality-of-life issues.
If you're experiencing some unwelcome changes, it might be time to take a closer look at bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which we offer here at Cosmetic Surgery Center. Our team leader, Dr. Trent Fogleman, understands the impact that menopause can have on a woman’s life and offers solutions that help, both inside and out.
So, if you’re struggling with menopause, we want to discuss some symptoms that BHRT can help improve.
The concept behind hormone replacement therapy is fairly straightforward — we replace the hormones that your ovaries are no longer producing, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
When we refer to bioidentical hormones, these are plant-based products that are chemically identical to your natural hormones.
We deliver the BHRT using small, a slow-release pellet that we place just beneath your skin. Once in position, the pellet releases the hormones into your system for about 4 months, at which point you return, and we insert another pellet.
Women choose bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to get relief and feel more like themselves again. Now let’s look at some of the common menopause symptoms these BHRT pellets can address.
At the top of many lists is vaginal dryness, which affects more than half of women between the ages of 51 and 60.
Your estrogen hormones regulate lubrication in your vagina to encourage intercourse, keep vaginal tissues soft and supple, and ease childbirth. When these hormones dry up, so can these tissues.
Through BHRT, we can reestablish lubrication to get you back to a more enjoyable sex life.
Also topping many lists are those pesky hot flashes and night sweats, which affect about 75% of perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women.
The reason for this is that the hormone imbalance created by menopause can affect your internal thermostat and lead to these sudden blasts of heat from within your body. Through BHRT, we can turn this heat back down.
The night sweats we just discussed can certainly wreak havoc on your ability to sleep, but many women complain of more serious sleep issues during and after menopause. Whether you're having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, many women find relief from this side effect with hormone replacement therapy.
This side effect of menopause is a serious one — on average, women lose up to 10% of their overall bone mass within the first five years of menopause. This bone loss can lead to osteoporosis, which can make you more vulnerable to bone fractures.
One way to fight back against menopause-related bone loss is through BHRT, which can slow this early loss and help you maintain stronger bones.
We’re going to stop here, as getting relief from these symptoms is why most women come to us for BHRT. If you’re dealing with these menopause side effects or any others, it’s a good idea to sit down with us to figure out whether BHRT can provide you with relief.
To get started, please contact our office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to schedule an appointment.
