What is the difference between Menopause and Perimenopause?
Perimenopause refers to the time before Menopause which can start as early as the mid-30s and last decades until menopause. Menopause is defined as no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months, marking the end of perimenopause.
What are the symptoms of perimenopause?
There are multiple symptoms that women can experience during perimenopause. More of the well-known symptoms are hot flashes and mood swings. Other symptoms include brain fog, lack of mental clarity, focus, decreased libido, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, vaginal dryness, low energy, etc.
Do men go through menopause?
Men also go through something similar to menopause, and that’s called andropause. Andropause is due to hormone fluctuations in men, resulting in similar symptoms and erectile dysfunction.
How can you treat perimenopausal symptoms?
There are multiple treatment options for perimenopausal and andropausal symptoms that have been around for decades, which mainly consist of hormone replacement.
What kinds of hormone therapies are there? What are the pros and cons of each?
Testosterone and estrogen can both be replaced orally. Pros of oral replacement are ease of use. Cons of oral supplementation are the tablets have to be metabolized through the GI tract, which can alter the end composition of the product. Testosterone can also be supplemented via creams. Pros are the ease of use. Cons this area can not be touched by children, pregnant women, or pets, and the absorption of the product is not consistently leading to various symptom relief. Testosterone can also be supplemented via intramuscular injection. Cons- there will be an initial spike of hormone followed by a steep decline, and injections are usually prescribed twice monthly.
What is Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)?
BHRT is a plant-based pellet treatment used to optimize testosterone and estrogen, which solves all the issues for concern with the above treatments. BHRT pellets are inserted under the skin in the buttock region. They are inserted deep enough so you can not feel them. Once inserted, blood vessels grow around the pellets, and as your heart rate increases (i.e., during exercise and stress), more hormone is released, and when heart rate is lower (i.e., during sleep), less hormone is released. This simulates the way hormone is naturally released. Pellets can last anywhere from 3-6 months.
How do I know if I qualify for hormone replacement?
A comprehensive panel of labs is drawn to evaluate your baseline hormone levels before insertion.
Does insurance cover BHRT?
Typically BHRT is not covered by insurance.
What are the expected outcomes of BHRT?
Usually, one week after the initial pellet insertion, you will notice improved symptoms—increased energy, better restful sleep, increased focus, and mental clarity. You will also see that muscle is easier to build throughout treatment, and fat loss will occur.
How long does pellet therapy last?
The pellets will last 3-6 months.
Are there any side effects?
With testosterone optimization, there is a risk for acne initially as your body gets used to increased levels of testosterone which can be treated with an oral medication. Once your body gets used to the higher hormone levels, the acne subsides. The other common side effect is an increase in hair growth which can be treated with oral medications or permanent hair reductions therapies.
Are there any other improvements BHRT can cause?
BHRT can help with over 400 symptoms in addition to those mentioned above. BHRT's crucial improvement on overall health is that it can significantly decrease cardiovascular risk factors like heart attacks and strokes. It can also increase bone density by >8% per year, which is essential in preventing osteoporosis. Increasing muscle mass can help prevent muscle-related injuries seen so often as we age.