Menopause Therapy Treatment | Dr. Anderson Natural Medicine
The natural phase of life known as menopause is often associated with hot flashes, mood swings, and poor cognitive function—commonly referred to as “menopause brain fog.” Dr. Nicole Anderson wants her patients to know that they don’t have to suffer as they approach and experience this major hormonal change. Treatments to help manage symptoms of menopause at Bothell’s Anderson Natural Medicine are customized to each patient, designed to bring menopause relief.
Patients also do not have to wait until their menstrual cycle stops for good to begin seeking treatment. Perimenopause is the “wind down” phase that can start years before actual menopause, and a range of symptoms can start then. Whether you’re concerned about night sweats, weight gain, vaginal atrophy, fatigue, or any of a number of other perimenopause and menopause symptoms, Dr. Anderson will work with you to make the experience as comfortable as possible.
In the human body, ovaries are responsible for making two hormones: estrogen and progesterone. These chemicals prompt development of the reproductive system and a range of female traits and characteristics, regulate monthly menstrual cycles, influence pregnancy, and more.
Over time, typically when a woman reaches their mid to late 30s, hormone production in the ovaries begins to slow, leading to a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels in the body. This gradual decline is known as perimenopause.
Not only does this reduction in key hormones negatively impact sexual and reproductive function, but it can also cause a reduction in bone density, resulting in hot flashes or night-sweats, and irregular periods.
Once estrogen and progesterone production reaches very low levels, the menstrual cycle also stops. An official “diagnosis” of menopause comes when a patient’s monthly period does not happen for a full year. The resulting change in hormone levels in the body is responsible for numerous undesirable menopause symptoms, including metabolism imbalances that lead to weight gain, disrupted sleep cycles, brain fog , and a range of other symptoms.
Put simply, menopause is a fact of life. That said, it is possible to mitigate the associated drawbacks by addressing the drop in estrogen and progesterone. For many patients, Dr. Anderson works to discover any underlying inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, or other problems leading to unwanted symptoms. It is important to make sure that if you have any of these symptoms that you see your physician to determine if they are truly related to peri-menopause or menopause and not related to an unknown condition.
Dr. Anderson offers treatments that can help with temperature regulation, cognitive function, weight gain, and fatigue. Treatment options may include hormone replacement, herbal medications, nutrients and homeopathy.
Hormone therapy is commonly used for restoring balance to a body dealing with far less estrogen than it is used to having. One option is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which involves plant-based hormones administered orally, via topical applications, or as subcutaneous pellets. Unlike traditional hormone replacement therapy, which is derived from pregnant horses’ urine and synthetic materials, BHRT hormones are plant based and chemically identical to your own estrogen.
Addressing menopause symptoms can be important for improving quality of life by allowing for better sleep, fewer hot flashes, a more satisfying sex life, and other benefits, as well as preventing bone loss, decreasing anxiety and depression, and encouraging fat loss.