Menopause Specialist

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time of a woman’s life when she no longer produces fertile egg cells and her reproductive years are over. You officially enter menopause when you haven’t had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The changes of menopause affect your hormone production, which can lead to a wide range of symptoms that can disrupt your overall health and wellness.

What are the signs of menopause?

Every woman has a unique experience with menopause and may or may not experience menopause symptoms to varying degrees. Some women begin to have menopause symptoms in the years preceding menopause when estrogen production decreases — known as perimenopause.

Some of the common symptoms of menopause include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Irritability and depression
• Weight gain
• Muscle mass loss
• Decreased libido
• Insomnia
• Vaginal dryness or vaginal atrophy

It’s also common to experience irregular periods as you approach menopause. Your cycle may shorten, causing more frequent periods, or you may go several months without a period only for menstruation to occur again.

When should I talk to a doctor about menopause?

You should make an appointment with Dr. Quintanar at Pristine Naturopathic Medicine if your menopause symptoms interfere with your health, wellness, or lifestyle. She offers customized, naturopathic therapies designed to address hormonal imbalances and enhance your overall health while also relieving your symptoms.

How is menopause managed?

Dr. Quintanar offers highly customized naturopathic therapies to address your specific needs. She begins your treatment with a comprehensive consultation to assess your hormone levels, symptoms, and other factors that affect your overall health. She also collects your personal and family medical history to determine your risk of cancer and other conditions that could both contribute to your symptoms or be affected by menopause management therapies.

Then, depending on your specific needs, she provides a menopause management plan. Your therapies may include bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), lifestyle modifications, and herbal treatments. For example, there are a variety of herbal supplements that may help relieve your symptoms such as:

• Black cohosh
• Red clover
• Dong quai
• Ginseng
• Kava
• Evening primrose oil

You may also benefit from adjusting your diet and adding nutritional supplements. Additionally, many patients find that increasing their activity levels helps them manage their symptoms and improve their health.

Call Pristine Naturopathic Medicine or schedule an appointment online today if menopause is interfering with your well-being.