Menopause, or the time when your fertility ends, is a natural stage in a woman’s life. Going through menopause is normal, but for many women, it can come with a number of unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms.

If you find that the side effects of menopause are decreasing your quality of life, you’re not alone. Fortunately, thanks to bioidentical hormone therapy, you no longer have to live with the frustrating side effects of menopause.

Board-certified gynecologist Julie Madejski, MD, FACOG, explains when you should consider bioidentical hormone therapy if you’re experiencing menopause. Dr. Madejski and her team at Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology in Lockport, New York, offer bioidentical hormone therapy and can help if menopause symptoms are weighing on you.

Defining menopause

Menopause begins when you haven’t menstruated for a year. When you’re in menopause, you can no longer bear children, and your body’s hormonal balance changes. You produce significantly less estrogen than before menopause.

The hormonal changes associated with menopause can come with side effects, which may range from mild to severe. Common symptoms you might experience with menopause include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, difficulty sleeping, and bone density loss.

Understanding bioidentical hormone therapy

Bioidentical hormone therapy is an outpatient treatment that uses plant-based sources to replace estrogen and other depleted hormones in your body as a result of menopause. Taking bioidentical hormones provides relief from the unpleasant side effects of menopause while keeping your body healthy and vigorous.

When should you consider getting bioidentical hormone therapy?

Many women in menopause are good candidates for bioidentical hormone therapy. These are some of the most common reasons women decide to get this revitalizing treatment.

Menopause symptoms are hurting your quality of life

Menopause can cause a variety of associated symptoms. You might find it hard to sleep at night because of hot flashes or night sweats, have less energy, experience weight gain, and lose muscle mass.

By mimicking your body’s natural hormones, bioidentical hormone therapy allows your body to return to the hormone levels you had before menopause. This can reduce or stop uncomfortable menopause symptoms.

Your bone density has decreased

Because of your body’s lowered estrogen production, you lose bone density with menopause, especially in the first several years. This puts you at higher risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures and breaks.

The estrogen your body gets with bioidentical hormone therapy helps reduce the bone loss associated with menopause.

You don’t feel like yourself

Along with physical changes, the symptoms associated with menopause can be mental. It’s common to experience mood swings, memory loss, and irritability as a result of hormonal changes.

Getting bioidentical hormone therapy restores the hormonal balance your body is used to, supporting you in feeling more like yourself again.

You’d like to reclaim your sexual vigor

Some women experience unwanted sexual side effects from menopause. These include losing interest in sex, pain during sex, and vaginal dryness. Bioidentical hormone therapy helps restore your sex life despite menopause.

How to get bioidentical hormone therapy 

If you suspect you’re perimenopausal or have gone through menopause and are experiencing unwanted side effects, make an appointment at Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology for an evaluation. Dr. Madejski and her team perform a full evaluation to determine if bioidentical hormone therapy is right for you.

Dr. Madejski takes a holistic approach to wellness for her patients in menopause. In your individualized treatment plan, she might also recommend treating adrenal fatigue or thyroid dysfunction, making lifestyle changes, and taking supplements or medications in addition to bioidentical hormone therapy.

If menopause is getting you down, and you’d like to reclaim your physical, mental, and sexual vigor, it’s time to consider bioidentical hormone therapy. Call 716-213-6685 to make an appointment with the team at Artemis Menstrual Health and Gynecology.