Hormone Therapy for Menopause: The Basics
Menopause. Every woman eventually faces this transition that marks the end of her reproductive years. And, there are at least 36 symptoms of menopause that range from annoying (like hot flashes) to life-altering (painful sex) to downright dangerous (broken bones due to osteoporosis).
Hormone therapy is the number one FDA approved treatment for relief of the symptoms of menopause. Hormone therapy is also FDA approved for the prevention of osteoporosis. Hormone therapy is the only way to replace the declining estrogen and progesterone levels of menopause.
In this article, the experts at SottoPelle take you “back to the basics” of menopause hormone therapy.
The Three Stages of Natural Menopause
Perimenopause is the period of time between the start of hormone decline (and related symptom symptoms – such as erratic periods) until one year after a woman’s final menstrual period. While most women think of hormone therapy in terms of menopause, it is often perimenopause when hormone therapy can be most beneficial.
Menopause itself refers to the confirmed one-year period after a women’s final menstrual period.
Postmenopause refers to the rest of a woman’s years after menopause.
Additionally, women can experience “premature” or “early” menopause when a medical condition and/or surgery causes decreased or halted production of female hormones.
For example, a condition called Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) can mimic perimenopause – causing irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and painful intercourse. And, a total or radical hysterectomy that removes both ovaries will cause “surgical” menopause.
Types of Hormone Therapy for Menopause
There are two basic types of hormone therapy:
“ET” refers to estrogen-only hormone therapy. Typically, estrogen is the hormone that provides the most menopausal symptom relief.
“EPT” refers to combined estrogen plus progestogen therapy. Progestogen is added to estrogen therapy to protect women with a uterus against uterine (endometrial) cancer.
Bioidentical vs Synthetic Hormone Therapy for Menopause
Older, synthetic (man-made) hormones had many side effects – some of which were quite dangerous. Something as molecularly complex as a human hormone can never be identically duplicated in a lab. So, synthetic hormones are often less-than-effective because they are not an “exact fit” for the body.
But SottoPelle Hormone pellets are “bioidentical” – which means they exactly replicate the molecular structure of the hormones produced by the body. Derived from 100% natural sources, bioidentical hormones are safer, more effective, and also free of many of the dangerous side effects of synthetics (lab-created) man-made hormones.
Hormone Therapy Delivery Methods
Local or “nonsystemic” hormone products – creams, rings, or tablets – only affect the specific or localized area of the body where they are applied.
Systemic hormone therapy circulates the hormones throughout the bloodstream – delivering to all parts of the body. Pills, patches, gels, injections, and pellets are systemic. can be used for hot flashes and night sweats, vaginal symptoms, and osteoporosis.
However, only time-released under-the-skin hormone pellets deliver estrogen and progesterone consistently and evenly 24/7 – just like the body does. Pills, patches, and injections, however, create a roller coaster of hormones that surge when taken and then wear off until the next dose.
Hormone Therapy for Menopause – Less is More
Like any medication or therapy, there are potential side-effects of hormone therapy. But precise dosing – using he least amount necessary to achieve the desired results – can help avoid many side effects. The lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time to achieve the treatments goals is always the ideal.
Today, doctors prescribe much lower doses for much shorter periods of time than they did before 2002 – (typically 3 to 5 years). One of the advantages of hormone therapy pellets for menopause is that they are custom compounded for each patient’s specific needs – as opposed to one-size-fits-all pills that can provide excess amounts of hormones.
SottoPelle Menopause Hormone Therapy
Hormones affect every aspect of a woman’s body, including physical, mental, emotional, and sexual functioning. So, the hormone decline of menopause can be brutal.
SottoPelle® Method 100% natural bioidentical hormone therapy can help restore a woman’s body and mind to optimal balance during perimenopause and menopause. And hormone pellet therapy offers several advantages, including NO daily pills, NO painful weekly shots, and NO messy creams. Additionally, SottoPelle® pellet therapy utilizes bioidentical hormones that are safer, more effective, and more natural than lab-created synthetics.
If you are a perimenopausal or menopausal woman who is experiencing any of the symptoms of menopause, talk to your physician about SottoPelle® Method hormone therapy today. Or, find a physician in your area who is a Certified SottoPelle® hormone therapy provider using our Physician Finder HERE.
Menopause Hormone Therapy: (323) 986-5100
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. While the benefits of hormone replacement are well documented through clinical research, we are not representing that hormone therapy is a “cure” for any disease. Only your treating physician can determine if hormone replacement may be a beneficial part of your healthcare regimen, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.
