Is BHRT Right for Your Menopausal Symptoms?

You expected to have irregular periods as the estrogen “drop-off” through perimenopause gradually carried you toward menopause, or the end of menstruation and female fertility. You weren’t even surprised when you began having periodic hot flashes, gaining midsection weight, or experiencing the discomfort of vaginal dryness. 

What you probably didn’t expect, however, was for your primary care doctor to recommend lifestyle changes as the main treatment approach for your menopausal symptoms. 

At Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology in Amarillo, Texas, we want to help you thrive through menopause. Our experienced women’s wellness team knows that as helpful as lifestyle changes can be, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a far more effective solution for severe or persistent menopausal symptoms that disrupt your life. 

The wide-ranging effects of menopause

A significant and sustained decline in female sex hormones is the mechanism behind the side effects that emerge during perimenopause and menopause. As your ovaries make and release estrogen at ever-dwindling rates, you might experience: 

Physical symptoms

The physical effects associated with declining estrogen levels are among the most notorious menopause symptoms. Common complaints include hot or cold flashes, night sweats, persistent fatigue, low energy, a sluggish metabolism, and easy weight gain. Thinning hair and drier skin are also common. 

Emotional changes

Menopause-driven hormonal imbalances can destabilize your mental well-being, making you moodier and more irritable. They can also set the stage for anxiety disorders, depression, and chronic sleep problems like insomnia. 

Impaired cognition 

One of the most surprising effects of estrogen decline is brain fog, or short-term cognitive “blips” that cloud your mind, making it harder to focus, remember, and think clearly. 

Sexual dysfunction 

Diminished estrogen levels can also affect female sexual wellness, causing chronic vaginal dryness, painful sexual intercourse, and low libido. 

Future health effects 

Estrogen has a protective effect on bone and heart health. When it starts to decline, your risk of developing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease increases. 

When menopausal symptoms are mild 

Menopausal symptoms vary in nature, severity, and duration from one woman to the next, but most women agree that the effects — even when mild — can be irritating. Many women also find that mild symptoms improve or resolve with targeted lifestyle changes, such as: 

• Increased exercise and weight loss 
• Healthier eating and optimal hydration
• Stress control
• Better sleep hygiene 

For women whose primary menopause-related complaint is vaginal dryness with pain during intercourse, a targeted solution like topical estrogen cream or MonaLisa Touch® laser therapy can often provide much-needed relief. 

Complete relief through low-dose BHRT 

Sometimes, lifestyle changes and targeted (non-systemic) treatments don’t deliver effective relief. When menopausal symptoms are numerous, persistent, severe, and/or disruptive to your daily life, BHRT can be an ideal solution. 

Bioidentical hormones

Using a prescription blend of plant-based, bioidentical hormones that have the same molecular structure as your own hormones, BHRT alleviates menopausal symptoms by restoring optimal hormonal balance. 

The lowest possible dose 

The goal of BHRT is to deliver effective menopause relief with the lowest possible dose; based on a physical exam and symptom assessment, we customize your hormone prescription to meet your needs. 

That prescription is delivered to your system through a steady-release, rice-sized hormone pellet implanted just beneath the surface of your skin in your upper buttock area. BHRT pellet implantation is fast and painless, and the pellet starts emitting hormones in a controlled manner right away. 

Gradual, sustained relief 

While you can expect to notice diminished menopausal symptoms within a few days of pellet implantation, it typically takes up to a month to attain substantial symptom relief. Complete hormone optimization with BHRT can take up to six months — often occurring after the second pellet insertion. 

Ready to restore your hormonal balance? 

By restoring optimal hormonal balance, BHRT can put an end to menopausal symptoms and protect against heart disease and accelerated bone loss. It works best when started during perimenopause (within 10 years of the onset of menopause) and is designed to treat women younger than 60 years old. 

Each BHRT pellet lasts three to six months at a time; to keep your hormone levels optimized and your menopausal symptoms at bay, we insert new pellets two to four times per year. Total treatment duration is shaped by your individual needs (and age) as time goes on. 

Ready to take back your life with BHRT? Call 806-359-5468 to schedule a visit at Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology today.