Menopause & Hormones
By the Team at Berkley Wellness
Welcome to the Berkley Wellness blog, your trusted resource for health information that empowers you to live your best life. Nestled here in Breckenridge, TX, we understand that health journeys are personal, but you don’t have to navigate them alone. Today, we’re tackling a topic that is a natural and inevitable part of life for women, yet often remains shrouded in mystery and misinformation: menopause and the symptoms of low hormones.
Menopause isn’t a disease or a disorder; it’s a biological transition marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years. However, the hormonal shifts that drive this transition can have profound effects on nearly every system in the body. Understanding these changes is the first step toward managing them with grace and confidence.
What Exactly is Happening? The Hormonal Shift
To understand the symptoms, we must first understand the underlying cause. Perimenopause and menopause are defined by a decline in the production of key reproductive hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
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Estrogen: This is the star player. It’s produced mainly in the ovaries and regulates the menstrual cycle. But its influence extends far beyond reproduction. Estrogen receptors are found in the brain, heart, bones, skin, and urinary tract. When estrogen levels decline, all these areas feel the impact.
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Progesterone: This hormone works in concert with estrogen, primarily to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. Its decline during perimenopause can contribute significantly to menstrual irregularities and sleep problems.
The journey is typically broken down into stages:
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Perimenopause: Often starting in a woman’s 40s, this is the transitional phase leading up to menopause. Hormone levels begin to fluctuate and decline, and symptoms often first appear here. This stage can last for several years.
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Menopause: This is defined as the point in time when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. The average age for menopause in the U.S. is 51.
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Postmenopause: The years following menopause. Symptoms like hot flashes may ease for many, but the long-term health implications of low estrogen, such as bone density loss, become the primary focus.
A Symphony of Symptoms: From Head to Toe
The decline of estrogen and progesterone doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It creates a cascade of effects. Here is a comprehensive look at the most common, and some not-so-common, symptoms of low hormones.
The Vasomotor Symptoms: The Classic Hallmarks
These are the symptoms most commonly associated with “the change.”
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Hot Flashes: Sudden, intense feelings of heat that spread through the upper body and face. They can be accompanied by flushing, red blotches on the skin, and profuse sweating. They can last from 30 seconds to several minutes and can occur several times a day or a week.
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Night Sweats: Essentially hot flashes that happen at night, often severe enough to drench your sleepwear and sheets. This is a primary culprit behind the sleep disturbances so common in menopause.
The Genitourinary Symptoms: An Intimate Change
The tissues of the vulva, vagina, and urinary tract are rich in estrogen receptors. As estrogen levels drop, these tissues undergo significant changes, a condition known as Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
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Vaginal Dryness: The vaginal walls become thinner, drier, and less elastic. This can lead to itching, burning, and pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).
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Urinary Symptoms: Increased frequency, urgency, and a higher susceptibility to urinary tract infections (UTIs). The weakening of tissues can also contribute to stress incontinence (leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, or laughing).
Psychological and Cognitive Symptoms: The Mind-Body Connection
It’s not “all in your head,” but it certainly is affected by what’s happening in your body. The brain is a major target for estrogen, and its decline can lead to:
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Mood Swings: Irritability, sudden tears, and feelings of being overwhelmed are very common. The combination of hormonal flux and sleep deprivation is a potent driver of emotional volatility.
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Anxiety and Depression: Many women experience new or worsening anxiety. For some, the menopausal transition can increase the risk of clinical depression.
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“Brain Fog”: This is a very real phenomenon. Women often report difficulty concentrating, memory lapses (like forgetting words or where you put your keys), and a general feeling of mental cloudiness.
Sleep Disturbances: Beyond Night Sweats
Even without night sweats, the hormonal changes of menopause can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle.
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Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep becomes commonplace. Waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep is a frequent complaint.
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Fatigue: The cumulative effect of poor sleep, combined with the body’s adjustment to new hormonal norms, leads to profound and persistent tiredness.
Physical Changes: Body Composition and More
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Weight Gain: Metabolism tends to slow down, and there’s a shift in fat storage, with more fat accumulating around the abdomen rather than the hips and thighs.
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Skin and Hair Changes: Skin may become drier, thinner, and less elastic, leading to more wrinkles. Hair may become thinner, drier, or more brittle. Some women experience increased facial hair.
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Joint and Muscle Pain: Many women report new aches and pains in their joints and muscles, often misattributed to “just getting older.”
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Breast Tenderness: While often associated with perimenopausal hormonal fluctuations, some women continue to experience tenderness.
Long-Term Health Implications
The postmenopausal period brings increased risks for certain health conditions due to the sustained low level of estrogen.
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Osteoporosis: Estrogen is crucial for bone density. Its decline accelerates bone loss, increasing the risk of fractures.
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Cardiovascular Disease: Before menopause, women have a lower risk of heart disease than men. After menopause, the risk catches up. Estrogen has a protective effect on the inner layer of artery walls, and its loss can contribute to higher blood pressure and unfavorable cholesterol changes.
Managing the Symptoms: A Toolkit for Thriving
Receiving a list of potential symptoms can be daunting. But the key message is this: You are not powerless. There are numerous effective strategies for managing these symptoms and reclaiming your vitality.
Lifestyle as Foundation: Your First Line of Defense
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Nutrition:
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Cool the Flashes: Avoid common triggers like spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
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Support Bone Health: Ensure adequate intake of Calcium (1,200 mg per day for women over 50) and Vitamin D (600-800 IU daily). Think leafy greens, dairy, and fortified foods.
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Eat for Balance: Focus on a whole-foods diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. This helps stabilize blood sugar and manage weight.
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Exercise:
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Weight-Bearing Exercise: Activities like walking, dancing, and strength training are critical for maintaining bone density and muscle mass.
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Cardio: Helps manage weight, improves mood, and supports heart health.
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Flexibility and Balance: Yoga and Tai Chi can improve joint pain, reduce stress, and enhance balance, which helps prevent falls.
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Stress Management:
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Prioritize Sleep: Create a cool, dark, and quiet sleep environment. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine.
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Mindfulness and Meditation: Proven techniques to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and enhance resilience.
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Breathing Exercises: Practicing slow, deep breathing at the onset of a hot flash can sometimes reduce its intensity.
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Medical Interventions: Partnering with Your Provider
If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to manage disruptive symptoms, it’s time to have a conversation with your healthcare provider.
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Hormone Therapy (HT): Formerly known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), this is the most effective treatment for moderate to severe hot flashes and vaginal symptoms.
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Systemic HT: Comes in pills, patches, gels, and sprays. It delivers estrogen throughout the body.
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Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogen: Comes as creams, tablets, or rings. It treats vaginal and urinary symptoms with minimal absorption into the bloodstream, making it a very safe option for most women.
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Benefits vs. Risks: The decision to use HT is personal and should be made with your doctor after a thorough discussion of your individual benefits (symptom relief) and risks (slight increase in risk of blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer with certain types).
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Non-Hormonal Prescriptions:
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Certain antidepressants (SSRIs/SNRIs) and an anti-seizure medication have been found to be effective in reducing hot flashes, especially for women who cannot take HT.
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Medications for osteoporosis prevention and treatment are also available.
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Complementary and Alternative Approaches
Many women find relief with complementary approaches, though it’s crucial to discuss these with your doctor as well, as they can interact with medications.
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A type of therapy that has shown great success in managing low mood, anxiety, and even the perception of hot flashes.
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Acupuncture: Some studies suggest it can help reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
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Herbal Supplements: Black cohosh and soy isoflavones are popular, but evidence of their efficacy is mixed, and quality control can be an issue. Always consult your provider before starting any supplement.
You Are Not Alone: The Power of Community and Conversation
Perhaps the most important tool in your toolkit is connection. For generations, menopause was a silent passage. Today, we are breaking that silence. Talk to your friends. Talk to your partner. Talk to your daughters. And most importantly, talk to your healthcare provider.
At Berkley Wellness, we believe that knowledge is the foundation of empowerment. Understanding the “why” behind the changes you’re experiencing can transform a frightening journey into a manageable, and even empowering, transition.
Your Next Step: The Berkley Wellness Invitation
If you are in the Breckenridge area and are navigating perimenopause or menopause, we invite you to start a conversation with us. Don’t suffer in silence, assuming that fatigue, brain fog, or low mood are just your “new normal.”
Call us at (254) 212-8014 to schedule an appointment. Let’s work together to create a personalized plan that addresses your unique symptoms and health goals. We can discuss everything from lifestyle adjustments and nutritional support to the latest medical therapies, ensuring you have the information and care you need to thrive through this phase of life and beyond.
Your well-being is our mission. Let us help you navigate this change with strength, knowledge, and confidence.
