You Don't Have to Suffer Through Menopause

Menopause is a natural transition that all women face as they age. This transition can be a challenging and, in some cases, life-altering time for women who experience severe menopause-related symptoms.

RegenMed Health Centers prioritizes women’s health and offers patient-focused services to help women thrive physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Ellen Lin, MD, understands how difficult it can be to go through many health changes in the months and years leading up to menopause. Dr. Lin specializes in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to ease the worst of your symptoms and rebalance your natural hormone levels.

Understanding the challenges of menopause

Menopause occurs when your period stops for 12 consecutive months. This transition signals the end of your child-bearing years and, on average, occurs around age 51.

In the time leading up to menopause (perimenopause), your hormone levels begin to decline as your body doesn’t produce as many hormones as it did when you were younger.

This decline can be a bit erratic, and the fluctuation in your hormone levels could trigger a range of symptoms that affect your health and quality of life.

Hormones are the body's chemical messengers that regulate many of your biological functions. A decline in their levels can affect many aspects of your health.

Recognizing symptoms of menopause

Menopause-related symptoms typically become more noticeable in perimenopause, which can start up to 10 years before the end of your periods. During this time, you may notice changes in your health that include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Low sex drive
• Vaginal dryness
• Pain with sex
• Sudden weight gain

Imbalanced hormones can also affect your mental and cognitive function and contribute to issues like brain fog, anxiety, and depression.

For some women, these symptoms can be so disruptive that attending to your basic needs becomes increasingly difficult. Many women feel afraid or ashamed to seek medical attention for their symptoms, but it’s important to know that help is available and you are not alone.

Treatment options for menopause

Managing the symptoms of menopause often starts with lifestyle and diet changes that improve your overall health. Dr. Lin can recommend strategies you can use to enhance your quality of life and feel like yourself again.

If these changes aren’t enough, hormone replacement therapy may be a treatment option for you. HRT helps rebalance your natural hormone levels with supplemental hormones. Once your hormone levels are stable, many of your symptoms will resolve so you can live an active and full life.

We offer several delivery methods for synthetic hormones, including:

• Pills
• Patches
• Injections
• Creams, gels, and lotions

Dr. Lin works closely with you to find the optimum delivery method and dosage. She discusses how long you can expect to use HRT during your initial consultation based on your symptoms and your overall health.

If you can’t tolerate hormones because of underlying health issues such as cancer or blood clots, Dr. Lin can suggest other treatments that provide lasting symptom relief.

Call RegenMed Health Centers in San Antonio, Texas, today to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options for menopause care. You can also book an appointment online.