During menopause, a woman's body goes through many changes as her reproductive capabilities come to an end. The primary cause of these changes is shifting hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone. As a woman approaches menopause, typically in her late 40s or early 50s, her ovaries begin producing less of these key hormones, leading to an imbalance that drives the symptoms of menopause.
Effects of Hormonal Changes
The hormone changes of menopause do indeed cause a hormonal imbalance in several ways:
- Estrogen levels decline - Estrogen drops dramatically during menopause, sometimes declining up to 40% in the five years leading up to the final menstrual period. Lower estrogen levels lead to many menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and emotional changes.
- Progesterone levels fluctuate and drop - The ovulation cycle becomes irregular during perimenopause, causing progesterone levels to fluctuate and eventually decline once menstrual periods stop completely. This contributes to menstrual cycle changes like heavy, light, or missed periods.
- Other hormones affected - Levels of hormones like testosterone and DHEA also decline for some women during the menopausal transition. Thyroid hormones and stress hormones may also be imbalanced.
The term
"perimenopause" refers to the years leading up to menopause when these hormone fluctuations begin causing symptoms. This hormonal imbalance persists throughout the first years of
postmenopause as the body adjusts to dramatically lower hormone levels. Most women continue to experience symptoms like hot flashes for an average of five years after their final period. However, the hormonal imbalance itself - primarily in the form of low estrogen levels - persists for the remainder of her life.
Treating Hormonal Imbalance
The hormone changes of menopause are an expected part of aging for women. However, the timing and severity of symptoms varies significantly among individuals. Here are the main ways to find relief:
- Hormone therapy - Supplementing estrogen and progestogen is the most effective treatment for relieving acute menopause symptoms. At Hormone Harmony Clinic, we specialize in custom bioidentical hormone therapy including pills, patches, gels, implants, shots, and creams to restore balance.
- Lifestyle changes - Avoiding triggers like stress, caffeine, and spicy foods can provide symptom relief. Staying active and dressing in breathable clothing also helps alleviate issues like hot flashes.
- Alternative therapies - Some women find relief through dietary changes, herbal supplements, acupuncture, or mind-body practices like meditation and yoga. Speak to your healthcare provider before starting alternative therapies.
- Time - For many women, the most disruptive menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats resolve on their own within a few years with no intervention. However, the benefits of hormone therapy often outweigh waiting out troublesome symptoms that interfere with sleep, work, relationships and quality of life.
The Bottom Line
There's no doubt that menopause causes a dramatic hormonal imbalance in women as reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone severely decline. This imbalance is responsible for troublesome physical and emotional symptoms that can significantly disrupt a woman's health and wellbeing around the age of 50. Fortunately, symptoms are usually temporary thanks to safe and effective
hormone therapy solutions like those offered by
Hormone Harmony Clinic. With an individualized treatment plan to restore hormonal balance, most women can navigate menopause gracefully and continue thriving through the second half of life.