Understanding Menopause
Menopause is the natural phase in a woman’s life when her normal menstrual cycle ceases and hormone levels change. Dr. Turner has an array of naturopathic tools that support a graceful transition into and through menopause. Understanding the terminology is important; not only for diagnostic purposes but also so that the individualized treatment approach can be determined.
The Phases of Menopause
Although menopause is typically defined as “12 months after the last menstrual period,” the phases can be confusing. This is because there are a lot of overlaps in the process. It’s really more like a transition which takes a woman through several phases. Naturopathic medicine shines when it comes to treating each of the phases of this transition.
The Symptoms of the Menopausal Transition
The symptoms associated with menopause can vary greatly since there are numerous hormonal changes that take place. Estrogen and testosterone significantly decrease but more importantly progesterone plummets; you are left with a relatively estrogen dominant state. The symptoms include but are not limited to:
Weak Body Systems associated with Symptomatic Menopausal Transitions
The body is comprised of numerous systems such as the endocrine system, the nervous system, and the immune system. When any system in the body becomes strained, depleted or poorly nourished, menopause can become a hard transition. Here are a few examples of weakened body systems that will aggravate the menopausal transition.
Naturopathic Treatments For Menopause
Treatments options can range from treating healthy gut function to supporting optimal liver metabolism, to replacing deficient hormones with Hormone Replacement Therapy. Depending on the individual’s personal and family history the treatment approaches can vary. When indicated, Dr. Turner will supplement the deficient hormone levels with low doses of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement; but usually, there are a number of treatment approaches that succeed before Hormone Replacement Therapy is necessary.
