AZ Menopause Support and Counseling

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Menopause is a natural stage of life, but it is crucial that women feel empowered while undergoing this journey. At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, our approach to menopause support and counseling is to provide personalized attention while offering hormone therapy and natural menopause remedies to enhance the well-being of our clients.

Understanding Menopause

Helping you build an understanding of menopause and what it might mean for you is a key component of menopause support at Arizona Gynecology Consultants.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is a natural transition that affects all menstruating women. It marks the end of women’s menstrual cycles as well as their ability to reproduce because, during menopause, women no longer produce reproductive hormones.

For some women, the symptoms of menopause are readily apparent, while for others, the transition can be more subtle. Our doctors retroactively diagnose menopause when a woman has stopped having menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months.

There are three phases of menopause:

Postmenopause

The postmenopausal phase lasts the remainder of a woman’s life. This phase begins once 12 months have passed without menstruation, but symptoms may become milder.

Menopause

This is the most commonly referenced phase in which the menstrual cycle stops completely because the body is no longer producing sufficient hormones to maintain ovulation and menstruation. Symptoms from perimenopause carry over to this phase and may become more pronounced.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the phase that initiates menopause and is associated with hormonal changes and shortened or irregular periods.

Menopause affects the body in many ways. The diminished estrogen and other hormonal changes can cause a range of vasomotor symptoms. Women may also experience genitourinary symptoms, which impact the vagina and urinary tract.

Every woman’s menopause journey is unique, and we are here to help you navigate the process and its associated symptoms with confidence.

Symptoms of Menopause

When most people think of menopause symptoms, vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings typically come to mind.

However, women can also experience other symptoms, such as those impacting the urinary tract, bones, digestive system, or mental health.

These are some symptoms women may experience while going through menopause:

Each woman’s body is different, so some women may experience most of these symptoms while others may only experience a few. Likewise, some women may experience symptoms more intensely than others. Unfortunately, the nature of some of these symptoms can lead to embarrassment, anxiety, and even low self-esteem. However, it’s important to remember that menopause is normal and natural, and all women will eventually go through the process.

Women should also understand that these symptoms fluctuate throughout the journey of menopause. Some symptoms may be more pronounced during perimenopause or the beginning stages of menopause, while others are more common during postmenopause. If any symptom becomes severe, please contact us immediately for a consultation.

Menopause Support in Arizona: Our Approach

At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, we listen carefully to each woman and her individual menopause experience. We also encourage women to listen to their own bodies as they navigate the process. This helps women and physicians alike to track symptoms as well as assess their frequency and severity.

With this collaborative approach, we can offer a personalized treatment plan that prioritizes our patients’ voices, comfort levels, and personal wellness goals.

What To Expect at Arizona Gynecology Consultants

We begin by conducting a comprehensive evaluation, which starts with your initial consultation. During your consultation, we conduct a physical examination, assessing your blood pressure, height and weight, breast and vaginal changes, as well as other organs that may be impacted by menopause. We will also ask questions about your health history to get a better understanding of your unique needs and existing conditions that may impact your treatment.

At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, we are committed to providing support through all the stages of menopause.

Perimenopause Support and Early Intervention

Early intervention is essential to help treat, ease, and prevent menopausal symptoms. This is why we recommend seeking support during the perimenopausal phase. During this phase, women experience the most instability in their hormones, affecting both estrogen and progesterone, which may show significant declines.

The decrease in estrogen women experience in this phase may lead to chronic inflammation, also known as “inflammaging.” Chronic inflammation can affect various areas of the body, leading to issues with sleep, mood, and even immune responses.

While hormone replacement therapy offers one treatment option, there is a range of supplements available to combat inflammation issues:

Anti-inflammatory diets like the Mediterranean diet or the Galveston Diet, created by Dr. Mary Claire Haver, can yield results for many women. This diet consists of intermittent fasting and emphasizes lean protein, healthy fat, and limited carbohydrate intake.
It is essential for women to exercise regularly and incorporate both flexibility and strength training into their regimen. Consider exercising three times a week, with 30 minutes dedicated to strength training and 120 minutes to gentle flexibility and core training, such as yoga or Pilates.

The Importance of Lifestyle Changes

We also highlight the importance of lifestyle changes for helping women transition from perimenopause to menopause, especially for inflammation.

Most notably, our personalized approach suggests strategic dietary changes and regular exercise.

Consult with our experienced menopause support providers to create an exercise regimen tailored to your needs.

Finally, hot flashes tend to be one of the most bothersome symptoms reported during perimenopause. Fortunately, there are both non-hormonal and hormonal therapies available to help prevent them. For example, NK3 receptor antagonists like Veozah have been proven effective.

Menopause Support in Arizona

Once your periods have ceased for a year, menopause symptoms may ease, but you will likely continue to experience changes that require menopause support. Treatment after the onset of menopause consists of a comprehensive approach to menopause support and counseling. We are compassionate practitioners who consider all factors related to the menopause process. This begins with the evaluation, continues with our personalized treatment plans, and endures with our focus on long-term health.

What sets Arizona Gynecology Consultants apart from other women’s health providers is that we follow evidence-based guidelines to offer personalized treatment plans. Learn more about hormonal and non-hormonal menopause support.

Non-Hormonal Support for Menopause

Our patients are our greatest resource for providing safe and effective treatments for all stages of menopause. This is why we encourage our patients to share in the decision-making for their treatment plans. Through this approach and by incorporating evidence-based strategies, we work together with patients to prioritize supplements and non-hormonal support for menopause treatment.

Nutrition and Supplements

Most patients can benefit from continuing the nutrition and supplement regimens that worked for them during perimenopause, including:

As you begin menopause treatment, our menopause support providers will evaluate your unique needs and discuss potential supplement recommendations. As with early intervention/perimenopause treatment, our providers recommend increased attention to a healthy diet and a gentle to moderate exercise routine.

Some additional supplements that may help decrease menopause symptoms include:

Your provider may also consider non-hormonal medications to help with the symptoms of menopause. While these medications can be prescribed alongside hormone support, some women find that a combination of non-hormonal medications and nutrient support is enough. Other women have unique needs for which hormone therapies are contraindicated.

No matter your situation, our menopause support specialists may consider these medications to address your symptoms:

Medications

These and other medications already in your treatment regimen could work together to diminish the symptoms of menopause. Alongside exercise and supplementation recommendations, Arizona Gynecology Consultants will work with you to monitor your progress. Together, we can create a treatment plan that will remain effective for you throughout your menopause journey.

When Hormone Therapy is Appropriate

Another important focus of menopause care is evaluating levels of the hormones responsible for menopausal changes to your body and the resulting symptoms. Personalized recommendations from our range of evidence-based treatment options for women experiencing menopause may include hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

HRT replenishes ovarian hormones lost during menopause with the intent of relieving the associated symptoms. HRT can be extremely effective for short-term use, but it tends to be most beneficial for women experiencing frequent and severe menopausal symptoms; therefore, women who are not experiencing symptoms may want to avoid it.

We offer various types of hormonal imbalance treatment, including oral therapy, topical therapy, vaginal therapy, and even hormone patches.

Oral Therapy – Oral therapy includes the use of estrogen pills, which mimic real estrogen. Replenishing estrogen stores can ease menopausal symptoms for most women.
Topical therapy – This type of therapy provides an easy and convenient way to replace estrogen. We can utilize sprays, creams, or gels on the skin, which deliver estrogen into the bloodstream.
Hormone Patches – Patches are similar to topical therapy, but they deliver hormones directly to the bloodstream via the skin.
Vaginal Hormone Therapy – This common form of treatment involves vaginal hormones placed directly into the vagina via creams, tablets, or a vaginal ring, and is effective at relieving vaginal itching and dryness. While the vaginal ring only needs to be changed every three months, creams and tablets should be delivered more frequently.

HRT Benefits and Risks

It is important to note that while hormone therapy can be a valuable option for many patients, it is not considered a universal first-line approach. Our treatment recommendations are tailored to each woman’s needs, goals, and medical history, and we use collaborative treatment planning to devise a strategy that satisfies the needs of our clients. This strategy may or may not include HRT, depending on your input and our evaluation of the associated risks and benefits.

As HRT is a proven effective treatment for alleviating menopausal symptoms, it can provide a range of benefits.

After undergoing HRT, most women can expect to experience:

Because critical estrogen hormones are replenished, women may experience a reduction in uncomfortable symptoms and an increase in overall quality of life.

While most women can benefit from HRT, hormone replacement therapy is not for everyone. Those with a family history of cancer, especially breast cancer, heart disease, liver disease, or deep vein thrombosis, may experience some of the most severe side effects. If you fit this category, you may want to discuss alternative options for managing menopause symptoms.

For most women, side effects are mild and may only include:

Not all women will experience these side effects, but it is important to keep track of adverse symptoms so we can create a plan for you. Beginning therapy before age sixty can reduce side effects, and 50-year-old women specifically find treatment most beneficial.

Combining HRT with improved diet and exercise, non-hormonal medications, strategically chosen supplements, and consistent gynecological exams may help mitigate side effects.

Postmenopause Care

Postmenopause is the final stage of the menopause journey and lasts for the rest of a woman’s life. During this phase, hot flashes and other symptoms begin to fade. However, the risk of osteoporosis increases because the body does not make enough estrogen to sustain bone density. Our practitioners recommend early osteoporosis screening and a range of care to help ease these symptoms, including medication and lifestyle changes.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

The risk of heart disease may increase after menopause, which is why we also recommend that patients undergo a cardiovascular risk assessment to both determine whether HRT therapy is suitable and to create an effective postmenopause care strategy. The evaluation examines past medical history, pregnancy history, biomarkers, and other factors that may contribute to cardiovascular risk.

Cognitive Support

Adequate cognitive support is also emphasized during this phase, not only to curb memory loss and confusion but also to combat stress. As with other symptoms of menopause, we recommend maintaining healthy lifestyle adjustments like a focus on nutrition and exercise. It’s also important to prioritize healthy sleep and mental stimulation.

Maintenance Therapies

As you continue to experience physical and psychological changes, it is important to continue to visit our office during regular gynecological check-ups. Your provider can evaluate your medication, supplement, and/or hormone replacement regimen and make updated recommendations to meet your ongoing needs. Menopause lasts for the rest of your life, and adjusting your strategy depending on your changing needs is an important part of maintaining your physical and mental health.

Menopause Counseling Services

Arizona Gynecology Consultants offers counseling services that can treat other menopausal symptoms. Going through menopause not only presents physical symptoms but also psychological symptoms. Many women report changes in their moods, increased anxiety levels, body image issues, and even low self-esteem.

Our counseling services aim to listen to women’s changes and help them work through them. We strive to reassure women that what they are feeling and experiencing is normal but not necessarily permanent. We use tools to build confidence and comfort, as well as stress management techniques.

Focus on Long-Term Health

At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, we understand that though menopause may start at mid-age, it is a lifelong process.

Postmenopause is lifelong and initiates a need to focus on bone health, heart health, and cognitive well-being. During your consultation, we ask questions to assess your current bone and heart health, tailoring a treatment plan to address these issues as you approach postmenopause. We also recommend supplements to support heart and bone health, and we can create a personalized diet and exercise regimen to enhance your overall well-being.

Menopause Doctor Near Me: Why Choose Arizona Gynecology Consultants?

When your menopause journey begins, the first step is to contact the experienced team of women’s health practitioners at Arizona Gynecology Consultants.

Our team is led by board-certified specialists who compassionately provide comprehensive service. We recognize and respect the differences among our patients.

That is why we offer focused, tailored treatment plans instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach. Your menopause journey is as unique as you are, so you deserve treatment that reflects this.

At Arizona Gynecology Consultants, we are on the cutting edge of the latest advancements in hormone therapy. We stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in hormone replacement therapy, ensuring our clients receive safe, ethical, and effective care.

Menopause is a natural process that should not be met with fear or embarrassment but rather with confidence and care. If you choose Arizona Gynecology Consultants as your first choice for managing symptoms, you will remain in the gentle, capable, and caring hands of our team throughout the process.

Take control of your menopause journey and schedule your consultation today.