21 April What is BHRT and can it really treat menopause symptoms?
Over 50% of the population will experience the menopause and perimenopause, it is inevitable. However, until fairly recently it was a taboo subject. Perimenopause and menopause can impact on all aspects of women’s lives from relationships with their partners, family and children; to their ability to do their job. In fact it has recently been reported in The Guardian that the UK could be losing 14 million working days a year related to the menopause and one in four women who experience menopausal symptoms consider leaving their career.
With a general lack of knowledge around the perimenopause and menopause (even women themselves who are going through the transition are sometimes not aware of what is causing their symptoms) we thought we’d highlight some of the main points every woman – and man – should know before exploring treatment options:
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause refers to the time that leads up to the menopause. The age that this phase can start varies but it is normally at around 40-44 years old that women experience symptoms of perimenopause. Biologically the perimenopause is the time in your body where your ovaries gradually stop working, marking the end of your reproductive years. This process changes the hormone levels in your body, causing symptoms.
What are the symptoms of the perimenopause?
Symptoms of perimenopause include irregular periods, periods that are heavier or lighter than usual, hot flushes, vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex, the need to urinate more frequently, sleep problems, changes in mood such as irritability, depression, and mood swings.
What is menopause?
Menopause is officially identified once you have gone for more than 12 months without having a period. This generally happens when women reach 45- 55 years of age as women’s levels of oestrogen and progesterone deplete and the body adjusts to these changes. This reduction of hormones leads to various symptoms that each woman experiences differently.
What are the symptoms of the menopause?
The symptoms of menopause are the same as perimenopause although some women may also experience breast tenderness, worsening premenstrual syndrome (PMS), racing heart, headaches, joint and muscle pain, changes in libido, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, weight gain and hair loss.
How can we treat the perimenopause and the menopause?
The most common method of treating the symptoms caused by the menopause is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). For some women, this is a lifesaving drug that synthetically replaces the lost oestrogen and progesterone in your body.
Do I have to take medication or is there a natural alternative?
Some women would rather avoid synthetically made hormones and there is an alternative – Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT). BHRT is a natural hormone therapy treatment that is made from plant estrogens that are identical chemically to those our bodies produce. It is claimed that BHRT is more effective at restoring hormone imbalances than traditional HRT.
How can I get BHRT?
Through a combination of gels, capsules or lozenges, River Aesthetics can provide a full assessment using blood and saliva tests to determine your hormone levels. A bespoke treatment plan will then be provided to suit your needs. A follow up appointment will then be arranged to discuss your results, your plan and the prescription you will need.
If you are suffering from perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms and you are interested in exploring how a naturally derived treatment could help, we’d love to hear from you.
Call us on 01202 024 060 to get in touch with our friendly clinicians or book a consulation today!
