MENOPAUSE
Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause Treatment
Many women feel blindsided by menopause symptoms and dismissed when they raise concerns. Menopause symptoms can be life-changing, ranging from anxiety and depression to night sweats and sleep difficulties. At Coyle Institute, we recognize that menopause isn't something to "just push through." It's a multi-year process with stages, symptoms and pathways to relief.
There are three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Your symptoms will vary during these stages. During perimenopause, your body produces changes in your estrogen and progesterone levels. Periodically, estrogen can be low or high, and your progesterone level starts to decline, leading to mood swings and hot flashes. In menopause, your menstrual periods will stop, and your body will produce far less estrogen and progesterone. Symptoms include thinning hair, vaginal dryness and fatigue. In postmenopause, you may continue to experience symptoms such as hot flashes, low libido and urinary incontinence — unless you can get relief.
Quality of life matters. The right treatment for your menopause can help alleviate symptoms and improve your everyday life. Treatment options that rebalance your hormones can make this transition easier while mitigating long-term health risks. Coyle Institute offers help.
What Is Menopause?
Menopause is the term used when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle. In the years leading up to menopause, a woman may start and stop her cycle several times.
The average age at menopause is around 51 years old. Early menopause occurs between the ages of 40 and 45. Premature menopause occurs before age 40.
Menopause is not a disease, but the symptoms of menopause are real and treatable.
The Three Stages of Menopause
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is a transition phase that can last 4 to 10 years. During this time, women experience irregular cycles and a growing list of symptoms, such as hot flashes and mood swings. During premenopause and perimenopause, bleeding can be unpredictable and, at times, much heavier than usual.
Menopause
Menopause is the official 12-month mark when a woman has not had her cycle for a full year. The day of menopause isn't dramatic. Many women don't even notice when it happens. It’s the lead-up and aftermath that change a woman's life. Spotting the stages of menopause can be difficult because the changes occur gradually. Having a medical professional who understands, along with a treatment option that improves quality of life, can make all the difference.
Postmenopause
Postmenopause is everything that comes after menopause. During this time, some symptoms ease, but lower estrogen and progesterone levels can have long-term implications for bone density, the cardiovascular system and vaginal and urinary health. Navigating sexual health after menopause can be challenging, and many women feel alone in their struggles.
How Hormones Change
During menopause, estrogen and progesterone decline, the ovaries wind down egg release and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) rises. It is this fluctuation, not a simple decline, that drives the worst symptoms of perimenopause.
Testosterone matters too. This hormone is often overlooked in women’s medical conversations, but it affects sex drive, energy and skin, muscle and bone health. During menopause, testosterone production declines and then plateaus.
Testing hormone levels is the first step in understanding what's driving symptoms and determining which treatment is appropriate.
Common Symptoms
Menopause and perimenopause symptoms can be numerous and varied. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it.
Many women experience hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes. They may feel anxious or irritable, or experience brain fog. They may also have insomnia.
Some women experience vaginal dryness, urinary urgency, recurrent UTIs and painful intercourse. Their bodies may also change, causing joint aches, weight redistribution and changes in libido.
Many don't realize these changes can even lead to long-term health risks like bone loss and changes in cardiovascular health. In other words, menopause isn't something to be endured but addressed proactively.
The key to understanding and managing menopause symptoms and your libido is to align yourself with a physician and hormone treatment that rebalances the hormones with a more natural approach which can address symptoms and protect long-term health.
Treatment Options at Coyle Institute
At Coyle Institute, we believe that testing and balancing hormones is the foundation of care for peri- and postmenopausal women. To learn more about Coyle Institute’s menopause treatment options, contact us at 850-790-4957.
Hormone Replacement
Our preferred approach is Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), which allows us to replace declining hormones with compounds that match the proportions naturally produced in the body. This is a more advanced form of care than hormone replacement therapy (HRT/MHT), which is often used to treat common menopause symptoms. An early 2000s Women's Health Initiative study led to a common misconception that HRT increased the risk of various conditions. The reality is far more nuanced. For many women, there are ways to safely replace hormones and reduce menopause symptoms.
Non-Hormone Options
We also offer non-hormonal options for women who can’t or don’t want HRT. We also discuss lifestyle interventions that can also help.These include sleep changes, strength training and nutrition.
Pelvic Floor & GSM-Specific Care
For women experiencing pelvic floor problems and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM), we offer pelvic floor therapy, vaginal BHRT and a range of in-office procedures.
The right plan depends on your symptoms, medical history and goals. That’s what a hormone consultation is for.
When to See a Specialist
You don’t need to wait until symptoms become unbearable. If your symptoms are disrupting sleep, work, relationships or your sex life, it's time to see a doctor. Maybe your periods are changing significantly, or your mood shifts feel out of character. You don't have to spend years not feeling like yourself.
Coyle Institute offers specialized women’s health expertise. This is different from a primary care visit where you may get 7 minutes and a brush-off.
Are you wondering whether it's early menopause or a hormone imbalance? We can help with that, too.
FAQs
Ready to manage your menopause symptoms? Contact Coyle Institute for a consultation. Schedule your appointment at 850-790-4957.