It doesn’t need to. Let us help you prepare and transition through the menopause journey. We use a combination of natural solutions and functional medicine testing to uncover any imbalances so that we can target remedies for faster results.
The peri-menopausal and menopausal phase of life can be a time of massive change for many women. The physical and emotional changes can be overwhelming, debilitating and extremely frustrating. Many women experience a rollercoaster ride of symptoms during menopause, including bewildering mood swings, hot flushes, fatigue, cognitive impairment, insomnia and depression. These are all common symptoms that can occur in varying degrees during menopause and significantly impact on the quality of life for many women.
One of the most common ways to ease the sometimes-hard-to-deal-with side effects of menopause is to use hormone replacement therapy drugs. This generally involves taking oestrogen and/or progestin replacement drugs or using hormonal creams. However, the risk to a woman’s health from taking hormone replacement drugs has become a serious concern. The good news is, there are ways to handle it naturally.
If you aren’t coping well with the physical or emotional changes of menopause, talk to Sheena Hendon health today about the natural treatment options available to support you at this time.
What are Perimenopause and Menopause?
Menopause is not a disease; it is a natural part of every woman’s life that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 when the ovaries cease to function and stop producing oestrogen. In the few years before your final period, also known as the peri-menopausal phase, the production of oestrogen by the ovaries slows down, hormone levels start to fluctuate, and you may notice changes such as:
- Hot flushes (caused by hormonal changes to the hypothalamus that regulates body temperature)
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Dry skin
- Headaches
- Mood changes from irritability and anger to depression and anxiety
- Weight gain
- Low libido
- Fatigue
- Changes in the menstrual cycle, such as longer, shorter or irregular periods
- Lighter bleeding during your period
- Unpredictable and heavy bleeding
Eventually, oestrogen levels decrease, and menstruation stops completely. Once you have gone without a period for 12 months, you have officially reached menopause. The primary hormonal shift that occurs is a gradual process, which is why menopausal symptoms can last for several years for some women.
What Causes Menopause Symptoms?
Menopause involves many natural changes to a woman’s entire reproductive system, including her internal organs, external genitalia, breast tissue (which is capable of secreting hormones), and various reproductive and non-reproductive hormones. Around the time of your mid-30s, your ovaries start to produce less oestrogen and progesterone, and therefore fertility starts to decline.
The hormones primarily involved in a woman’s reproductive system, and therefore menopause, include:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinising hormone (LH)
- Oestrogen (three types including oestrone, oestradiol and oestriol)
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Before menopause during the reproductive years, oestradiol is the primary form of oestrogen, which is released primarily from the ovaries. After menopause, oestrone becomes the most abundant type of oestrogen produced, which is mainly released from a woman’s fat cells and adrenal glands. Oestrogen works by attaching to receptors on cells within tissues, including those in the uterus and the breasts, and also the kidneys, heart, blood vessels and other tissues to a lesser degree.
There isn’t one sole cause of menopausal symptoms since it’s a complicated process. However, the most significant changes taking place in a woman’s body during this transition are that there is an increasing loss of ovarian follicles and therefore, a decreasing amount of oestrogen being produced. Mature follicles secrete oestrogen, so as the rate of follicular loss keeps accelerating, less oestrogen is produced. Oestrogen levels start to drop six to 12 months before menopause (during perimenopause) and continue throughout the process.
Is HRT (hormone replacement therapy) the answer?
Many studies have shown that HRT is better and safer delivered for a short-term solution. Hence, the best outcome is to reset underlying health imbalances, so your body can correct itself. As HRT comes with some risk I recommend close monitoring with your GP.
What studies reveal about Hormone Replacement Therapy:
Studies show that taking hormone replacement therapies can increase a woman’s risk for several serious diseases, including:
- Breast cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- Urinary incontinence
- Dementia and memory loss
In fact, in one of the most extensive studies (The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Hormone Program sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Cancer Institute; and parts of the National Institutes of Health) found that women on oestrogen replacement drugs were 24 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer compared to women taking no hormone therapy medications at all. (7, 8)
Other than breast cancer, research shows a link between the use of HRT and diseases/conditions including stroke, blood clots, heart attack, urinary incontinence, dementia, and possibly other types of cancer, including lung or colon cancer.
The use of oestrogen plus progestin has been found to double the risk of developing dementia among postmenopausal women age 65 and older. Additionally, combined hormone therapy or oestrogen alone may significantly increase risk of stroke, blood clots and heart attack. (9, 10)
Sheena Hendon Health approach to Peri-menopause and menopause
- We review your full health history, carry out function medicine testing (where necessary) and provide a personalised treatment programme to reset your underlying health and hormone imbalances specifically. In most cases this can correct many symptoms.
- We ensure your adrenal health is functioning well. As the production of hormones in your ovaries reduces during the menopause transition, your production of hormones from your adrenals steps in and buffers this process. If your adrenals are working hard because you are stressed (emotionally, physically or mentally), this alone may cause your symptoms, including weight gain. The adrenal imbalance may then trigger thyroid hormone and other imbalance.
- We then provide a nutrition plan (for weight loss if needed), including quality phytoestrogens, while decreasing your load of xenoestrogens (toxins).
- We also provide a lifestyle plan from activity recommendations to Mindfulness exercises.
- We may also design a herbal and nutraceutical programme to help support your lowering hormones, and the symptoms these can create. Perimenopause and menopause are a natural process; we are taken back to a hormone production similar to before puberty, our body knows what to do, we need to support ourselves through this transition and reset our health for our future.
- Should you choose to use HRT Therapy, we will provide support for your health alongside and work on restoring your body systems so you have the great health when you decide to ease off this therapy.
Herbal Medicine
Herbal remedies can be a very effective alternative to HRT. You may want to explore this avenue as your first option. Research has found that Black cohosh has equal benefits to HRT in the treatment of peri-menopausal symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, bone metabolism, hot flushes, nervousness and depression, as well as vaginal thinning and drying. This may be due to the herbs serotonergic and dopaminergic effects.
A study investigating a Black cohosh and St Johns wort combination had measurable benefits for improved concentration, mood and hot flushes. Other herbs we use include Bupleurum, Chinese peony, Dong quai , Licorice and Ginger that may work in synergy to relieve depression, irritability and headaches associated with menopause as well as sage, Chinese yam and Zizyphyus.
What about Testing
Functional medicine tests are different from those offered by your GP
Are you in oestrogen excess? …..Are you low in testosterone? Are your adrenals working overtime, what laves of melatonin do you have?
Using the Hormonal Dutch test, we are able to see your full hormone cascade and how best to optimise your treatment, we can also view your oestrogen detoxification and ensure this is not building up in your system. Using the Dutch test we are able to help make informed choices as to how best to balance your hormones. Correcting these underlying imbalances can sometimes mean there is no need for using HRT. The Dutch test investment is approximately $433.50
Blood tests
May be useful, not only to test your hormone levels but also to get a handle on your baseline health – from blood sugar and cholesterol levels to adrenal, thyroid and hormonal health. We can advise you on what tests will be useful at your initial consultation
Nature’s Answers to Menopausal challenges: a few basic guidelines
Nourishing your body: Making positive changes to your diet can reduce the symptoms of menopause.
•Phytoestrogens (plant oestrogens) replace some natural oestrogens lost during menopause and may reduce menopausal symptoms – good sources of phytoestrogens include organic soy products such as tofu, linseeds/flaxseed, whole grains and legumes.
•Eat a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
•Include lean meat, fish or chicken in your diet.
•Drink six to eight glasses of filtered water daily.
•Decrease caffeine intake (coffee, tea, soft-drinks).
•Limit alcohol to one to two standard glasses, or less, per day.
Keep moving
Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week to maintain general health, control weight and help keep your bones strong and healthy. Exercise is so important at this stage of life and if you find it difficult to exercise enough each week, try joining a walking group, an aerobics class, a yoga class or finding an exercise buddy to help you achieve your exercise goals!.
Looking Forward to a Bright and Healthy Future!
Menopause is just the beginning of a new phase of your life. The ‘Change of Life’ often causes women to reassess many areas of their lives, and it is the ideal time for you to review your lifestyle choices and make your own health a priority. We can support you through perimenopause and menopause so you can focus on a healthy future with strong bones, a healthy heart, energy and vitality.
Talk to us about your menopausal symptoms and a personalised treatment protocol can be created just for you!
SHEENA HENDON HEALTH PERIMENOPAUSE/MENOPAUSE PROGRAMME
SPECIAL OFFER * SPECIAL OFFER * SPECIAL OFFER * SPECIAL OFFER * SPECIAL OFFER
Buy a Hormonal Health programme for you, a friend or family (gift vouchers available) for only $240 (valued at over $420) or with extra 2 x 30 min follow up sessions as detailed above for only $339 (valued at over $560)
All you need to do is BOOK IN at www.sheenahendonhealth.co.nz for your initial consultation (one hour).
I look forward to working with you to have you be the best you can be.
Warmest wishes Sheena X
Details of The Sheena Hendon Health Perimenopause/Menopause programme
The programme includes:
1. A 60-minute initial consultation which includes:
Fact-finding: including an in-depth discussion regarding your current state of health, past health history, issues you wish to work on and outcomes you desire. We will ask about your diet, activity and emotional health, so we get the big picture of what is going on for you.
Once we have discussed your requirements, we may do relevant tests in the practice such as zinc tally test, urine pH testing, ABO blood type testing, blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and weight. We may also arrange external tests such as blood tests, Fitgenes gene testing, adrenal or thyroid function, DUTCH test, coeliac, heavy metal, hormones or allergy and intolerance tests. We will assess all these things to work out what part each plays in the health issues you may have. Next, we go away and gather all the information and develop your individual health and wellness plan
2. Report of findings. Once we have all the information we need, including results of any external testing, we develop a report of findings and plan. This plan is created without you being there and will take at least one hour to produce. It may include;
A Diet and nutrition plan. Based on the person’s needs – general nutrition for health and wellness, hormonal balance, for weight management, inflammation…
Lifestyle activities – such as a personalised exercise or activity regime, a stress management toolbox, mindfulness techniques, or life coaching sessions
Herbal or nutritional medicine recommendations. Herbal or nutritional medicine can be the most effective way to kick-start your body back into hormonal balance. We use only the highest-grade supplements and herbs available, all of which can be purchased from the clinic.
3. The second plan reviewing appointment. Once we have gathered together and assessed all the information, we will get you back in for a 1/2 an hour consult (we can do this part over the phone or by Skype if you prefer). We will then go through your individualised recommendations to help you achieve your outcomes and to explain to you the cause of the issues, why you need to make the changes and how making those changes will help you. We like to make sure our clients are well-informed about their health treatments – what, when and why. You will leave a consultation with a plan and specific guidelines for the coming weeks, which may include dietary changes, nutrient supplementation, herbs and some insights into thought patterns, beliefs and behaviours that may be impacting on your health.
4. OPTIONAL Follow up 2 x 30 min review sessions option. Approx. 4 and 12 weeks after your plan review session. We know that the key to health and wellness success is ongoing support and motivation, and that is why we thoroughly recommend you invest a little extra upfront so that your next two review sessions are locked in. This means that once we begin our work together, we can easily address any issues that arise, adjust the plan or answer any questions or concerns.
Note: Any external testing, herbs, supplements purchased are additional costs to the programme, Follow up sessions must be taken within 4 months of the initial session unless agreed otherwise