As we women go through menopause, our estrogen and progesterone are decreasing. Many changes go on in our body as these hormone levels decrease. I imagine many of you will or are already experiencing some of these symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia, and vaginal dryness.
Boosting estrogen, whether with supplements or bio identical hormones, will help you keep your temperature regulated, aid sleep and generally have you feel more comfortable in your body.
When a patient, Eileen, came in to visit for menopausal changes, we discussed her symptoms, her personal history and her family history and came up with a plan. Using supplements, we managed her hot flashes, helped her sleep and she found her libido again.
What does estrogen do? It affects lots of different areas of your body. Estrogen slows bone loss, reduces fractures and improves coordination and balance. It assists with cognition and memory. It keeps your eyes moist and protects you from macular degeneration. Estrogen helps your gums and teeth. Estrogen loss is associated with receding gums, tooth loss and fractures. Decreased estrogen is often the cause of hot flashes and night sweats. It can also lead to heart palpitations. Changes in estrogen can cause changes in breast size and stimulation. Estrogen is protective against colon cancer. Estrogen helps skin remain moist, elastic and toned; without it there can be atrophy. Hair loss is also associated with estrogen loss.
Estrogen keeps the vagina toned, lubricated, elastic and responsive. It also keeps internal structures in place. A thinned vaginal lining (ie vaginal atrophy) can also affect the urethra and its lining which can lead to more bladder infections. Additionally, long term estrogen loss is associated with urinary incontinence.
As estrogen goes up and down during perimenopause, mood changes are common. Women tend to be more irritable and I often see a decrease in libido at this time.
As you can see, estrogen affects many systems in our bodies. The good news is, there are several options to keep your body in balance. The other good news is that even as your hormones change, you may have very few symptoms, as everyone experiences this time differently.
Here are a few Foundational Steps to Managing Menopause
- Drink ½ your weight in ounces of water per day
- Eat 2 servings of organic veggies every meal
- Add in Organic Ground Flax Seeds/Meal: 1-2 TBS/day
- Use Castor Oil Packs over your liver for 45 – 60 minutes per day/night
If you are experiencing perimenopause/menopause and need some assistance, please reach out to us. We would love to help you on your health journey. Menopause can be a joyful time and an easy transition; sometimes we just need a litlle help to make it more manageable. We can be reached at 970-963-6500. You can also check out our Detox & Cleanse Program, as it is a great program to help your liver and gut and in turn manage hormonal shifts.