Understanding the basics of Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Bio-identical hormones, which are sometimes called as natural hormones, are used in the treatment of menopause symptoms, post-menopause and perimenopause.  The Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is to rebalance and synchronize the hormones in your body to get younger and healthier levels.

How can bio-chemical hormones help?

Unlike the synthetic hormones, these bio-identical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones that are produced in the body.  These bio-identical hormones are derived from the sources of wild yam or soybean.  The steroids and hormones are taken from the plants and animals and then altered to have identical molecular structure.   These steroids and hormones are formed as oral supplementary, cream or injection so that body can absorb them quickly. 

These hormones are indistinguishable from the natural hormones in your body, so they fit the cell receptor of your body like a glove and perform the job they are intended to do. The BHRT is individualized to optimize the hormone levels of your body to the measured lab values.

What are hormones actually?

Hormones are the chemical messengers of our body which affects the metabolism, mood, appetite, immunity and our behaviour.  Hormones are very much essential to our health.  Special glands called endocrine glands are responsible for releasing the hormones in response to the signals from our brain.  The hormones travel throughout the body, and communicate the messages to our cells what to do.  The hormones orchestrate many complex processes in our body and influence greatly the way we feel during the process of aging.

Why doesn’t a hormone work properly?

A poor diet, lack of sleep or exercise, nutritional deficiencies, stress or even exposure to the toxins can impact our body’s production of hormones.  Our hormonal system becomes less effective as we age leading to female menopause or male andropause.  

Hormonal imbalance affects us mentally and physically leading to heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer.  Menopause Institute helps us to undergo BHRT treatment in a natural way by balancing our hormones and optimizing the aging process.  Understand the BHRT treatments available by reading the Australian Menopause Centre reviews. 

Get Respite from Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause is a phase faced by women in the age group of 40 to 50 years. There are symptoms of menopause that are both mild and severe. If the symptoms are mild, one can manage herself even without any medication but if the symptoms of menopause are severe and they affect the day to day life then in that case medication is recommended.

The varied treatment options include:

• Hormone replacement therapyTibolone
• Clonidine
• Vaginal lubricants
• Antidepressants

The kind of the treatment however will depend on the types of symptoms, the preferences of the patient and also his or her medical history.

Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is used in treating the most common symptoms that include hot flushes, vaginal symptoms, urinary tract infections and night sweats. HRT is also used in reducing the risk of osteoporosis. The method talks about reducing the female sex hormones or widely known as oestrogen. This hormone keeps on getting decreased once the menopause approaches. The HRT used is of three kinds:

• Continuous HRT which is for post-menopausal women
• Combined HRT which is for women having menopausal problems but are having periods till date
• Oestrogen-only-HRT which is suggested for women having their ovaries and womb removed

HRT is available in medical stores in the form of tablet, medicated cream, as an implant and even as a gel.

Tibolone is a man-made hormone that acts in a similar way as HRT. The menopausal symptoms that can be treated with tibolone are night sweats and hot flushes. It may also help in improving sexual problems and spine fractures.

Clonidine is a medicine meant to treat high blood pressure but it has also worked well in reducing the common symptoms like night sweats and hot flushes in menopause. This medicine is widely recommended. If the symptoms are not treated well with this medication then its intake should be stopped.

If a person experiences vaginal dryness during Menopause then a moisturizer or a vaginal lubricant can be used.

Depression and mood swings are some of the common problems in women in menopause. This makes them switch to antidepressants which are found to be effective during this phase like citalopram, paroxetine and venlafaxine.

If you are among those who are taking HRT then doctors will make sure that your symptoms are under control through monthly and annual checkups. And if you use non-HRT treatments like the ones listed above then an annual checkup is recommended and once the symptoms have stopped the medical practitioner will suggest you to stop the treatment.

There is a Menopause Center in Australia where you may visit and get effective treatments. In order to know about it, you can refer to the Australian Menopause Centre reviews. This will largely help you in selecting the right center for the best treatment for menopause.

When Should I Talk To My Doctor About My Menopause Symptoms?

During menopause, your hormones are raging as your body makes the transition from being reproductive to infertile. Many of the symptoms you might be having are new experiences for your body. You might experience hot flashes, fatigue, headaches, vaginal dryness and a loss of libido, amongst a whole host of never-felt-before bodily sensations.

With so many changes and new experiences, it can be confusing to know what's normal, and what isn’t. It can be difficult to know whether an ache or pain is a symptom of menopause, or if it needs medical attention. It is important to be aware of the common symptoms of menopause, and know when it is appropriate to consult a doctor. Read on to learn 6 key symptoms that you can expect from menopause, and 6 moments when it might be a good idea to seek medical help.

6 Moments to Speak to Your Doctor

You should speak to your doctor about your menopause symptoms when:

Considering Treatments

There are a number of treatments available for menopause symptoms. These range from changes you can make in your day-to-day life, to herbal supplements, and hormone replacement therapy. Deciding which one is right for you can be overwhelming. Speaking to your doctor might help you reach your decision.

Side effects 

Different people's bodies react differently to different treatments. If you find that your symptoms change for the worse, or you experience side effects such as swelling, rashes or headaches, see your doctor.

Unexpected symptoms

The six symptoms listed above are the most common symptoms of menopause. However, there are many others, including irritability, anxiety, dizziness and fatigue. If you experience a particularly unusual pain or sensation, that doesn't cohere with the more common menopausal symptoms, seek medical advice.

Extreme physical symptoms

Women suffer physical menopausal symptoms to varying degrees. Some will barely notice a hot to varying degrees. Some will barely notice a hot flash, while in other cases a hot flash will reduce a woman to a dithering, sweaty mess. If you find that your menopausal symptoms are particularly intense and you are finding them difficult to cope with, speak to your doctor.

Extreme emotional symptoms

As with physical menopausal symptoms, the emotional symptoms of menopause can occur to varying levels. Mood swings, anxiety and irritability are normal symptoms of menopause. However, they can impact your relations with the people around you. If you find that you cannot control your emotional menopausal symptoms, and that it is damaging your quality of life, you might want to seek medical help.

Ongoing symptoms

The length of menopause varies from woman to woman. The transition is considered complete one year after the woman's last period. Some symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and loss of libido, might continue into post menopause. However, periods will not continue, so if you experience bleeding more than 12 months after your last period, you should see a doctor.

Hey women! Learn ways to cope up with Menopause

Menopause in women is a matter of concern for most. Menopause is a change that occurs in several years. It is not only stopping of menstrual cycles for 12 months but changes in hormones as well. It leads to a 360 degree change in them both emotionally as well as physically.

Medical practitioners have also defined the term prior to menopause as perimenopause that occurs for a period of three to six months. Perimenopause symptoms include hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, uncertain menstrual bleeding and vaginal dryness. The age at which women suffer from the problem is 45 to 55 and the average age of menstrual cessation is 51.

Menopause is triggered by sinking of production of female hormones like progesterone and estrogen. The ovaries in women do not produce the above hormones that further leads to building of the lining in the uterus every month.

Apart from menstrual flow, there are other areas where the reduced levels of the hormones affect.  The areas include health issues like cardiovascular disease or bone mass disease.

Post menopause, women on an average lose 2 to 3 percent of their bone density every year. Thus the risk of osteoporosis gets increased drastically. There are also chances of heart diseases as the hormone estrogen gets reduced. This causes an increase in the levels of cholesterol.

Since this is not an easy problem, it is imperative to make changes in lifestyles that help one cope easily with menopause.

The first one is to make changes to your diet. Selection of low-fat dairy products and substitution of saturated fats with healthy fats like omega 3 fatty acids can lead to great relief. An example of saturated fats includes meat and that of omega 3 fatty acids includes fish. The next step is to completely ignore synthetic fiber in your bed. They are likely a cause for more sweating. Also therapies like aromatherapy, homeopathy, reflexology and acupuncture massage can be of grave benefit for women suffering from menopause. For this, one needs to find out a skilled and qualified practitioner that helps in therapies. Menopause Centre Australia can be tried as well. It is recommended to wear natural fiber clothes and completely avoid clothes made from Lycra. One needs to avoid tight fitted clothes as well.

Moderate exercise shall also help one. Simply walking can prevent osteoporosis and can even help in getting adequate sleep easily each night which is a major problem with women suffering from Menopause.

Once you follow the above techniques it is certain that you will get utmost relief and will be able to deal with the problem naturally. One can even switch to professionals who provide help with Menopause like Menopause Centre Australia and the Australian Menopause Centre reviews are great.

Specific Ways of dealing with Menopause Symptoms

Hot flashes are one of the common symptoms of Menopause. What triggers the flash should be known first. Certain things like alcohol, caffeine, stress and spicy foods cause hot flashes. It is advisable to dress up in layers and remove some of the clothes when one feels a hot flash starting. One should also use a fan at workplace or at home. If one has menstrual periods then asking the doctor about it and taking a low dosage of oral contraceptives is a solution for the same. For hot flashes, the best method is menopausal hormone therapy. It can also prevent night sweats. When the hot flash starts to creep in, try for deep breaths and if one is overweight then losing weight may help tremendously.

Another symptom of menopause is vaginal dryness. A water-based, OTC lubricant like the K-Y jelly can help. Another OTC like Replen can help retain moisture into the vagina if used for a few days.

Another symptom is the sleeping disorder. One of the best methods to treat it is to remain physically active. It is also recommended to avoid exercising at bedtime. It is beneficial to avoid taking large meals and working before sleeping at night. One also avoids smoking and caffeine at noon. One should also avoid alcohol while going to sleep. It is advised to drink something warm like caffeine-free tea or warm milk. One should also keep their bedrooms dark and cool. Also one need to avoid afternoon naps and should also stick to a fixed time schedule for sleeping at night and also for getting up in the mornings. One can seek medical supervision for sleeping problems. When he or she gets up eventually from sleep then one needs to do something that makes him or her feel sleepy again. If sleep problems are because of hot flashes then they should be treated primarily.

Another symptom of Menopause is mood swings. One needs to look for positive ways to burst stress and also to avoid taking too many responsibilities. Also sufficient sleep and staying active shall help one curb mood swings. One should speak to his or her doctor if one faces symptoms of depression. A therapist can also be consulted for solving problems. Support groups for women shall help you immensely. However there is an Australian Menopause Centre that helps you in coping with the problem effectively.

Process of Menopause and its Symptoms

The time in which woman’s reproductive ability is ceased is termed as menopause. Menopause is not a disease but a stage in every woman’s life. A woman who undergoes this stage stops her monthly cycles. The age in which the stage occurs is between late 40’s to early 50’s.This duration is a life changing event in all women and signifies that the fertility in a woman has come to an end. It also marks the end of the function of ovaries. These functions include the ripening of ova and its release along with hormone production that causes the uterus lining to get created and then shred. It is during the monthly cycles that the uterus lining is shredded in all women. In ovaries, when the hormonal changes are produced then a transition occurs. This transition is from being reproductive to being non reproductive post this stage. The aforesaid change occurs over a period of time and in years. For some, wellbeing can be altered.

There are certain animals too that undergo such a stage in their life. They do not have monthly menstruation but as a result of it have their fertility stopped. In humans this is a result of biological aging.

When the middle age is reached in women there are options available to support the change. There are certain symptoms of menopause. And these include not having the menstrual period for a year, irregular periods, lower fertility, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, disturbed sleep, night sweats, urinary problems, moodiness and hair loss.

The first symptom pertains to irregular periods. While most women have two to three weeks of menstrual cycles others may not get one in months. The chances of getting pregnant are dropped as estrogen levels decrease. This happens during the peri-menopausal stage in a woman’s life.

A feeling of heat in the upper part of the body results in hot flashes. The areas where in it may start include neck, chest and face. The heat spread may happen upwards and even downwards. The skin around neck, chest and face may also become red and full of patches. There is sweat also likely to occur in the woman.
A feeling of discomfort and itching may also occur in the process. There is a stage in which the vagina becomes dry and the woman suffers from dyspareunia.

There are several menopausecentres in Australia that provide assistance to women for menopause. Undergoing treatment through them leads to a better way of life.