Menopause is a natural and inevitable biological process for all women as they age. For most women, menopause happens as between 45-55 years of age. Along with menopause comes a list of symptoms that signify an underlying shift in hormones. These symptoms can include physical changes like hot flashes and a decrease in bone density. Menopause can also include mental and cognitive symptoms, like forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, and sluggishness—what many refer to as “brain fog”.
Fortunately, while these symptoms are a natural part of the aging process, they are highly treatable with hormone replacement therapy designed specifically for women.
What is HRT for Menopause?
During menopause, ovaries stop producing sufficient quantities of estrogen and progesterone. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is exactly what it sounds like—it replenishes estrogen and progesterone to optimum levels.
There are many different delivery methods when it comes to HRT for menopause—there are topical creams and gels, oral tablets and pills, patches, injections, and pellets.
Hormone pellet therapy is one of our most commonly used delivery methods here at Blue Sky MD. We love it for its ability to provide consistent, accurate, and highly effective dosages of hormones and it’s hassle-free nature. Pellets are quickly and painlessly inserted under the skin once every 3-6 months, depending on the individual. Best of all, these bioidentical hormones are created from plant sources, meaning they’re not synthetic.
Most of our patients prefer this option over daily pills, creams, or injections that are easy to forget or become inconvenient.
There are two main types of HRT for menopause:
Estrogen-only HRT
Estrogen-only HRT is typically recommended for women who have had their uterus removed.
Combination HRT
Includes both estrogen and progesterone and is typically recommended for women who still have their uterus intact. The added progestin helps to prevent the overgrowth of the lining of the uterus, which can occur with estrogen-only HRT and increase the risk of uterine cancer.
By restoring these important hormones to optimal levels, HRT can treat a long list of physical and mental symptoms, including brain fog.
What causes brain fog during menopause?
Estrogen plays a crucial role in a wide range of processes that affect cognitive function, including memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. That’s precisely why when estrogen levels drop during menopause, these cognitive functions are also affected and lead to symptoms commonly referred to as “brain fog”.
Estrogen can protect neurons from damage
Estrogen helps protect neurons from age-related damage like oxidative stress, inflammation, and death of cells in brain tissue, which contribute to overall cognitive decline.
Estrogen influences brain plasticity
Estrogen promotes the formation of new synapses and pathways between the neurons in our brain, which is essential for learning and memory storage.
Estrogen helps regulate neurotransmitter activity
Estrogen is involved in several important neurotransmitter processes. Serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine are involved in regulating our mood, keeping us motivated, and an important part of additional cognitive functions like attention, memory.
Estrogen helps create new brain neurons
Estrogen is involved in neurogenesis, which is the process of generating new neurons in the brain. Neurogenesis is particularly important in areas of the brain responsible for learning and forming memories, like the hippocampus.
Estrogen helps with blood flow to the brain
Estrogen also helps maintain healthy blood flow to the brain and its blood vessels. One of estrogen’s functions is dilating blood vessels, to allow blood to deliver oxygen to brain cells.
What are the additional benefits of hormone replacement therapy for menopause?
In addition to playing a key role in cognitive health and treating mental symptoms, HRT can help alleviate or improve some common physical symptoms of menopause.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition that can drastically affect quality of life and independence in old age. Estrogen helps maintain bone density. As such, the decline in estrogen levels during menopause can accelerate bone loss, leading to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures.
Hot Flashes
HRT is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes which are a common and frustrating symptom of menopause. HRT helps to stabilize the body’s temperature regulation, leading to fewer hot flashes and drastically improving sleep quality.
Skin health and elasticity
Estrogen contributes to skin hydration, elasticity, and thickness, and its decline during menopause can lead to dryness, thinning, and wrinkling of the skin. HRT can help improve skin health by restoring moisture, thickness, and elasticity, leading to smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
Sexual and vaginal health
Dryness, itching, and discomfort caused by insufficient estrogen levels are another frustrating side effect of menopause. Replenishing estrogen levels can help improve the health and lubrication of vaginal tissues as well as boost libido.
Are there any risks with using HRT for menopause?
Hormone replacement therapy isn’t without its risks, and HRT isn’t always the right option for all women experiencing menopause.
For some women, there are contraindications that may prevent them from being candidates for HRT. For example, women who have been diagnosed for breast cancer are not eligible candidates.
Risks are lower for women who start HRT and estrogen replacement within 10 years of the onset of menopause.
All in all, the benefits of HRT can outweigh the risks by providing a better quality of life for a patient as they age.
Find out if HRT is right for your menopausal symptoms
Ultimately, every woman has a different medical history and biology that can affect their provider’s decision to go the hormone therapy route. Before beginning any treatment, you will be carefully screened and examined by your HRT provider.
At Blue Sky MD, we start by going over each patient’s medical history to assess any risks. We then take blood samples in order to get a crystal clear idea of your unique hormone profile. This lab test tells us exactly what dosages to provide and helps determine what your baseline levels are before starting therapy in order to carefully track progress.
Regular checkups and lab tests will help us ensure your hormones are fully optimized and risks of side effects are at an absolute minimum.
If you’re suffering from brain fog or any other symptoms that affect your daily life, contact us today or get started by scheduling your first hormone lab appointment at Blue Sky MD today.
Dr. David LaMond, MD
Medical Director
Dr. David LaMond is the founder and Medical Director of Blue Sky MD. He has been a the forefront of hormone therapy and weight loss since 2008. Drawing from his foundation and board certification in Family Medicine, he has created the core medical principles behind the Blue Sky MD concept of total patient care. He is an active member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery and American Academy of Family Physicians.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Postmenopausal syndrome refers to the whole set of symptoms that many women may experience after menopause, including hot flashes, cognitive issues like brain fog, and joint pain.
For some women the cognitive changes associated with menopause are mild and tolerable and they may not experience lasting cognitive changes. For others, menopause can affect their daily lives for years.
The duration of brain fog during menopause varies from person to person. For some women, it may be a temporary symptom that resolves within a few months to years after menopause. However brain fog may persist for years even after other menopausal symptoms have resolved.
