Approximately one year after menstrual periods end, a woman reaches menopause. On average this occurs close to age 50. This is a time of major hormonal and physical changes for women that can include: Irregular periods, Vaginal dryness, Hot flashes, Chills, Night sweats, Sleep problems, Mood changes, Weight gain and slowed metabolism, and Thinning hair and dry skin. Fluctuating and lower levels of estrogen cause many of these menopausal symptoms.
The focus of this article will be related to one of the most common symptoms we hear about, which is Sleep Issues. From the peri-menopause to post-menopausal stages is when women report the most sleeping disturbances. These problems can include:
Insomnia: Inability to sleep. As many as 61% of post-menopausal women report insomnia symptoms.
Hot flashes: Unexpected feelings of heat all over the body accompanied by sweating. They typically begin around the face and spread to the chest affecting 75-85% of women around menopause. Hot flashes last on average three minutes leading to poor quality sleep.
Mood disorders: Chronic insomnia may increase the risk of developing a mood disorder, such as anxiety or depression.
Blue Sky MD’s TREATMENT OPTION:
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is an individualized treatment designed to restore hormone balance. Bioidentical hormone therapy is safe, reliable, and can dramatically restore vitality, energy, health, and aid in reversing the aging process. Research indicates that the use of bioidentical hormone replacement pellet implants is an effective and safe method of hormone delivery. Implants, placed painlessly under the skin, consistently release small doses of hormones providing optimal therapy. Pellets are made up of hormones that are pressed into small solid cylinders. They are larger than a grain of rice and smaller than a Tic Tac. The majority of pellets are made by compounding pharmacists.
Estrogen and testosterone therapy by hormone pellet implantation is a safe and effective method of hormone therapy for both men and women. Hormone pellets deliver consistent, healthy levels of hormones for 3-4 months in women and 4-5 months in men. They avoid the fluctuations, or ups and downs, of hormone levels seen with other methods of delivery. This is important for optimal health and disease prevention. Hormone pellet therapy does not increase the risk of blood clots like conventional or synthetic hormone replacement therapy.
Pellet hormone therapy has been shown to be superior for relief of menopausal symptoms, maintenance of bone density, and restoration of sleep patterns.
ADDITIONAL SLEEP TIPS:
The following tips are recommended to help foster a good night’s sleep:
- Follow good nutrition and maintain a regular normal weight.
- Avoid large meals before bedtime. Some foods that are spicy or acidic may trigger hot flashes.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine, especially right before bed.
- Manage stress.
- Turn off all electronic devices prior to bed.
- Keep the room cool and dress in lightweight clothes.
At Blue Sky MD we first start with labs and assessing your symptoms, from there, we offer a consultation to review your blood work in addition to understanding your personal symptoms. From there we can customize a dose that best fits your medical needs.
To learn more about bio-identical hormone therapy, please download our comprehensive brochure.
