Women's Health, Menopause, & Hormonal Balance
What Are Menopause And Hormonal Imbalances And How Do They Affect Women?
Let’s face it, women’s hormones can be a real challenge. A woman undergoes hormonal changes even before she begins her first period, then cycles with her hormones properly or improperly, and then begins a long journey of ending her reproductive years with ultimately going into menopause and post-menopause.
What Are The Symptoms?
PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome, occurs 7-14 days prior to menstruation. Typical symptoms include decreased energy levels, tension, irritability or mood swings, depression, headache, food cravings, altered sex drive, breast pain, backache, abdominal bloating, and swelling of the fingers, feet, and ankles.
Peri(pre)menopause may last 5-15 years on average before a woman is officially post-menopausal. That is defined by the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles and the end of her natural childbearing years. Typical symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, decreased energy levels, hair loss, thinning and drying of vaginal tissue, altered sex drive, bladder infections, cold hands and feet, forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, mood swings, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
How Can The HCIM Help?
Dr. Janine Rihmland has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating hormonal imbalances. She has prescribed Bio-Identical or Natural Hormone Replacement since 1999 and has added other treatment options along the way. At The Health Center for Integrative Medicine, we will take a thorough history and exam and do appropriate diagnostics that may include laboratory testing and any appropriate scans.
Treatments will vary from woman to woman and will be integrative in nature. We may utilize pharmaceutical medications, but we may also utilize a whole host of other treatments, including supplements and bio-identical hormones. Furthermore, we will make sure to address other important life issues that may be impacting a hormonal imbalance.