I Think I’m Going Through Menopause…Now What? 

I Think I’m Going Through Menopause…Now What?

When I started my practice, I saw a huge gap in women’s health care around menopause. The woman that were walking through my door were lost and struggling.

I often heard things like:

“I guess this is just part of getting older.”

“my doctor said it is normal and that there is nothing that can be done.”

“my doctor told me just to use lube”

“my doctor told me that I would need to take an antibiotic every time I had intercourse.”

These women struggling through menopause were among the most dismissed and feeling so unwell.

These women were tired, not sleeping, hot and cold, had vaginal dryness and frequent UTIs, joint pain…they felt terrible and didn’t know where to turn. OUR medical system fails women in menopause. It makes them afraid to talk about it. It does not give them solutions! It makes them feel broken.

Ladies, you are not broken! Far from it! And you do not have to live with these symptoms.

So, what options do you have for treatment.

Estrogen therapy can help with all of these things, but women (and many medical practitioners) are made to be afraid of estrogen. Taking hormones in menopause can improve your well-being and lengthen your life without raising your risk of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease when prescribed properly.

Menopausal symptoms and health risks that come with hormonal changes are not all covered by estrogen therapy, and there are some women who can’t or don’t want to take hormones.

Whether you decide that you want estrogen therapy or not there are other things that you can do that will help improve your menopausal symptoms:

#1 Control blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar fluctuations can contribute to more severe hot flashes and waking at night. Ensuring that you are eating enough, and that you are getting enough protein is essential for women in menopause. Intermittent fasting is not for you!

#2 Limit alcohol

Women in menopause seem to be more sensitive to alcohol. Alcohol has been linked to worse hot flashes and poorer sleep. This doesn’t mean that you have to completely abstain but limiting alcohol intake has many benefits.

#3 Limit Caffeine

There is definitely a link between caffeine and hot flashes and night sweats. Decreasing intake of caffeine, especially later in the day, can improve hot flashes and sleep!

#4 Consider phytoestrogens

Soy and other phytoestrogens can help to decrease cardiovascular disease risk, bone density, and in some women hot flashes.

#5 Acupuncture

Acupuncture decreases our stress response!

Studies show that it can decrease hot flashes, improve sleep and improve mood in women in menopause.

At Health Over All, we believe in treating all aspects of health. We explain why you are having the symptoms that you are having and we don’t just slap a bandaid on your symptoms. We provide health programs that address diet, lifestyle, mindset, nutrient status and if necessary we replace hormones. If you are interested in a wholistic approach to keep you healthy, happy and feeling well through menopause and beyond then contact us for more information about our Well Woman Assessments.

Book your free Alignment Call HERE to find out how you can work with us.

In health,

Dr. Lisa Maddalena, ND