Menopause is a topic that does not often cross our minds in our youth, nor is it often openly discussed at any time of life. This seems odd when in the United States alone, approximately 1.3 million women become menopausal each year. Yet the discussions around the natural processes of menopause; the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle, perimenopause; the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, and their symptoms remain vague, with most women only hearing about hot flashes or night sweats.
This can cause a lot of confusion in women going through perimenopause or menopause. Symptoms such as depression, insomnia, painful intercourse, rashes, allergies, weight gain and more can often begin to plague their lives without the underlying reasons being understood – and without the much needed support that is available with the right help.
Natural Menopause Support in Vaughan, Ontario
Thankfully, the integrative and naturopathic practitioners at the Marsden Centre understand the complexities of women’s health and wellness during both perimenopause and menopause. Our goal is to support and empower you during this time of your life by helping you understand why these symptoms are occurring, identifying the root causes unique to you, and coming up with an individualized treatment plan based on your individual needs.
Understanding Menopause and Perimenopause
Perimenopause
Also called transitional menopause, perimenopause is the stage leading up to menopause. It can begin in your 40’s or 50’s, but is also seen in women as young as their early 30’s. This stage is when many of the menopausal symptoms begin to appear such as hot flashes, irregular periods, mood swings, etc. and it can last anywhere from 4-8 years.
The level of estrogen — the main female hormone — in your body rises and falls unevenly during perimenopause causing irregular periods at times. Once you have gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, you have officially reached menopause, and the perimenopause period is over.
Menopause
Menopause is defined as the final menstrual period and induced menopause is caused due to a medical intervention such as the surgical removal of both ovaries or cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or pelvic radiation.
Some women may go through both perimenopause and menopause with little to no symptoms. However, many will experience a combination of one of more of the following:
- Vasomotor Symptoms – hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, and migraines
- Urogenital Symptoms – vaginal atrophy, urethral atrophy, and sexual dysfunction (i.e., a decline in libido)
- Psychogenic Symptoms – anger/irritability, anxiety/tension, depression, sleep disturbance, loss of concentration, and loss of self-esteem/confidence
All these symptoms and more may be attributed to the change in hormones that accompanies menopause. These above symptoms are common in menopause, but they can be managed through naturopathic supportive therapies to prevent them from affecting your quality of life.
Natural Support for Symptoms of Menopause
The fluctuations in hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause may be causing havoc in your daily life but there are natural treatments to help get you back to your ‘normal’ so that you are able to fully enjoy this next chapter in your life.
At Marsden Centre, we look at the whole body to discover which treatments work best for your individual needs and may include any combination of the following natural solutions:
Diet
Whether it’s due to your hormones, activity levels or sleep deprivation, menopause can be responsible for weight gain or loss and your gut health may become disrupted.
Optimal gut health is essential for breaking down food into nutrients our bodies can absorb, removing toxins (aka metabolic waste) from the body, and even producing some of the neurochemicals needed to feel happy and sleep properly. Disrupted digestion affects our total body and mind wellbeing. Gut health has also been shown to have a direct correlation with heart health, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), kidney health, depression, and more.
When this system is disrupted, vital minerals, vitamins, and nutrients may pass through our bodies unabsorbed, leading to further complications such as bone loss, abdominal pain, bloating, loose stools, constipation, heartburn, nausea, or vomiting.
Marsden Centre works with you to develop a diet rich in vitamins and minerals along with essential natural supplements to ensure optimal gut health.
Bioidentical Hormones
With the reduction of hormones during perimenopause and menopause, your body may experience several hormonal related symptoms that may last anywhere from a short while to a lifetime, leading many women to consider hormone replacement therapy. But not all hormone replacement is equal. Bioidentical hormones are man made hormones derived from natural plant estrogens that are chemically identical to those the human body produces, and are therefore considered by experts to be the safest option available.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has been shown to not only reduce perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms but may also increase your quality of life through better sleep, decreased migraines and incontinence, increased focus, and increased libido.
We at Marsden Centre work diligently to test your precise hormonal status and are able to prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as part of your comprehensive naturopathic plan. We aim to reduce risks of future health concerns you may have, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, and cancer and every plan is as individual as you are.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture sessions have shown to significantly reduce hot flashes and other vasomotor symptoms by 36.7% and improve some quality-of-life measures associated with menopause.
This can lead to more restful nights, better sleep, fewer migraines, and offer an overall better quality of life allowing you to reduce depression and anxiety. At the Marsden Centre, we practice evidence-informed medicine, where our acupuncture treatment plans are based on not only empirical evidence from TCM, but also evidence based on scientific research. We ensure that our patients receive the safest, and most effective treatments available catered to your needs.
Botanical Medicine
Herbs and botanicals have long been used to treat a variety of ailments and to increase quality of life for many individuals. These are powerful, non-hormonal approaches, which means that they help regulate your hormones without requiring direct hormonal therapy.
Phytoestrogens (estrogen-like substances in cereal, soy, vegetables, and herbs) are a natural compound found in plants and plant-based foods. When eaten, they may affect a person in the same way as estrogen produced by the body.
This can allow you to increase hormonal levels naturally and at Marsden Centre, we work with you to develop a personalized plan that may include botanical medicine to get you back to your ‘normal’ naturally.
Rediscover Your Vitality and Overall Wellness
Menopause is a natural transition that all women experience in some form or another. However, transitioning to menopause does not have to reduce your quality of life!
The professionals at Marsden Centre are here to help you get back your vitality, reduce your risk for future complications, and step into the next chapter of your life with confidence!
Contact us today to get started on your individualized treatment plan!
The Marsden Centre is open via telehealth – phone or video call – and our practitioners are available for essential care appointments. Simply send us an email or book online.
References
Kimberly Peacock; Kari M. Ketvertis. Menopause – StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan
The North American Menopause Society – Menopause 101: A primer for the perimenopausal
Mayo Clinic – Perimenopause
Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal: “Part 1: The Human Gut Microbiome in Health and Disease.”
M-n. Chen, C-c. Lin, C-f. Liu – Efficacy of phytoestrogens for menopausal symptoms: a meta-analysis and systematic review – Climacteric Volume 18, 2015 – Issue 2
Avis NE, Coeytaux RR, Isom S, et al. Acupuncture in Menopause (AIM) study: a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. Menopause. 2016;23(6):626-637.
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and the quality of life for breast cancer patients.
TS Wiley.Journal of Clinical Oncology 2015 33:28_suppl, 87-87.