Lime In The Coconut Specialty Compounding Pharmacy: Menopause

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

5 Signs You're Experiencing Early Menopause

Menopause is a normal - and important - biological process every woman will go through at some point in her life. Menopause marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and the end of her fertility. Most women go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but some women can experience it as early as their mid-thirties or as late as their mid-sixties.

This process is entirely controlled by a huge hormonal shift that occurs within a woman's body. As with most hormonal processes, most women experience a variety of symptoms as a result of their changing hormonal balances. Here are a few common signs of early menopause, courtesy of the team at our Lake of the Ozarks compounding pharmacy.

1. Change In Menstrual Cycle
This is the first (but often ignored) symptom many women experience. If you notice that your cycle becomes longer or shorter, or you notice a different change in your pattern, it could be a sign that menopause is coming.

2. Change In Mood
Hormones are directly linked to demeanor and disposition. It is not uncommon for menopausal women to experience mood changes such as irritability, depression, sadness, anxiousness, or general discontentment. This can be disconcerting, as it is hard to pinpoint mood changes on hormonal shifts. Women often blame themselves or various life circumstances for their changing moods, when the truth is that it could simply be linked to a normal biological process.

3. Hot Flashes

In the beginning, hot flashes typically occur very infrequently. You may dismiss your first hot flash as something that occurred as a result of having worn too many layers or having spent too much time outside on a hot day, but it could be a sign of early menopause. Not every woman experiences hot flashes, but for those that do, this symptom often gets much more pronounced before it eventually diminishes.

4. Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is a common symptom of menopause, as this symptom is often a normal consequence of decreased (or ending) fertility.

5. Reduced Sex Drive
Many women notice a drop in their sex drive during menopause. Sometimes this can be related to painful intercourse that is a result of vaginal dryness, but it can occur even without this other symptom. From a purely biological perspective, libido is linked to the instinct to procreate. As women become infertile, is not uncommon for their sex drive to drop. All is not lost, however - there are ways to boost the libido during and after menopause.

Contact The Lime For The Support You Need!
At the Lime in the Coconut Specialty Compounding Pharmacy, we specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. This therapy works with prescriptions of hormones that are chemically identical to the ones produced in the body. By customizing medication specifically for you, we can help you alleviate some of the common symptoms associated with menopause.

If you would like to learn more about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and how it may be able to benefit you on your journey through menopause, give us a call at 573-964-6786 or visit our website at www.LimeintheCoconutRx.com. We look forward to helping you however we can!

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111 Crossings West, Suite 6

PO Box 2145

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 964-6786

Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Monday, November 30, 2015

7 Things You Should Know About Menopause

Our individual experiences are incredibly unique, but every woman in the world will go through menopause at some point in her life. Menopause marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle; once she has gone through menopause, she is no longer fertile. While this is a natural turning point in every woman's life, it is a major transition and can bring with it several unique physical and emotional challenges.

As a dedicated compounding pharmacy at the Lake of the Ozarks and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy specialists, we work with many women as they make their journeys through menopause. This week, we are here to share with you some of the interesting things we have learned about menopause over the years. If you or someone you know is currently undergoing menopause (or will be soon), we hope you'll take the time to read over this. You might be surprised by what you learn!

1. Women Experience Menopause At Different Ages.
According to the Mayo Clinic, most women experience menopause between the ages of 45 and 55 and the average age is 51. However, menopause can occur earlier or later (anywhere from your 30's to your 60's) depending on various circumstances. For example, women who have received cancer treatment in the past may go through menopause earlier.

2. Menopause Has Several Stages.
From beginning to end, the entire process of menopause can sometimes take several years. Perimenopause begins a few years in advance, at which point your ovaries begin producing less estrogen and progesterone and release eggs less frequently. Once you have been without a period for at least twelve months, you have entered into postmenopause and are no longer fertile.

3. You Could Miss A Period For A Few Months And Still Get Pregnant.
For most women, menstruation will become irregular for several months (if not years) before eventually gradually stopping. The fact that you have not had a period for three to four months does not mean that you have entered postmenopause. It is important to be aware that you may still be able to get pregnant during this time.

4. Hot Flashes Aren't The Only Symptoms.
Menopause is a time for many significant hormonal changes, and these hormonal shifts can result in several different symptoms. Hot flashes are a famous symptom of menopause, but women may experience any number of additional symptoms including mood swings, headaches, fuzzy thinking, muscle pain, and joint pain. Your Lake of the Ozarks compounding pharmacist may be able to help you minimize these symptoms.

5. Your Sex Drive May Be Altered.
Because menopause marks the end of your fertility, you may experience changes in your sex drive during or after menopause. Menopause can sometimes result in vaginal dryness, making intercourse difficult or painful. Other women discover that by lifting the burden of a potential unwanted pregnancy, sex becomes even more enjoyable after menopause. While it is impossible to predict exactly how your libido will be affected, you should be aware that it may change.

6. Menopause Is Not A Disease.
Most importantly, we want to stress the fact that menopause is not a disease. It is a natural phase of life that all women will experience, not a medical condition that needs to be treated with with concern or fear. The hormonal swings and resulting physical symptoms can be a little overwhelming at times, but there are things you can do to help relieve these symptoms and ease the process.

7. Hormone Therapy Can Help With Menopause.
Hormones play incredibly important roles in our bodies; when they are out of balance, it can affect us in more ways than we may realize. By balancing your swinging hormones, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help relieve many of the symptoms associated with menopause, from hot flashes to decreased libido to mood swings. It is important to note that other measures to create a healthy lifestyle (such as eating well and exercising regularly) can also help to ease the process.

Remember The Lime In The Coconut As Your Trusted Hormone Therapy Resource!

During our years as a compounding pharmacy in Central Missouri, we have helped hundreds of women with hormone replacement therapy at the Lake of the Ozarks. We work exclusively with bioidentical hormones - hormones that are molecularly and chemically identical to the hormones found naturally in our bodies and, as a result, are easier for our bodies to absorb and utilize. If you would like more information about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and how it can help you as your body goes through menopause, don't hesitate to reach out to us! We would be honored to help you through this important transition in your life.