Health Topics

• Women's Health
• Infertility Care
• Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Women's Health Clinical Services and Patient Support
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• Men's Health
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• Infertility
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• Transplant Care
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• HIV/AIDS
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• Dermatology
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• Pain Management
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• Pediatrics
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Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the permanent end of menstruation and fertility. A woman’s ovaries begin to produce less estrogen and progesterone (the hormones that regulate menstruation) in her late 30s; periomenopause usually sets in during a woman’s 40s; and the average woman will experience menopause at age 51. During this time, the decrease in estrogen levels and hormonal changes that occur can often bring about challenging physical and emotional symptoms, including sleep problems, hot flashes, exhaustion, and depression.

Though menopause is not an illness, many of the effects caused by the lack of estrogen can be treated with hormone therapy. Hormone therapy helps to relieve symptoms of menopause and to also protect against certain diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

Improved Management of Menopausal Symptoms and Women’s Health

Many physicians and their patients are choosing bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (bHRT) instead of conventional, synthetic therapies to treat perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms, PMS, and sexual dysfunction.

Bio-identical hormones that are derived from plants, including yams and soy, are identical in structure to human hormones naturally found in a woman's body. Recent studies indicate that these natural, bio-identical hormones may have fewer side effects than synthetic preparations, while still affording protection against heart disease and Alzheimer's and improving bone density, cholesterol, and lipid profiles.

Compounded bHRT can also help to improve a patient’s quality of life throughout all phases of her reproductive health cycle. Uses include:

• Managing Menopause – bHRT replaces low or missing hormones to address commo symptoms, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and insomnia
• PMS Relief – compounded medications can correct hormone imbalances that may cause physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms
• Sexual Dysfunction and Hormone Imbalance – due to normal aging, physical conditions, surgery or neurological problems, can be addressed with bHRT

At Apothecary by Design, our compounding pharmacists have the ability to create bio-identical hormone replacement therapies to meet individual patient needs. We compound all bHRT preparations using the highest quality hormones, and since women’s hormonal issues are affected by a variety of factors including sleep, diet, and thyroid health, our pharmacists work closely with the patient and her clinician to develop individualized options.

Give us a call or stop into the store if you would like a complimentary consultation with our clinical staff.

For more information on menopause, click here.