Perimenopause Hormone Rejuvenation Program

Our lives have important transitions and ‘seasons’ from a health and wellness perspective. Perimenopause is a transition which can last anywhere from months to a decade. While some may experience subtle and manageable symptoms, approximately 20% of women develop distressing, intense or unbearable symptoms (see below) – these are the women that benefit from this program the most.

There is a large array of early symptoms that are attributed to the perimenopause to menopause transition. Some women first notice changes in their hair/skin quality, yet others first notice changes in the length or heaviness of their menstrual cycle/flow. Commonly, there are changes in sleep quality, mood, weight, temperature, libido, etc…no two women are the same. And each has their own collection of factors that influence their hormone transition: diet and nutrition, digestive function, lifestyle, toxics exposure, mental-emotional history and genetic influences.

Common Signs of Perimenopause:

Anxiety, panic attacks, or heart palpitations	Vaginal dryness/itching	Joint pain
New heavy/longer menstrual flow	Shorter menses (<25 days)	New sore/lumpy breasts
New mid-sleep wakening	Increased cramps	Pre-menstrual night sweats
New or increased migraine headaches	New/increased PMS mood symptoms	Weight gain for no obvious reason
Hair loss; increased facial hair	Memory issues	Nausea
Difficulty conceiving; pregnancy loss	Painful intercourse / loss of sexual interest	Urinary tract infections

Our program aims to ease and balance the hormonal shift, while supporting and strengthening the other related organs (eg: liver, thyroid, intestines, etc.) and addressing factors such as diet and lifestyle, and deeper aspects of the individual at the mental-emotional-spiritual levels. Therapies are customized to the individual and may include herbal medicines, prescribed bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, dietary changes, lifestyle changes, acupuncture, etc. The health of vulnerable bodily systems is also reviewed, such as bone health, heart health and cognitive health. Mental-emotional health is a core aspect to the program and is addressed over it’s course.

The 5 Step Perimenopause Hormone Rejuvenation Program offered at Four Seasons Naturopathic Wellness:

Step One – Find out more about your challenges with a detailed naturopathic consultation. In the initial 90-minute consultation, we focus on your hormonal symptoms and those that affect hormone-regulating systems of the body including your digestion, liver, ovaries, thyroid, adrenal, mental-emotional status, stress levels, toxic exposures. Family health history is also important to consider in the assessment. A tracking chart will help identify your most relevant symptoms of hormonal change, perhaps some you never realized.

Step Two – Appropriate tests will be recommended such as blood, urine and hair tests. These will evaluate the hypothalamic, ovarian, thyroid and adrenal hormones. Vitamin, mineral and toxic metal tests are also conducted. A naturopathic physical exam will complete this step, including taking baseline measurements.

Step Three – Review and individualized naturopathic treatment consult – the third step is both educational and directive, where the test results and examination findings are explained and a core individualized treatment program is recommended, including any adjunctive support therapies.

Common facets of the treatment program include:

Bio-identical hormone prescription to balance hormones (eg: progesterone for estrogen dominance; or estrogen and progesterone for symptomatic hormone deficiency). Dessicated thyroid hormone may also be prescribed.
Herbal medicines to address weak organs, infections, detoxification, energy, metabolism.
Dietary and supplement guidelines to improve hormone metabolism, liver function and digestion.
Detoxification guidelines to help metabolize excess hormones and to encourage the elimination of endocrine (hormone)-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

Step Four – Support the mind, heart and spirit by bringing attention to neglected areas, issues that have been ‘held’ for years/decades, to promote a sense of peace with your body, and overall mental-emotional balance.

Step Five – Monitoring progress on a quarterly basis, retesting, and addressing pitfalls is fundamental to ensure a successful outcome.