Too often, I hear of doctors referred to as “bad” because they don’t suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as an option for managing perimenopause symptoms, but what’s really going on here?
Women are trying to figure out what they “should” do to help their hormonal symptoms. Each doctor has different opinions because hormones influence so many of our organs, brain and health.
Western Medicine is good at determining what helps most women and making it a protocol. Typically, those protocols are for disease and not for the hormonal therapy itself, which is why so many doctors will latch on to one part of your symptoms and try to fix that part. Women’s health is also receiving more attention now than ever, so those protocols are just starting to be sorted out.
In my practice as an acupuncturist, herbalist and natural functional medicine provider, I use natural methods to boost your body’s ability to create more hormones and handle every symptom using herbs and supplements. As an expert in natural women’s health, my opinion is that hormone replacement therapy should be considered after menopause is well established for two reasons.
Reason one is that there can be risks associated with HRT – the ones I worry about most are cancer and clots. You may have read that it’s completely safe and not to worry, however, I base my opinion on real patients who have developed cancer or clots on HRT. This does not mean that HRT is not appropriate for some women, it just means you need to evaluate your own risks when considering if you should start this treatment.
Reason two is that in the case of perimenopause, your hormones fluctuate up and down, which is different than how your hormones behave after menopause fully sets in. Establishing the best treatment for women with perimenopause is more difficult because of the complexities hormone fluctuations present.
When your hormones change, any problems you had prior to your hormones depleting get worse. If you have an autoimmune disease, it can get worse. If you have depression, it can get worse. So, how do you handle the ups and downs of your hormones if you are prescribed a set dose of medicine that may not be tailored to your hormone levels at any given time?
Your hormones fluctuate constantly no matter how your bodies are making them, even if you supplement them with HRT or BHRT during menopause. These fluctuations can become even greater when taking hormone replacements during perimenopause, which can trigger biological pathways that lead to clots and cancer.
Of concern in online chat rooms is the quick fix solution that suggests that hormone replacement therapy will solve everything and dismisses the doctor who refuses to prescribe it. Each woman has different pre-existing health conditions, medications, and risk factors, and while advice in chat rooms is helpful, it should be considered thoughtfully.
It often does not address how you’re doing in 3 months, 6 months, or a year. Did that HRT help for a bit and then create problems? Did their doctor manage the ups and downs of the hormone accumulation in the tissues?
As a woman beginning the perimenopause journey, these are things you and your doctor should discuss to mitigate risk and keep you healthy. Many women find great health benefits from working with naturopathic doctors, herbalists, acupuncturists, and functional medicine providers.
This may mean that your doctor advises against hormone replacement therapy to prevent clots, cancer, and worsening health conditions. I have handled all my serious perimenopause symptoms naturally with herbs, supplements, and acupuncture, but I also discussed my conditions with my doctor and had lab work.
My job as an acupuncturist and herbalist is to treat my patients naturally by preventing disease using supplements and herbs, helping the body make its own hormones, relieve symptoms, and prevent disease. Acupuncture regulates and normalizes the body – it can help stop heavy bleeding, lift the mood, stop pain, and stop hot flashes among other things. Because acupuncture has broad effects for healing difficult health challenges, it should be your first line of care for women’s health during this time of change.
My goal is to help my patients successfully reach menopause, where your period stops completely, with reduced pain and frustration by managing your symptoms. You’ll also face challenges keeping your tissues intact, a concern that can be addressed with herbs.
This does not mean that I will not see patients who decide to pursue HRT or BHRT – natural methods can help relieve symptoms that do not fully resolve, and I respect my patient’s healthcare decisions. I am here to help navigate any symptoms you have no matter what medications you are taking.
After dealing with your symptoms as naturally as possible, if your period has truly ceased for a full year (sometimes two years is recommended) and your symptoms are truly not resolving, then you can consider hormone replacement therapy to support your tissues, stabilize bone health, and provide other benefits. In many cases, it is possible to stabilize your body’s ability to successfully make its own hormones and prevent symptoms with herbs alone.
I can help you find relief from your perimenopause and menopause problems naturally, which is a great option if you’re not ready for hormone replacement therapy or still struggle with symptoms after being prescribed HRT. Schedule an appointment and I can help you identify the best course of action depending on your symptoms, personal risk factors, and goals.
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