Estrogen levels naturally decline during and after menopause, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms. There are several methods to help increase estrogen in a safe way:
Hormone therapy (HT) involves taking estrogen in the form of pills, patches, gels, or rings. HT is the most effective way to treat menopause symptoms by replacing the estrogen that your body no longer makes. Types of HT include:
- Estrogen-only therapy - for women who have had a hysterectomy
- Estrogen plus progestin therapy - for women with an intact uterus to prevent uterine cancer
Benefits:
Risks:
- Slightly increases risk of blood clots, stroke, heart attack, breast cancer
- Your doctor can help determine if benefits outweigh risks
Bioidentical hormones are chemically similar to the estrogen,
progesterone and
testosterone made naturally in the body. They are often derived from plant sources and tailored to match your hormone levels.
Advantages over synthetic HT:
- Natural make-up may produce fewer side effects
- Customizable based on your needs
- Applied in creams, gels or pellets
The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic offers bioidentical hormone therapy for women going through menopause and
andropause. Our experienced medical staff provides comprehensive lab testing, customized treatment plans, and ongoing monitoring to help patients find relief. Contact us today to learn more!
Herbal supplements, like black cohosh, red clover, and dong quai, may help balance hormone levels. However, studies on effectiveness have been mixed. Talk to your doctor before taking any herbal supplements, as quality and safety regulations for these products are limited.
Lifestyle changes can also impact estrogen levels:
Diet
- Eat soy foods like tofu, tempeh - contain estrogen-like compounds
- Consume flaxseed, oats, barley, wheat bran - may assist estrogen metabolism
Exercise
- Engage in moderate exercise most days
- Helps regulate estrogen and manage weight
Healthy weight
- Excess body fat leads to more estrogen circulating in the body
- Losing weight if overweight/obese can help reduce estrogen
Vaginal estrogen preparations like creams, tablets or rings deliver low dose estrogen directly to vaginal tissue. This treats local symptoms like dryness, pain, urinary issues without systemic effects. Discuss with your gynecologist.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend
estrogen blood tests to determine if your levels are truly low before considering treatments. Testing estrogen periodically allows customizing and adjusting dosages of hormone therapy as needed.
The decision to use hormones or supplements to boost estrogen should be made carefully with your doctor's guidance, considering your individual risks and benefits. Combining treatment approaches - like HT along with diet, exercise, local estrogen - may provide the most relief while minimizing side effects. Track your symptoms and communicate regularly with your healthcare team to arrive at the optimal solutions for you.
