Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is diagnosed after 12 months of no menstrual periods. The average age of menopause is 51, but it can occur earlier or later due to various factors.
As women approach menopause, they start experiencing changes caused by declining estrogen and progesterone levels. Some of the most common symptoms include:
While some symptoms are mild for some women, others can greatly impact quality of life. The good news is that symptoms can often be reduced through lifestyle changes and medical treatment, including hormone therapy.
Vitality Balance Clinic is a leading menopause and hormone health clinic based in Melbourne. Our experienced endocrinologists and menopause specialists offer personalized care and treatment plans to help women relieve symptoms and improve wellbeing during the menopause transition and beyond.
At Vitality Balance Clinic, we provide:
Our compassionate practitioners listen carefully to understand your unique situation. We develop holistic treatment plans to help you look and feel your best through menopause into the vibrant years ahead.
The declining hormone levels of menopause can lead to a variety of symptoms that disrupt comfort, sleep, sexual health, emotional wellbeing, heart health, and bone health. Here is an overview of some key areas impacted:
Hot flashes are sudden feelings of warmth spreading through the upper body, sometimes followed by profuse sweating and chills. They result from shifting estrogen levels and can come on suddenly, lasting from 30 seconds to several minutes. Night sweats are hot flashes happening at night.
Shrinking tissue and reduced lubrication in the vulva, vagina, and urethra can cause:
Estrogen therapy can effectively treat most vaginal discomfort and atrophy.
Supporting brain health and hormone balance can help minimize mood issues associated with hormone changes.
Up to 60% of women have sleep problems in perimenopause and postmenopause. Sleep is impacted by:
Estrogen therapy in particular can help improve sleep.
These frustrating changes are influenced by estrogen and testosterone imbalance. Bioidentical hormone therapy can help revert thinning hair and abdominal weight gain.
Building bone density through weight-bearing exercise, nutrition and monitoring bone density is important.
Optimizing hormone levels can support better heart health.
While menopause symptoms can be frustrating on their own, even more serious are their long term impacts on wellbeing. Using hormone therapy to relieve symptoms can also provide vital protection against osteoporosis, heart disease and other age-related diseases.
To diagnose perimenopause or menopause, we review a woman's symptoms and medical history. We also order blood tests to measure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) which indicate ovarian function and reserve.
Initial testing typically includes:
Follow up testing is done periodically to monitor hormone levels and symptom response. We also recommend bone density testing around age 65.
Accurately assessing hormone balance through testing helps us determine the best types and doses of hormones for treatment.
Ongoing monitoring of symptoms and labs allows us to continually optimize wellness during menopause and beyond.
Acupuncture has shown promising results as an alternative menopause treatment. In multiple studies, both traditional needle acupuncture and electroacupuncture significantly reduced hot flashes and improved menopause-related symptoms like mood changes and sleep disturbances. As an added benefit, acupuncture often has minimal side effects compared to traditional hormone therapy.
Bioidentical hormone therapy utilizes hormones that are structurally identical to those naturally manufactured by the body. The hormones are custom-formulated in a compounding pharmacy at the exact doses prescribed by your practitioner.
When hormone levels fall out of balance due to menopause or other conditions, restoring balance with bioidentical hormones can safely and effectively treat symptoms.
We offer bioidentical therapy including:
Declining or fluctuating estrogen is the main cause of hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, bone loss, heart disease risk and sleep issues.
Benefits of estrogen therapy:
Estrogen can be taken as a skin patch, cream/gel, sublingual tablet or vaginal insert.
Progesterone works together with estrogen to regulate menstruation and support pregnancy in the reproductive years. After menopause, boosted progesterone can help:
Micronized bioidentical progesterone ordered by your Vitality Balance Clinic practitioner is vastly different and safer than synthetic progestins.
For women with a uterus, progesterone therapy is recommended to counter any potential overgrowth of tissue from estrogen. Those without a uterus can use estrogen alone, unless otherwise advised.
Testosterone plays an important role in health and wellbeing for both men and women. Boosting low testosterone can:
Carefully monitored testosterone therapy may benefit some women during or after their reproductive years.
We evaluate testosterone levels and symptoms to determine if supplementation is warranted for improved vitality and wellness.
DHEA is an androgen hormone produced by the adrenal glands. DHEA levels start declining around age 30. DHEA supplements can help improve:
Measuring DHEA levels can indicate if supplementation might help manage menopause or age-related symptoms.
In addition to reproductive hormones, many other hormones decline with age and can be optimized, including thyroid and growth hormones. We conduct thorough testing and only recommend treatment when indicated by a true deficiency.
The goal of Vitality Balance Clinic practitioners is to restore hormone balance for improved energy, weight, sleep and mood stability, strong bones and heart, and healthy aging.
We work together to determine your unique optimal hormone doses through testing, monitoring of treatment response, and ongoing care.
In addition to hormone therapy, making certain lifestyle adjustments can provide significant relief from disruptive menopausal symptoms.
We educate and encourage women on key lifestyle approaches like:
Eating a diet high in phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, greens and vegetables, and avoiding spicy foods, alcohol and caffeine can help minimize hot flashes and support health during menopause.
Managing moods, stress, and anxiety can be particularly useful during menopause:
We also advise optimizing sleep hygiene, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and addressing medical issues contributing to symptoms.
Following individualized lifestyle recommendations enhances a woman’s daily health along with the benefits of hormone therapy through menopause and beyond.
Getting timely testing and treatment for menopausal hormone changes is critical for both short and long term health.
In the short term, bothersome symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal discomfort, and sleep disruption can significantly degrade quality of life. The longer symptoms persist, the greater their effect on emotional wellbeing, personal relationships, and career performance.
However even more vital is protecting long term health by preventing estrogen deficiency diseases like osteoporosis and heart disease:
The key is recognizing early signs of hormone imbalance through testing. Then customized treatment can minimize disruptive symptoms in the shorter term while providing long term protection against chronic diseases of aging.
Despite proven benefits, only about 20% of menopausal women use hormone therapy in the US and Australia. Untreated symptoms lead many women to struggle daily with sickness, disability and lost productivity.
Seeing an experienced menopause specialist ensures timely testing, accurate diagnosis of hormone imbalance, and most appropriate treatment for your unique changes. This provides greatest relief of symptoms along with safeguarding future health.
We strive to make testing and treatment for menopause readily accessible and mainstream - the standard of care for all women as they transition through midlife. Vitality Balance Clinic experts help guide each woman to look and feel her best while optimizing wellness for many vibrant years ahead.
We recommend menopausal women follow this schedule of testing and doctor visits:
Some women need lifelong management depending on their response. We individualize ongoing care based on your changing needs over time. Following the recommended schedule helps us continually optimize hormone balance and wellness.
We understand the profoundly personal nature of menopause and hormone health. Our practitioners build a relationship of trust with each woman to discuss symptoms openly and sensitively.
We explain complex topics in simple language and welcome every question. We listen with patience and compassion while developing customized treatment plans.
Ongoing monitoring provides continual optimization of hormone doses for relief of symptoms and protection of long term health. Women feel fully informed, empowered and supported every step of the way.
We also understand the realities of life in Melbourne and tailor guidance appropriately:
Our expertise spans the spectrum of female reproductive and hormonal health:
Our practitioners offer depth of knowledge combined with caring support across every phase of a woman’s health and hormone journey. We start by listening to understand your unique situation and goals.
Next we explain options clearly and patiently in plain language. We discuss lifestyle impacts along with medical treatment pros and cons. Empowered with knowledge, you can make the best decisions for your path ahead. Ongoing, we walk by your side adjusting care over months and years to best protect your health.
From first period to final years, trust Vitality Balance Clinic for state of the art, evidence based care delivering the compassionate support women deserve and expect. We strive for more than symptom relief - our goal is joyful living with true mind/body wellness at every age and stage.
To start your health journey with us or discuss any questions on menopause, perimenopausal symptoms, or female hormone imbalance, call Vitality Balance Clinic in Melbourne at
