Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through, marking the end of menstruation and fertility. The average age for menopause is 51, but it can occur earlier or later for some women. As estrogen levels decline during perimenopause and after menopause, women may experience unpleasant symptoms like hot flashes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and more.
Fortunately, there are effective solutions available to help ease this transition and minimize disruptive symptoms. Hormone therapy is one of the most common and effective options for managing menopause symptoms. At Balanced Hormone Clinic in Clayton, our caring menopause specialists provide customized hormone therapy to help women thrive through menopause.
During the menopause transition, a woman's ovaries produce less of the key hormones estrogen and progesterone. This decline causes changes throughout the body that can result in bothersome short-term symptoms as well as long-term health risks if hormone levels remain low.
Common symptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause include:
These symptoms vary widely from woman to woman - some may experience severe symptoms that disrupt quality of life, while others have minimal complaints. Genetics, lifestyle choices, and health status all play a role.
In addition to troublesome vasomotor and urogenital symptoms, the estrogen deficit places postmenopausal women at higher long-term risk for health conditions like osteoporosis and bone fractures, heart disease, impaired cognition and memory, and more.
Well-timed hormone therapy (HT) offers a safe way to replenish estrogen, ease disruptive symptoms, and confer protective health benefits for most women. Despite outdated fears, current research confirms that the benefits of HT outweigh risks when initiated within 10 years of menopause for healthy women under age 60.
Custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy is the gold standard for menopause treatment and prevention. At Balanced Hormone Clinic, our holistic menopause doctors specialize in balanced, personalized bioidentical HT to restore hormone levels to optimal ranges based on a woman's unique needs. We also provide nutritional and lifestyle guidance for maximizing results.
With properly managed hormone therapy, most women can expect significant relief from troublesome symptoms and reduced risk of long-term health consequences of hormone deficiency. Continued therapy also promotes better quality of life and an easier transition through the stages of menopause.
Balanced Hormone Clinic is a leading anti-aging and hormone therapy clinic serving women throughout the Clayton metro area. Our clinic provides an integrative, proactive approach to guide women through the changes of perimenopause and beyond menopause while optimizing wellness.
Our clinic and specializes in preventive healthcare for women over 40. Our team includes:
Dr. Smith brings over 15 years of experience in ob-gyn, gynecology, and integrative medicine to serve as medical director of Balanced Hormone Clinic's menopause and hormone therapy programs. Our practitioners stay current on the latest menopause research and comprehensive hormone testing to develop fully personalized, safe treatment plans that reflect the most advanced medical standards.
We help women understand the complex dynamics of shifting hormones during perimenopause and menopause stages. Our goal is to educate, empower, and equip patients to make informed decisions about their treatment options.
Balanced Hormone Clinic offers a judgment-free atmosphere where women over 40 can share their questions and concerns to determine whether hormone therapy is appropriate for their individual needs. We listen carefully and treat each woman as a whole person rather than focusing narrowly on lab tests and numbers.
Unlike conventional hormone replacement using synthetic or animal-derived hormones, individually compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) provides the most natural method to replenish estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormones depleted during menopause.
The molecular structure of these plant-derived bioidentical hormones matches the hormones made in the female body. This allows them to bind with proper receptors and mimic natural hormonal activity in terms of distribution and breakdown in the body. So rather than forcing the body to accommodate artificial hormones, bioidentical hormones integrate seamlessly into natural rhythms and cycles.
Balanced BHRT helps stabilize symptoms, often reduces the need for other medications, and shows better safety over time compared to synthetic or non-bioidentical types of hormone therapy. Our clinicians specialize in micronizing and balancing bioidentical hormones in unique combinations, doses, and delivery methods to align with each woman's physiology and hormone test results.
While bioidentical hormones do not differ in chemical structure from endogenous hormones, commercially available ones are not always completely identical due to variables introduced during the manufacturing process. This is why Balanced Hormone Clinic offers completely customized preparations for BHRT.
We work with a specialized compounding pharmacy to formulate personalized bioidentical hormones in capsules, creams, tablets, sublingual drops, pellets, or other dosage forms appropriate for each patient's needs. These prescription formulas are prepared according to exact specifications from Balanced Hormone Clinic practitioners for unmatched purity and potency.
Since menopause is diagnosed retrospectively after 12 months without a period, recognizing the early signs of perimenopause allows women and their doctors to take a proactive approach.
Irregular menstrual cycles provide the most telling clues: - Changes in length of cycle - Heavier or lighter flow - More or less frequent periods
Common screening lab tests that help confirm menopause stage include:
Together with clinical history, results from these blood tests allow our practitioners to pinpoint where women are in reproductive aging and guide appropriate treatment. SYZHormones uses a trusted independent lab for accurate hormone testing.
We also check thyroid function, cholesterol, vitamin D, and other labs to uncover common issues that relate to perimenopause/menopause symptoms and risks. Ongoing monitoring helps ensure hormone therapy remains optimal.
Healthy lifestyle choices provide a critical foundation for hormonal balance, so we offer practical support to help women nurture body and mind during this transition. Excellent nutrition, regular exercise, stress resilience, and restful sleep all work synergistically with customized hormone replacements for the best quality of life.
Our compassionate menopause specialists individualize treatment plans that may include:
Hormone Therapy - Estrogen - estradiol, estrone, or estriol - Progesterone - Testosterone
Vaginal Estrogen - localized, low-dose preparations to relieve vulvovaginal atrophy
Therapies for Osteoporosis - medications, nutrition, weight-bearing exercise
SSRIs or SNRI medications - if anxiety or depression occurs
Plus complementary therapies like mindfulness training, acupuncture, dietary changes, nutraceuticals, and more as needed.
We help women understand all risks and benefits with different therapies so they can make fully informed decisions. The goal is to achieve maximum relief from disruptive menopausal symptoms while also preventing long-term health consequences of hormone deficiency - all with the safest, most natural approach possible.
Balanced Hormone Clinic also offers onsite services like pellet hormone implants, PRP therapy for sexual dysfunction, and aesthetic procedures for rejuvenation using the latest technologies and techniques. We provide complete care for all aspects of menopause, aging, and wellness in women.
Once hormone therapy is initiated, we closely track your progress through follow-up visits and lab testing. Monitoring typically includes:
We adjust your hormone preparations accordingly based on this data along with dosage forms/routes if needed to keep you feeling your best in all stages of menopause. You'll also continue to receive our active support for healthy lifestyle upgrades.
Through collaborative monitoring tailored to your changing physiology, Balanced Hormone Clinic delivers fully personalized care. We welcome your feedback and questions.
With deep expertise in ob-gyn and integrative care for midlife women, our menopause clinic is staffed by true specialists in this field. Our practitioners participate in ongoing professional medical education to remain current on the latest advancements.
We spend quality time listening to your unique situation and getting to know your needs. This allows us to develop custom compounded bioidentical hormones, dietary plans, and other therapies fine-tuned for your body and stage of menopause. You receive fully personalized care backed by the best science.
Balanced Hormone Clinic defines health broadly beyond the physical symptoms by also addressing lifestyle, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth during this transition.
Our specialized menopause doctors and nurses provide evidence-based holistic guidance on topics like:
We empower women with practical solutions that align hormone therapy with overall mind/body balance and nurturing self-care for smoother menopause passage.
Located just off Highway 45 for easy patient access, Balanced Hormone Clinic serves Clayton plus communities throughout Greater St. Louis. We offer extended weekday hours by appointment, with special Saturday hours available.
Our recently renovated clinic space provides luxury amenities for your comfort, along with full privacy. State-of-the-art equipment allows in-house blood draws, pellet implants, aesthetic skin treatments, and more services under one roof.
Parking is free, abundant, and convenient at our office.
Balanced Hormone Clinic invests in the most advanced diagnostics and hormone mapping tools to uncover underlying issues, pinpoint menopausal stage, and ensure optimized treatment.
We help women take advantage of emerging health technologies like:
This sophisticated data fuels highly tailored care for each woman's unique physiology and needs. We translate complex testing into personalized recommendations using our clinical expertise. Our goal is to leverage technology to serve patients better.
Balanced Hormone Clinic offers a boutique practice feel backed by big-clinic capabilities through our state of the art equipment, testing, compounds, and methodologies. We pair this leading-edge technology with genuine caring and emotional support.
Many women going through menopause find relief from symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings through cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT helps women identify and change negative thought patterns related to menopause, improving their ability to cope with changes during this transition.
As home to Balanced Hormone Clinic and headquarters, Clayton provides an outstanding setting for midlife women to thrive during menopause. Our area boasts many advantages, from an abundance of women's wellness resources to being a highly livable community.
With outstanding public services, low crime rate, great schools, and vibrant local amenities, this inner-ring St. Louis suburb shines in livability ratings. Other highlights include:
Walkable neighborhoods - Get your daily steps in and mingle with friendly neighbors! The Clayton requests system makes is easy to connect.
Parks and green spaces - Beautiful Shaw Park with fountains, sculptures, walking paths helps lower stress. Plus many neighborhood parks and trails nearby.
Fitness centers and studios - State-of-the-art facilities like Clayton Community Center, plus specialized barre, yoga, Pilates and dance studios offer activities for every interest.
Healthy and organic restaurants - From cozy cafes to white tablecloth, farm-to-table dining, satisfying nutritious cuisine is abundant.
Fabulous shopping and culture - Stylish boutiques, salons/spas, galleries, the Missouri History Museum, plus performing arts spaces ensure there's always something fun happening.
Convenience - This bustling St. Louis suburb puts everything at your doorstep so running errands is quick. The central location provides easy access to hospitals, airports and downtown attractions.
St. Louis weather patterns should factor into planning the timing of talk therapy and holistic support programming:
Balanced Hormone Clinic programming adjusts across the seasons to amplify benefits of Clayton's best seasonal attributes for hormone health. We provide year-round guidance so women can shine brighter.
Get specialized lab testing at nearby Quest Diagnostics branches. Register online for fasting blood draws.
Try yoga classes at Clayton Yoga or Laughing Lotus to lower stress and cultivate mindfulness. Read member reviews before signing up.
Walk the Shaw Nature Preserve trails or join a group fitness class at Vetta Fitness like Zumba, cycling, or water aerobics. Mix it up!
Visit Boulevard Nutrition after workouts for fresh cold-pressed juices, smoothies and healthy meal replacement options. Customize your drink.
Book a package of relaxing massage, nourishing facials and stress-relieving body treatments at Woodhouse Day Spa. Upgrade with add-on specialty baths or scrubs.
We hope this overview on menopause treatment at Balanced Hormone Clinic provides the education and inspiration you need to take charge of this transition with grace. We're here to support, guide, and empower you each step of the way. Call us anytime to discuss your options or book a consultation. We look forward to caring for you!
