Menopause & Perimenopause Care
Navigate your hormonal transitions with
vitality and resilience.
Navigating the transitions of perimenopause and menopause can be complex, impacting various aspects of a woman's health and well-being. Dr. Nielsen is dedicated to providing comprehensive, personalized care to support women through these stages. Individualized strategies—including hormone replacement therapy when appropriate—empower women to manage their symptoms effectively and enhance their quality of life.
PERIMENOPAUSE
Perimenopause is the transition phase leading up to menopause when a woman’s hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone, begin to fluctuate and decline. This phase can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years and usually starts in the late 30s to early 40s (although symptoms can appear earlier).
During perimenopause, women may experience symptoms due to hormone fluctuations, such as:
· Irregular Periods
· Hot Flashes
· Night Sweats
· Mood Swings
· Brain Fog
· Fatigue
· Sleep Disturbances
This phase is not just about periods becoming irregular—it's a complex shift that affects metabolism, bone health, and emotional well-being.
Proactive Perimenopause
Dr. Nielsen encourages women to be proactive about their health during their perimenopause transition by focusing on nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management - all of which can lessen symptoms and protect long-term health.
You do not have to wait a year from you last menstrual period to start hormone therapy.
The decision to add hormone therapy in perimenopause is individualized for each patient, based upon symptoms, targeted laboratory testing, and personal risk factors.
MENOPAUSE
Menopause is the point in time when a woman has gone one full year without a menstrual period, marking the end of her reproductive years. Once a woman has hit this milestone, she is considered post-menopausal.
Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, vaginal dryness, mood swings, weight gain, and brain fog.
Other symptoms of menopause that are less well-known include joint pain and stiffness, bone and muscle loss, increased LDL cholesterol, heart palpitations, loss of skin collagen, increased insulin resistance, and hair loss.
Menopause affects every cell in your body!
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
You don’t have to suffer! Many women have been misled about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) due to outdated information and misinterpretations of past studies. The fear surrounding HRT is often unwarranted, as contemporary research demonstrates that, for many women, the benefits of HRT—such as relief from menopausal symptoms and protection against osteoporosis and heart disease—outweigh the potential risks.
Dr. Nielsen specializes in personalized hormone replacement protocols, and she is committed to educating her patients with current, evidence-based information, empowering them to make informed decisions about their menopause care.
HRT is frequently prescribed in the form of:
Estrogen Patches or Creams
Oral Progesterone
Low-Dose Testosterone Cream or Gel
Vaginal Hormones
Comprehensive Menopause Care
Comprehensive menopause care is about more than simply treating hot flashes.
Dr. Nielsen’s approach involves a multifaceted strategy that includes:
Optimizing Nutrition
Emphasizing Muscle and Bone Health
Improving Gut Health
Supporting Metabolic Health
Addressing Cardiovascular Risk
Each of these areas becomes increasingly important as estrogen levels decline.