All women go through a change when hormones decline and aging accelerates. Our mothers did, our grandmothers did, so why are we so troubled by it?  By Dr. Sheila Patterson, MD

First, previous generations were used to just getting by, they didn’t complain because it didn’t do any good. For the most part they weren’t offered hormone replacement therapy, and if they were, it was abruptly stopped in 2002 as a result of the Women’s Health Initiative. That study indicated that women on hormone replacement were at increased risk of Cancer and heart attacks.

Second, menopause is worse today than in previous times. There are several reasons for this: We have worse diets, we’re more overweight, stress is worse and there are toxins called xenoestrogens that sabotage normal hormone function.

Third, we have options that our mothers and grandmothers didn’t. Bioidentical hormone replacement has been shown to be safe, unlike the hormones used in the WHI study. The science available now supports the use of hormones for not only the relief of menopausal symptoms, but for general health and the preservation of youthful appearance and activity. Hormone replacement keeps bones strong, helps preserves lean muscle mass, improves cholesterol numbers, reduces the risk of dementia, treats depression and helps preserve mental functions. And hormone replacement helps your skin look younger.

So if you’re in a situation where you haven’t been offered hormone replacement therapy, or if you would like more individualized service, we can help you become another one of our success stories.

No, it doesn’t have to be your mother’s menopause.