A menopause specialist is a doctor who has undergone specialized training about menopause, its symptoms, and how to manage not only symptoms, but underlying causes. Because menopause is a gradual process with many varied signs and symptoms, a full understanding of the reproductive system and its function is important. At InShape Medical in Cary, NC, we believe in a partnership between doctors and patients to treat the whole person and optimize health and wellbeing. Our team includes medical doctors, as well as health practitioners experienced with hormone replacement, age management, nutrition and nutritional therapy, weight loss, hypnotherapy, positive psychology and mediation.

The ovaries produce several types of hormones at different times in the menstrual cycle, which trigger different functions in the body. Estrogen enables healthy general functioning of the reproductive system, causes changes to physical characteristics during puberty, and makes the ovary grow and release egg follicles. Progesterone works to stabilize the menstrual cycle and prepare the body for pregnancy by causing the lining of the uterus to thicken to be able to support a possible fertilized egg. If there is no implantation of a fertilized egg, the progesterone level drops, which causes the lining to be shed in menstruation.

Menopause is a natural process, where the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone, and stop releasing eggs, causing the menstrual cycle to stop and signals the end of fertility. It is a gradual process that can take years before full menopause is reached. Menopause is permanent, unpreventable, and irreversible.

The average woman in the US completes menopause at 52 years old, though some may experience menopause earlier or later. The period of time before menopause is called perimenopause, and can last two to ten years.

The most obvious and final sign of menopause is the stopping of menstrual periods, but there are other signs and symptoms of perimenopause in the time before the end of menstruation, including the following:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Mood swings, irritability, or depression
• Memory problems or brain fog
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping
• Changes to how frequently you urinate or inability to hold urine
• Decreased sex drive
• Pain or dryness in the vagina

Different women experience menopause more severely than others. Some of these symptoms can be difficult or disruptive, and at InShape Medical, our health care team can help you manage perimenopause and menopause and feel much better. Some of the signs can be subtle and difficult to differentiate from signs of PMS and impending menstruation. It’s important to seek health care when you feel unwell to determine the cause, and that is where our team shines.

After menopause is complete, levels of estrogen and progesterone are much lower, and this can cause other health issues, such as weight gain, depression or anxiety, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, brittle bones (osteoporosis), heart disease, and increased risk of stroke.

Menopause does not mean you have to suffer and struggle. Our functional medicine practitioners will assess your general health, reproductive health, and symptoms you’re experiencing, so that we can recommend an approach to help you through menopause more smoothly and keep feeling like yourself. We may recommend hormone replacement therapy, vitamin therapy, and nutrition consulting to help you feel better and achieve balance while your body goes through this evolution. Most importantly, we are here to support your mind, body, and emotions. We also offer other services, such as anti-aging, aesthetics, and medical weight loss. Please give us a call or book an appointment for more information. We are located at 107 Edinburgh S. Drive, Suite 215 Cary, NC 27511. We treat patients from Cary NC, Raleigh NC, Durham NC, Chapel Hill NC, Apex NC, Pittsboro NC, and Garner NC.