How an integrated women’s health clinic can help during menopause
Menopause is a natural biological process that brings about a lot of changes in women’s bodies. These changes – from hormonal fluctuations to bone density loss to urinary symptoms and mood swings – are often a challenge to navigate in addition to everyday stressors. This is why you should find a good integrated women’s health clinic that you feel comfortable visiting when needed. Let’s explore how an integrated women’s health clinic can be your go-to solution for managing menopause.
But first, let’s talk about menopause symptoms
During menopause, women experience a range of physiological changes that can significantly impact their health and well-being. These include:
Irregular menstrual cycles
As you approach menopause, your menstrual cycles may become irregular and occur more or less frequently than usual, eventually stopping altogether.
Hormonal fluctuations
The decline in oestrogen and progesterone levels can lead to hormonal fluctuations, which can cause hot flashes, weight gain, night sweats, vaginal dryness and sleep disturbances.
Bone density loss
As oestrogen plays an important role in maintaining bone density, as it declines, your risk of osteoporosis – a condition characterised by weak and brittle bones – increases.
Heart health changes
Oestrogen also protects the cardiovascular system, so its decline during menopause can increase the risk of heart disease and also impact cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
Genitourinary symptoms
Issues such as vaginal dryness, urinary urgency and urinary frequency can also result, leading to discomfort, pain during intercourse and an increased risk of urinary tract infections.
Emotional and psychological changes
Menopause is often accompanied by mood swings, irritability, anxiety and depression, which can be attributed to hormonal fluctuations as well as the psychological impact of transitioning into a new phase of life.
How can an integrated women’s health clinic help?
An integrated approach to healthcare involves coordinating various healthcare services to provide comprehensive, holistic care. Although going through perimenopause and menopause can feel overwhelming, it’s a lot easier with the support of trusted integrated healthcare professionals, such as the team at Papaya Clinic. Here are some of the ways an integrated women’s health clinic can help you navigate this new life stage and provide for all your changing healthcare needs:
Pelvic health physiotherapy
Pelvic health physiotherapy is particularly beneficial for women during menopause. This is because it helps address pelvic floor issues such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, which can become more prevalent due to hormonal changes and aging.
Naturopathy
Naturopathy offers natural and holistic approaches to managing menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and sleep disturbances. Naturopaths can recommend herbal remedies, dietary supplements and lifestyle modifications tailored to support hormone balance and overall well-being during menopause.
Psychologist/Psychotherapy
A psychologist or psychotherapist can provide invaluable support during menopause, helping women manage emotional and psychological changes such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression. Psychotherapy can offer coping strategies, support mental health, and improve overall quality of life during this transitional phase.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on balancing the body’s energy and addressing underlying imbalances. Acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy and lifestyle recommendations can help with common symptoms of menopause.
Remedial massage
Remedial massage therapy can help relieve muscle tension, pain and stress associated with menopause, such as back pain, joint stiffness, headaches and sleep disturbances. Massage therapy can also promote relaxation and improve circulation, with the added bonus of encouraging you to focus on self-care, which is important for your overall health.
Taking an integrated approach to healthcare and menopause
By reaching out to an integrated women’s health clinic, you’ll be taking the first step towards improved health and well-being during perimenopause and menopause. Alongside your primary care physician, we’re here to provide innovative, patient-first care to support you in a safe, nurturing environment. If you’d like to learn more about our collaborative approach to healthcare during menopause, explore Menopause Mastery – our specialty 4-month Health Reset program – or get in touch with our experienced multidisciplinary team today.
