Hormone Replacement Therapy
A Safe and Effective Treatment for Menopause
At Verve Health, we specialize in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to support women through menopause, perimenopause, and other hormonal transitions. HRT is a safe and effective treatment that replenishes declining hormone levels, helping to relieve symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and more.
Our approach is rooted in evidence-based care, offering personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs and health goals. We prioritize safety, comprehensive monitoring, and ongoing support to ensure you feel your best throughout your menopause journey.
Serving Ventura, Camarillo, Oxnard, and Santa Barbara, Verve Health is here to help you navigate this stage of life with confidence and clarity.
Women’s Health
Understanding Hormones
Hormones play a critical role in your overall health, influencing everything from mood and energy levels to metabolism and sexual function. As women age, hormone levels naturally fluctuate—particularly during life changes like menopause, perimenopause—leading to symptoms that can affect quality of life. Our approach is to identify the root cause of these symptoms and provide customized solutions to restore balance and vitality.
Menopause: A Natural Life Transition
Menopause is a normal phase of life, typically occurring in a woman’s 40s or 50s, as estrogen and progesterone levels naturally decline. While this transition is universal, the symptoms—ranging from hot flashes and mood swings to brain fog and disrupted sleep—can significantly impact daily life. Despite how common these experiences are, many women struggle to find the right support and treatment options.
At Verve Health, we provide evidence-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) tailored to your individual needs. Our goal is to help you manage symptoms, restore balance, and feel like yourself again. Menopause is not something you have to “just deal with”—it’s a transition that, with the right care, can be navigated with confidence and ease.
Menopause Symptoms
Menopause brings about a variety of symptoms as the body adjusts to fluctuating hormone levels. These symptoms can impact multiple aspects of a woman’s health and daily life. Understanding these changes is the first step toward effective management and relief.
Below is a comprehensive list of common menopause symptoms:
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Roughly 75-80% of women experience vasomotor symptoms during menopause.¹ These may include:
Hot flashes: Sudden sensations of heat that spread through the body, typically lasting 3-4 minutes. Hot flashes occur unpredictably at any time of the day, and can negatively impact sleep and overall quality of life.
Night sweats: Episodes of intense sweating during sleep, disrupting rest and comfort.
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Roughly 50-75% of women experience genitourinary symptoms during menopause.² These often include:
Vaginal dryness: Reduced moisture leading to discomfort or painful sexual intercourse.
Urinary symptoms: Increased frequency, urgency, or leaking urine.
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Up to 70% of women may experience psychological and cognitive symptoms during menopause.³ These may include:
Mood swings: Fluctuations in mood, including irritability, anger, or sadness.⁴
Depression and anxiety: Higher risk of depressive symptoms compared to premenopausal women.
Brain fog and memory issues: Difficulty concentrating or recalling information.
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Insomnia: Trouble falling or staying asleep, often linked to night sweats or mood changes.
Sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome: Conditions that may worsen during menopause, affecting sleep quality.
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Fatigue: Persistent tiredness and low energy levels.
Weight gain: Shifts in metabolism may contribute to changes in body composition.
Bone loss: Reduced estrogen levels increase the risk of osteoporosis and bone thinning.⁵
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Decreased libido: Reduced interest in sexual activity due to hormonal fluctuations.
Painful intercourse: Caused by vaginal dryness and thinning of the vaginal tissues, leading to discomfort during sex.
Changes in arousal: Difficulty in becoming physically aroused or reaching orgasm, which can be influenced by hormonal changes and decreased estrogen levels.⁶
These symptoms, while common, can be disruptive to everyday life. Our team focuses on identifying these signs early and providing tailored bioidentical hormone replacement therapy solutions, helping women manage menopause comfortably and confidently.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a treatment that helps replenish hormone levels that naturally decline during perimenopause and menopause. By restoring estrogen and progesterone, HRT can alleviate common symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and bone loss.
HRT has been extensively studied and is recognized as a safe and effective option for many women. Our approach at Verve Health is to personalize treatment based on your unique needs, ensuring you receive the right balance of hormones for symptom relief and long-term well-being.
How Hormone Replacement Therapy Works
At Verve Health, we take a personalized approach to HRT by focusing on your symptoms, medical history, and overall health. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your experiences and health goals to determine the best course of action. We also conduct comprehensive blood work to assess overall health markers, such as metabolic function, cardiovascular risk factors, and vitamin levels, ensuring a well-rounded approach to your care.
HRT can be administered in various forms, including oral tablets, patches, creams, or injections, depending on what best suits your lifestyle and medical needs. With ongoing monitoring and adjustments, we ensure your treatment remains effective, helping you regain balance and feel your best through every stage of menopause.
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Consultation & Discovery Session
One-on-one consultation with our dedicated provider to understand your unique health goals.
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Advanced Health Assessment
Comprehensive laboratory testing to uncover your body’s complete health story.
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Lab Results Deep Dive
In-depth review of your results with expert analysis and personalized insights.
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Your Custom Wellness Blueprint
Customized action plan designed to help you achieve and maintain optimal wellness.
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT provides significant benefits for women experiencing perimenopause and menopause, including:
Restores energy by replenishing essential hormones that naturally decline with age.
Improves mood and cognitive function by stabilizing hormone levels that influence brain health and emotional well-being.
Alleviates common menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances.⁷
Supports bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis
Regulates metabolism, weight management, and cardiovascular health.
FAQs About Hormone Replacement Therapy
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Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is generally safe when administered under the supervision of a healthcare professional. However, as with any medical treatment, it may come with potential side effects. Some women may experience mild bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, or mood changes, particularly at the start of treatment. These side effects are often temporary and can be managed by adjusting the dosage. We carefully monitor your progress throughout your treatment to ensure the safest and most effective care.
Historically, observational studies raised concerns that hormone replacement therapy, in general, might increase the risk of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease. However, newer research, based on clinical trials that provide more reliable data, indicates the risk of HRT are minimal as long as there are no contraindications.
While this newer evidence is reassuring, Verve Health will always discuss potential risks, benefits, and alternative treatment options with you before starting long-term hormone therapy, particularly if there are any underlying health conditions to consider. Your safety is our top priority, and we customize each treatment plan to your needs while closely monitoring your progress to ensure the best outcomes.⁸
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Many women start to notice improvements in their symptoms within the first 2 to 4 weeks of beginning HRT. However, it can take up to three months for the body to fully adjust and experience the maximum benefits. Since each person responds differently to treatment, Verve Health monitors your progress closely and makes adjustments as needed to ensure the best possible outcomes.
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Hormone replacement therapy may impact fertility, so if you are considering future pregnancy, it’s important to discuss your family planning goals with our team before starting treatment.
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Women experiencing menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep disturbances or vaginal dryness, may benefit from systemic estrogen therapy. Additionally, individuals who have early menopause or estrogen deficiency may be good candidates, as HRT can help protect against osteoporosis and other health risks associated with low estrogen levels.⁹
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What are the health risks of hormone therapy?
While HRT is generally safe and effective, some individuals may experience short-term side effects such as breast tenderness, mood changes, or headaches. At Verve Health, we monitor your progress closely, making adjustments as needed to minimize risks and ensure your treatment is both safe and effective.
Contact Us
If you’re ready to take the next step in restoring your health, energy, and vitality, Verve Health is here to help. Our practice, located in Ventura, serves individuals across Camarillo, Oxnard, and nearby communities. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs, empowering you to live life with optimal vitality. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary consultation and learn more about how hormone replacement therapy can help you.
¹ Peacock K, Carlson K, Ketvertis KM. Menopause. [Updated 2023 Dec 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/. Accessed October 21, 2024.
² Peacock K, Carlson K, Ketvertis KM. Menopause. [Updated 2023 Dec 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/. Accessed October 21, 2024
³ Soares CN. Depression and Menopause: An Update on Current Knowledge and Clinical Management for this Critical Window. Med Clin North Am. 2019 Jul;103(4):651-667. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2019.03.001. PMID: 31078198. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31078198/. Accessed October 21, 2024.
⁴ Soares CN. Depression and Menopause: An Update on Current Knowledge and Clinical Management for this Critical Window. Med Clin North Am. 2019 Jul;103(4):651-667. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2019.03.001. PMID: 31078198. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31078198/. Accessed October 21, 2024.
⁵ Cleveland Clinic. Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15245-hormone-therapy-for-menopause-symptoms. Accessed October 21, 2024.
⁶ The Menopause Society. Sexual Health. Available: https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/sexual-health. Accessed October 21, 2024.
⁷ Cleveland Clinic. Bioidentical Hormones. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15660-bioidentical-hormones. Accessed October 21, 2024.
⁸ National Library of Medicine. Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy and Reduction of All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Diseases: It’s about Time and Timing. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9178928/. Accessed October 21, 2024.
⁹ Mayo Clinic. Hormone therapy: Is it right for you? Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/in-depth/hormone-therapy/art-20046372. Accessed October 21, 2024.