Menopause and Perimenopause Care in Royal Oak, MI
Navigating menopause and perimenopause can bring unique challenges, but at Elle MD, we’re here to support you through every step. Our holistic, personalized approach focuses on helping women manage symptoms effectively, fostering well-being, and embracing this life transition with confidence. With tailored care that addresses your individual needs, we’re committed to helping you find relief and balance during this pivotal stage.
What is menopause and perimenopause?
Menopause marks the end of your menstrual cycles.It's marked by 12 months without a period, typically around age 50, while perimenopause is the phase leading up to it, often starting in your 40s. During these times, hormone levels fluctuate, causing various physical and emotional changes. Understanding these stages helps us personalize care that supports your health and quality of life through every phase.
Most common symptoms of menopause and perimenopause
Hot Flashes and Night Sweat
These sudden, intense sensations of heat can leave you feeling uncomfortable, and night sweats can disrupt your sleep. They result from hormonal fluctuations and are a common symptom of perimenopause and menopause.
Mood Swings and Irritability
Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can impact mood and emotional stability, leading to irritability, sadness, or even anxiety. Managing these shifts is crucial for maintaining emotional balance and a positive outlook.
Irregular Periods
As your body transitions through perimenopause, menstrual cycles may become irregular—shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter than usual. Eventually, menstruation will cease completely, marking the start of menopause.
Fatigue and Low Energy
Hormonal changes can lead to feelings of tiredness, even after a full night's sleep. This fatigue can make it harder to stay active and engaged throughout the day.
Weight Gain and Metabolic Changes
Many women experience weight gain, particularly around the abdomen, due to metabolic shifts and reduced muscle mass. Addressing lifestyle and dietary factors can help you maintain a healthy weight.
Other symptoms that are important to mention include: vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, recurrent urinary tract infections, reduced sex drive, pain during sex, joint and muscle pains, skin changes, hair loss, increase in facial hair, headaches/migraines, forgetfulness, loss of self confidence, difficulty concentrating, palpitations, and tinnitus.
These symptoms can range from mild to disruptive, but personalized support can make a significant difference in managing them and maintaining your quality of life.
How do I know if I’m experiencing menopause or perimenopause?
If you’re experiencing symptoms like irregular periods, mood swings, hot flashes, or changes in sleep quality, you might be entering perimenopause, the stage leading up to menopause. Perimenopause can begin as early as your 40s, gradually transitioning into menopause, which is confirmed when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.
During perimenopause, you might notice variations in the length, frequency, or intensity of your periods, alongside symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, and shifts in mood or focus. These changes happen because hormone levels—particularly estrogen and progesterone—start fluctuating, signaling that your body is preparing for the next phase.
If these symptoms are affecting your quality of life, it’s a good idea to seek support. At Elle MD, we provide comprehensive evaluations, which may include hormonal testing and health assessments to pinpoint your current stage and gain a full picture of your hormonal health. Our team will guide you through these transitions, creating a tailored plan to help you manage symptoms and enhance your well-being.
How we treat menopause and perimenopause in Royal Oak
At Elle MD, we take a holistic approach to treating menopause and perimenopause, tailoring each plan to fit your unique needs and lifestyle. Our treatment philosophy focuses on addressing the root causes of your symptoms through functional medicine and supporting overall health, allowing you to navigate this transition with greater ease and confidence. Here’s how we can support you:
Comprehensive Hormonal Assessment
We start with a detailed assessment of your hormone levels to understand where imbalances may be causing symptoms. This allows us to create a treatment plan that directly addresses your specific hormonal needs.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT)
For those experiencing significant discomfort from symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances, bioidentical hormone therapy may be an option. BHT uses hormones that are chemically identical to those naturally produced by your body, helping restore balance effectively and safely.
Nutritional and Dietary Guidance
Proper nutrition can play a crucial role in managing symptoms. We work with you to develop a dietary plan rich in the nutrients essential for hormonal balance, metabolic health, and energy, helping reduce inflammation and support well-being.
Lifestyle and Exercise Recommendations
Physical activity, relaxation practices, and proper sleep can significantly influence how your body copes with hormonal shifts. Our team will guide you through lifestyle adjustments that can support mood stability, energy levels, and physical comfort.
Stress and Sleep Management
Hormonal shifts can make it harder to manage stress and maintain good sleep. We incorporate stress reduction techniques, sleep hygiene strategies, and, if appropriate, therapeutic support to help you get restful sleep and manage stress more effectively.
Our approach is patient-centered and adaptable, designed to evolve as your needs change. We’re here to support you with compassionate, expert care through every stage of menopause.
Ready to get started?
Start your application
Take the first step toward reclaiming your energy, balance, and confidence by filling out an application here.
Discover your personalized program
Together, we’ll uncover the root causes of your symptoms and design a tailored plan to meet your unique needs. Our programs require a minimum 3 commitment to ensure lasting transformation.
Redefine your holistic health
This is your journey to vibrant, sustainable wellness. With our support, you’ll embrace the healthiest, most empowered version of yourself—inside and out.
Menopause and perimenopause specialists in Royal Oak
Dr. Hendriks and Dr. Castillo MacKenzie are experienced physicians dedicated to supporting women through menopause and perimenopause. We help you navigate these stages and use personalized care plans to help each patient feel their best. Based in Royal Oak, MI, our practice serves women locally and across Michigan with compassionate, expert care.
Meet the Drs.
Dr. Hendriks and Dr. Castillo MacKenzie are board-certified physicians, female, specialized, with over 10 years of experience.
Elle MD started after practicing in a traditional primary care setting together for over a decade. We grew frustrated with the current healthcare model, which places no emphasis on addressing the root cause of chronic disease. A lot of times, conventional care doesn’t even promote overall wellness!
We founded Elle MD in Royal Oak, MI, with a vision of providing this care in a compassionate and personalized way.
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FAQs
Got a question? We’re here to help.
How do I know if it’s perimenopause or menopause?
Determining whether you’re in perimenopause or menopause can be challenging, as both stages involve hormonal changes and symptoms. Generally, perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, while menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. A physician like us can help you pinpoint your stage with evaluations and symptom tracking.
What is the role of estrogen and progesterone in women's health?
Estrogen and progesterone are essential hormones that regulate various functions in a woman's body. Estrogen is responsible for reproductive development, menstrual cycle regulation, bone health, and cardiovascular protection. Progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy, supports early pregnancy, and balances estrogen's effects. Imbalances in these hormones can lead to symptoms like irregular periods, mood swings, and bone density issues. Understanding their roles is key to addressing hormonal health concerns effectively.
What are the phases of menopause?
Menopause itself marks a specific point, but the experience is often divided into perimenopause, early postmenopause and late postmenopause. Each phase brings its own hormonal changes and symptoms, with perimenopause as the lead-up, menopause as the end of menstrual cycles, and postmenopause as the stage following menopause.
What are the phases of perimenopause?
Perimenopause typically includes early and late phases. Early perimenopause begins with subtle changes in cycle length, while late perimenopause involves more pronounced symptoms and irregular periods as the body prepares for menopause. Tracking symptoms and changes can help identify your stage within perimenopause.
What to expect from menopause and perimenopause period changes?
During perimenopause, menstrual cycles may become irregular, with changes in flow and frequency. You might experience skipped periods, lighter or heavier bleeding, and timing changes. In menopause, periods stop altogether. These fluctuations are normal, and understanding what to expect can make the transition easier.
Do you accept insurance?
We do not accept insurance at our functional medicine and weight management practice to ensure we can provide personalized, in-depth care without the limitations or constraints imposed by traditional insurance models, allowing us to focus fully on the long-term well-being and success of our patients.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept payment by cash, check, VISA, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. We also accept most FSA/HSA
Can I use my flexible spending or health savings account?
Yes. We accept most HSA and FSA cards.
What if I need to reschedule my appointment?
We understand that your schedule might change, and you might need to reschedule your appointment.
You may cancel/reschedule your appointment without penalty up to 24 hours business days before your appointment. Voicemail messages are acceptable.
Contact us and get started on this journey today.
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Functional Medicine and Medical Weight Loss Clinic located in Royal Oak, and serving patients all across the state of Michigan.
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