hormones Archives - Kingston Integrated Healthcare Inc.

Myths of Perimenopause

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on March 6, 2024.

Debunking common myths about perimenopause:

We use the term menopause to mark the end of hormone production by a woman’s ovaries and the permanent end of her menstrual cycle. Perimenopause precedes menopause, and is characterized by irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and various other symptoms related to a decline in ovarian hormone production. Initially, progesterone levels decrease, followed by estrogen. This hormonal shift can make perimenopause symptomatic for many women. Let’s debunk some common myths about perimenopause:

When Is It Too Late To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on March 5, 2023.

By Dr. Angela Hunt ND, MSCP

I have women come to see me from 40 to 70 years of age asking about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Yet, hormones are not the right solution for every woman and not appropriate for all ages. Though every case must be treated individually (e.g. by exploring family history, personal history, and blood work results), there are some general guidelines for initiating HRT.

Menopause Testing: Which Tests Make Sense?

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on March 5, 2023.

By Dr. Angela Hunt ND

I have many women arrive at my office asking me to test their hormones in menopause. I often tell them that though I think blood work is a good idea, they may be surprised to learn that hormones aren’t on the top of my list. If a woman is menopausal, meaning it has been a full year without her period, then I can guess with good accuracy what her serum (blood) hormones are currently. Her estradiol (estrogen) and progesterone will both be low and her FSH and LH will be high. In complex hormone cases (e.g. endometriosis, PCOS, early menopause), I will sometimes order a comprehensive urine hormone test to get an overview of a woman’s hormone picture. This test is called a DUTCH test and is a topic for another article, but for most women it is fairly predictable where their reproductive hormones are at in menopause. Let’s break down these hormones for a better understanding.

Hormones at sea – Part 1: peri-menopause, heavy bleeding and fibroids

Written by Dr. Marianne Trevorrow, ND on February 29, 2020.

As an ND who focuses on women’s health in my practice, it is not uncommon for me to see patients in their late 30s or early 40s complaining of heavy, frequent periods. Often these are accompanied by other frustrating symptoms such as painful cramping, breast tenderness, headaches, insomnia, and irritability. As annoying as these symptoms are, however, heavy bleeding is the one most likely to cause serious problems with anemia or blood loss, and potentially lead to recommendations for uterine ablation or hysterectomy. In the meantime, women may be prescribed hormone replacement therapies such as hormone based IUDs, the ‘pill’ or HRT, which can themselves cause other adverse effects.

The Fantabulous Five Fs of Healthy Hormones

Written by Trish Krause, Certified Holistic Nutritionist on February 28, 2020.

Adapted from Trish’s blog: Bite out of Life

So, we’re going through the ABC’s of Healthy Hormones and well, it seems I got a tad carried away with “F”…We have a whopping four of them as well as an ‘F’ recipe, so I’m counting it as five!

Today, we’re talkin’ Fibre, Fluids, Ferments, Fitness and for fun (see how I did that? LOL), the recipe of the week is Figs, Flax ’n Ferment. Phew.

To many, my ‘F’s’ are just a random list of ‘healthy things we should all be doing’ (and you’re not wrong!) but perhaps more importantly, they also relate to the removal of toxins – which is vital when you are looking at a healthy hormone system.

Let’s Talk Compounded Bioidentical Hormones

Written by Tarek, Clinical Pharmacist on February 17, 2020.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) once seemed the answer for many challenges experienced by middle-aged women. It was thought that HRT could protect against heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer, while improving a woman’s quality of life. But 20 years of research from clinical trials shows that HRT is not as easy and safe as once thought.

Menopause 101

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on September 1, 2017.

Menopause is a natural phase of a woman’s life but many of us aren’t clear about what is going on in our bodies during this time. Did you know that menopausal symptoms can begin as early as 35 years of age? Do you know what health conditions women are at increased risk for post-menopause? This seminar will go through it all.

Bio-Identical Hormones

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on August 31, 2017.

Bio-identical hormones offer treatment options for menopausal symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety. They are considered a safer alternative to synthetic hormones but do carry their own risk. If you are considering hormonal therapy of any kind this talk is for you. Dr. Angela Hunt, Naturopathic Doctor, will be discussing all the ins and outs of bio-identical hormonal therapy. Come have your questions answered and find out if this treatment option could work for you.

Are Your Hormones Making You Tired?

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on March 1, 2017.

Fatigue and low energy is one of the most common concerns that patients come to see me for. Sometimes the fatigue is a new symptom but for the majority of people, it is something they have been struggling with for years. In many cases it presents itself gradually, like a slow but steady decline. Now they find themselves with so little energy they can’t do the activities that they want and it is affecting their quality of life. There are many different root causes for low energy but one’s hormonal state is usually a major player. I want to briefly cover two hormonal issues that can lead to low energy.

Menopause: Navigating it Naturally

Written by Dr. Angela Hunt, ND, MSCP on September 5, 2016.

Let us start this off by reminding everyone that menopause is NOT a disease but a natural cycle in a woman’s life. This life cycle can be a bit rough for some, but there are ways to navigate through it more easily. The definition of menopause is one full year without any menstruation[i]. It is important to note that numerous women start to experience menopausal symptoms even before their period has completely stopped, a time called “peri-menopause”. Peri-menopause can start up to a decade before menstruation stops, making this whole process a drawn out affair. I want to cover some of the natural options women have for managing symptoms during their menopausal years but first, let’s review the most common symptoms.

Tag: hormones