You might feel very confused. “I’m in my 30’s, so why am I experiencing hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms?” POI (primary ovarian insufficiency), is very hard to tackle mentally. POI is essentially when a women’s ovaries stop functioning normally before they turn 40. Menopause is hard enough to prepare for, but when you start experiencing menopausal symptoms when you’re not expecting it all, it can quickly become mentally overwhelming. Panicking would be an understandable reaction. Feeling insecure is also a very natural response. But, there are many treatments that have been show to help improve POI with hormone replacement therapy being considered by many professionals to be the most effective, “Hormone replacement therapy to replace premenopausal levels of ovarian sex steroids is paramount to increasing quality of life for women with POI and ameliorating associated health risks.”[1]
Low Hormones and POI
In most cases, POI is linked to hormonal deficiency, “Many of the health complications associated with POI are directly related to ovarian hormone deficiency, primarily estrogen deficiency.”[2] Essentially, POI is associated with low hormone levels, “the situation in young women with POI and early menopause is in fact a pathologic state of estrogen deficiency compared to their peers with normal ovarian function.”[3] Hormonal deficiencies can have many causes, such as genetic disorders, a low number of follicles, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and much more.
Common Symptoms and Health Risks
The first signs of POI are usually irregular or missed periods. Later symptoms are similar to those of natural menopause:
- Poor concentration
- Hot flashes
- Infertility
- Pain during sex
- Decreased sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
- Irritability
Because POI causes women to become hormonally deficient, this can put you at a higher risk for certain health conditions, such as, Dry Eye syndrome, Heart Disease[4], Osteoporosis and Hypothyroidism.
How Hormone Therapy Can Help
Hormone replacement therapy is considered by many professionals to be the “go-to” treatment for POI, “HRT is the most common treatment. It gives your body the estrogen and other hormones that your ovaries are not making.”[5] Hormone therapy replacement helps treat POI by replacing hormones that are normally present, “In women with POI and early menopause the term Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is entirely accurate because the prescribed hormones are replacing hormones that would normally be present.”[6]
Menopausal Symptoms
Hormone Replacement Therapy has been shown to help alleviate menopausal symptoms for women who are suffering from POI, “estrogen replacement alleviates menopausal symptoms, and may improve sexual dysfunction that is related to vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, and decreased libido.”[7]
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a common health risk associated with menopause, and many studies have “demonstrated that fracture rates are reduced among women with POI or early menopause who are treated with HRT”[8]
Cardiovascular Disease
Hormone replacement therapy has been shown to help improve cardiovascular function in women who have POI, “Treatment with HRT for 6 months significantly improved endothelial function in these women”[9]
Dementia
Several studies “in older postmenopausal women indicate that estrogen replacement therapy is protective against development of dementia, especially when started early in the menopausal transition and used for >10 years duration.”[10]
When to Act
It’s hard for anyone to decide when it’s the right time to seek help for any health issue. You may feel that you’ve only missed a few periods, so you shouldn’t be too concerned. You might be ashamed and insecure that you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms in your 30’s. But if you’re under 40 and you are experiencing menopausal symptoms, you may want to consider meeting with a doctor. POI, if left untreated, could leave you vulnerable to developing serious health conditions.
How We Can Help
If you’re a experiencing symptoms associated with POI you may want to get your hormone levels checked. A blood test will be able to pin down if any of your hormone levels are irregular. If they are medically irregular, a doctor may recommend bioidentical hormone therapy or BHRT for short. Bioidentical hormones are man-made hormones that are chemically similar to hormones produced by humans. Many argue that BHRT is a more safe and consistent form of hormone therapy.
BHRT therapy is done by implanting hormones under your skin. Implanting hormone pellets is a simple and non-invasive procedure, typically taking less than five minutes. This treatment is called pellet-based therapy and is quickly becoming one of the preferred methods of hormone therapy for both providers and patients. Essentially, a provider will subcutaneously place hormone pellets in your skin. This subcutaneous placement of hormones allows patients to receive a steady flow of hormones 24/7. This constant flow helps you potentially avoid unwanted side effects.
If you’ve decided to pursue Hormone Therapy, it’s critical you find a provider that will dose hormones precisely, and every provider that works with Simpatra™ has access to a cutting-edge dosing technology. This technology eliminates the guesswork when it comes to dosing and allows physicians to accurately dose patients based on each individual’s unique blood tests — ensuring that your treatment will be efficient and effective. Simpatra™ will also provide additional tools that allow for your patient journey to remain consistent throughout the whole process.
Hormone replacement pellets must be of the highest quality to ensure the best results, and all Simpatra™ providers receive their pellets from highly reputable and respected manufactures. To learn more about BHRT or to find a provider near you, visit us at www.simpatra.health.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms you might want to take our general wellness quiz.
Disclaimer: The Simpatra website and blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content from the Simpatra website and blog is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this website is intended for general consumer understanding only. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. As health and nutrition research continuously evolves, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any information presented on this website.
[1] Sullivan, S. D., Sarrel, P. M., & Nelson, L. M. (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause. Fertility and sterility, 106(7), 1588–1599. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.046
[2] Sullivan, S. D., Sarrel, P. M., & Nelson, L. M. (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause. Fertility and sterility, 106(7), 1588–1599. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.046
[3] Sullivan, S. D., Sarrel, P. M., & Nelson, L. M. (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause. Fertility and sterility, 106(7), 1588–1599. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.046
[4] Sullivan, S. D., Sarrel, P. M., & Nelson, L. M. (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause. Fertility and sterility, 106(7), 1588–1599. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.046
[5]“Primary Ovarian Insufficiency | POI.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 Sept. 2019, medlineplus.gov/primaryovarianinsufficiency.html.
[6] Sullivan, S. D., Sarrel, P. M., & Nelson, L. M. (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause. Fertility and sterility, 106(7), 1588–1599. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.046
[7] Sullivan, S. D., Sarrel, P. M., & Nelson, L. M. (2016). Hormone replacement therapy in young women with primary ovarian insufficiency and early menopause. Fertility and sterility, 106(7), 1588–1599. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.09.046
[8] Klift, M. V. D., Laet, C. E. D., Mccloskey, E. V., Johnell, O., Kanis, J. A., Hofman, A., & Pols, H. A. (2004). Risk Factors for Incident Vertebral Fractures in Men and Women: The Rotterdam Study. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 19(7), 1172–1180. doi: 10.1359/jbmr.040215
[9] Kalantaridou, S. N., Naka, K. K., Papanikolaou, E., Kazakos, N., Kravariti, M., Calis, K. A., … Michalis, L. K. (2004). Impaired Endothelial Function in Young Women with Premature Ovarian Failure: Normalization with Hormone Therapy. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 89(8), 3907–3913. doi: 10.1210/jc.2004-0015
[10] Yaffe, K., Sawaya, G., Lieberburg, I., & Grady, D. (1998). Estrogen Therapy in Postmenopausal Women. Jama, 279(9), 688. doi: 10.1001/jama.279.9.688