Blog & Education

 

Are you right for Synergy?

At Synergy, my focus is hormonal health. Synergy may be right for you if:

  • You intuitively feel that your symptoms relate to hormones.

  • If you are no longer interested in band-aid fixes.

  • If you are interested in finding out WHY and are willing to do the work.

  • If you are experiencing menopausal changes that are leaving you wondering if it will always feel this way? There has to be something more and you have not succeeding at getting help.

  • If you are interested in improving your health and longevity.

  • If you want to engage in a comprehensive plan with your health care provider who wants you to succeed!

Education

Menopause & Perimenopause: 

  • Women Live ⅓ of their life in menopause. 

  • Menopause is defined as the natural absense of a period for 12 months continuously. On average this occurs between 50-52. 

  • Perimenopause is the time leading up to and around menopause, characterized by wide-swinging hormones and early symptoms. This can be a 7 year time - frame for some women. 

  • Both men and women produce hormones called Testosterone, Estrogen, and Progesterone. 

  • You may experience symptoms caused by the drop in testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.

    • Hot flashes 

    • Night sweats 

    • Mood swings 

    • Depression 

    • Irritability 

    • Loss of libido 

    • Difficulties sleeping 

    • Fatigue 

    • Loss of concentration 

    • Tired 

    • Brain fog and/or loss of memory 

    • Thinning hair 

    • Sagging skin 

    • Vaginal dryness

  • Treatment options include lifestyle & nutritional changes, smoking cessation, supplements and nutraceuticals, and bioidentical hormone support.

  • Symptom checker here: ZRT symptom checker

Menstrual concerns: 

PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

A syndrome characterized by irregular menses from irregular ovulation, hyperandrogenic symptoms (excess facial hair, hair thinning on the head, or acne), and insulin resistance. Many factors relate and contribute to PCOS and it is one of the most frustrating disorders to have. A key root cause for the symptoms above are insulin resistance. Insulin is a major hormone in the body and it is critical to managing estrogen, testosterone, DHEA, and progesterone. Insulin is also impacted by these hormones. 

To successfully treat PCOS a comprehensive root cause model needs to be employed and an optimization of all of the bodily processes.

Dr Aviva Romm

PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder)

A series of symptoms that begin with hormonal shifts of ovulation and through the first several days of the menses. This shift can be half of the month and lead to mood changes, trouble sleeping, water weight gain, cravings, breast tenderness, joint pain, cramping, headache, ache, bloating, and bowel trouble that can be impactful to quality of life. 

An evaluation of hormones throughout the month can help identify the why. This is usually addressed by targeting stress, nutrition, and activity, as well as the addition of certain supplements and bioidentical progesterone if needed.

Thyroid optimization: 

“My doctor said my thyroid is normal, but I think something is wrong, now what?”

  • Hypothyroidism has many etiologies and tends to increase in prevalence surrounding menopause. 

  • Hashimoto’s is an underlying cause of thyroid disease. Hashimoto’s has autoimmune underpinnings and sometimes patients are sensitive to the elevation in the body’s autoantibodies. In addition to restoring thyroid hormone, controlling inflammation is key to treatment and feeling better. 

  • Subclinical hypothyroidism is when the circulating amounts of thyroid hormone are normal, but the TSH (how loud the brain is yelling to get the thyroid to listen) is elevated. 

  • Some women are symptomatic in the upper and lower conventional blood work ranges. Symptoms often overlap with other sex hormone imbalances.

  • According the endocrinology society, 90% of patients with a thyroid disorder can be monitored with TSH only testing with good outcomes. I am here for the 10% that may need a deeper dive.

  • Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-you-cant-lose-weight-with-hashimotos-with-dr/id1635284316?i=1000570428377

Adrenal Imbalance: 

  • As a society, our adrenal glands are frazzled. 

  • The demands of life, degree of multi-tasking, political and financial climates of today, work - life imbalances, processed foods and endocrine disrupting environmental chemicals, have made adrenal problems so prevalent, that I fear we are recreating our baseline. 

  • Cortisol and DHEA are synthesized by the adrenal glands. Too much or too little, too responsive or inadequately responsive, and slowly we develop fatigue, weight change, exhaustion, heart rate and blood pressure changes, cravings, anxiety, and libido loss. These hormones mingle with all of the others. Holistically, this must be addressed in addition to the other hormones to restore balance. 

  • Treatments: Adaptogens and glandular support supplements are often used in addition to meditation, reiki healing, yoga, light exercise, laughing, and relieving stress.

Sexual Health:

  • Sexual symptoms are extremely common. The women’s sexual response relies on numerous variables. Desire, decreased response, pain, and dryness may impact sexual health.

  • Hormones are a very important piece; in particular, testosterone. Fifty percent of women after menopause develop low testosterone. Furthermore, many medications such as SSRI and birth control pills can suppress testosterone production.

  • Treatment is multifactorial; sometimes requiring sexual health counseling, couples therapy, topical products, hormones, supplements, and FDA approved medications that are approved for conditions such as hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Check if your symptoms fit here: HSDD Symptom Screener

  • Resource: Dr Tara Scott