What is Menopause Hormone Therapy?
Commonly known as “Hormone Replacement Therapy,” MHT is a service that some of our Family Medicine specialists provide for those who are noticing symptoms or body changes before or around the time of menopause.
Review our FAQ and Resources below to see if this, or the other services we offer, may be a fit for you!
Perimenopause/Menopause
Are you having:
Hot flashes (or “flushes”)
Irregular or heavy periods
Vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and/or decreased libido
Brain fog
Night sweats
Other changes & symptoms that you are feeling that something just isn’t right?
And it’s not just about all of this. Women are often uninformed about their risks of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis/osteopenia that increase when hormone health is not addressed adequately. You deserve to know the WHOLE picture, and you don’t have to suffer through it!
Let’s talk about it! We can order labs (if needed)*, discuss treatment options, and, if appropriate, create a hormone treatment plan that is right for you.
View our HRT Team below.
*see FAQ (right)
FAQ
Do I need to have labs?
Possibly. There is a time and a place for labs. Hormones are very tricky, and testing them may not give the information that people are hoping for. This is an excellent article that explains when labs may (or may not) be useful.
What if I am still having a period?
Perimenopause can be very brief for some, and long for others. And you can have your period during this entire time. You don’t have to wait until your period stops to start exploring this topic.
I have had breast cancer/have a family history of breast cancer. Does this mean I can’t use HRT?
It’s possible. And there are some other health conditions that may make it higher risk (such as clotting disorders, strokes, liver disease) to use HRT as well. It’s important to have a benefits vs. risk discussion with a specialist to make an informed decision.
What if I don’t want to take hormones. Are there other approaches that are helpful?
Yes! There is evidence that other approaches like certain anti-depressants, other medications, supplements, acupuncture, or psychotherapy can be beneficial. Because our practitioners are Family Medicine specialists, they are able to discuss all of these approaches. You can also meet with someone from one of these other disciplines if that is your preference. Click the links at the bottom of the page for more information!
Recommended Resources
Menopause Manifesto - Dr. Jen Gunter (book, podcast)
You are not broken - Dr. Kelly Casperson (Podcast)
The Menopause Brain by Lisa Mosconi
Our Womanity blog & podcast
DisruptHER podcast
Hormone Therapy Practitioners
Meet Dr. Ryan Dick
Dr. Ryan Dick came to Iris Mental Health & Wellness from Entira Family Clinics, where he worked for several years as a Family Medicine Physician delivering many babies, and serving people of all ages. While he is no longer practicing OB/GYN, he is dedicated to help fill one of the gaps in women's health care.
Dr. Dick is trauma-informed, experienced in working with a variety of ages and backgrounds. He is certified by The Menopause Society.
For more information about these, or other services that Dr. Dick offers, click on the button below.
Meet Samantha Carry
Samantha Carry is returning to Iris Mental Health & Wellness after spending some time working as a Nurse Practitioner in a larger family medicine clinic setting (and we are SO happy she is back!). She is passionate about supporting women’s health from a holistic viewpoint, which includes hormone therapy for perimenopause/menopause.
Samantha is trauma-informed, and provides care for a variety of ages and backgrounds. She is especially interested in endocrine disorders (diabetes, nutrition, PCOS), and understands the intersection between hormone changes and these disorders.
For more information about these, or other services that Samantha Carry offers, click on the button below.
meet dr. Lindsey Mehran
Dr. Lindsey Mehran came to Iris Mental Health & Wellness with a background as a medical liaison in pharmaceutical companies that developed medications for postpartum depression and menopause. She is certified by The Menopause Society & and has advanced training with Postpartum Support International.
It was through her own lived experience that Lindsey decided to confront the shortcomings of the current health care treatment of women. She works with people ages 18+.
For more information about this, or other services that Dr. Mehran offers, click on the button below.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are interested in meeting with one of our Family Medicine Specialists about HRT, click on the the button below.
If you aren’t sure yet, but would like to consider one of our other services instead, or in addition to, HRT you can also click on the links for more information!
