Midlife and Beyond (DRAFT)
This chapter discusses the varying changes in female hormones that begin 20 to 30 years prior to a woman’s final menstrual period (FMP), commonly around 50 years of age. Both testosterone and progesterone begin declining in a woman’s 20s and 30s, respectively, and antral follicle count in her ovaries also declines. In contrast, estrogen levels remain relatively stable from puberty until a woman’s early 40s This chapter discusses the changes that occur in a woman’s sexual health and overall health and well-being as her hormones change throughout her lifespan. It also discusses the controversy and misleading information about conventional hormone replacement therapies and presents case examples of postmenopausal women’s sexual health and overall health and well-being being restored with an integrative approach using custom-compounded bioidentical hormone replacement. A relatively new (nonsurgical) radiofrequency treatment for vulvo-vaginal rejuvenation for vaginal atrophy and urinary leakage problems in older women is also discussed.