Women's Health

A women's health changes as she age's and these changes are unique to the female anatomy. prevention of breast cancer, easing menopause symptoms, and reducing PMS are all part of a women's health. More than this a women's health requires a certain knowledge and understanding that is sometimes best dealt with by a woman physician. We have female naturopathic physicians who know and understand a woman's body. They will take the time to listen to your unique female needs. Below are some of the women's health conditions we can help you with. 

  • PMS
  • Painful or irregular Menses
  • Osteoporosis
  • Endometreosis
  • Uterine fibroids
  • PCOS

PMS

Premenstrual Syndrome refers to a wide range of symptoms that can be emotional, mental, and or physical. The hallmark of these Women's health and naturopathic medicinesymptoms is that they present in a cyclical fashion, most often showing up after a woman ovulates, and resolving when her menstrual period is over. PMS affects up to 75% of menstruating women.

Here at Southwest Integrative Medicine we can help you learn many tools to help reduce or resolve these symptoms. Using lifestyle choices, as well as herbal therapy, woman will find that their body will process their hormones more efficiently, and they will see significant improvements in their symptoms.

Painful or Irregular Menses

Menstrual irregularities are a common abnormality in a woman’s menstrual cycle. These irregularities include: heavy bleeding, painful cycles, short cycles, long cycles, and bleeding in between cycles. There are many different causes of these abnormalities, ranging from hormonal imbalances, infections, and even cancer. It is important to get a full work up to determine what the underlying cause is of the irregularity.

At Southwest Integrative Medicine, we always start with thorough hormone panel. In some cases, imaging, such as an ultrasound, is recommended. Once we determine what the root of the problem is, we use naturopathic therapies, such as herbs, nutrients, diet, hormones and acupuncture to help regulate cycles.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by loss of bone density. This loss of density happens when the body fails to make new bone, or when too much bone is being resorbed into the body, or both. These two processes are always in balance, but as we age the balance they lose their balance and those bones are now more susceptible to fracture. Causes of osteoporosis include: a decline in hormones, sedentary lifestyle, corticosteroid medications, poor nutrient status, smoking, alcohol use, certain chronic conditions, as well as poor digestion.

Bone health is something we take very seriously at our clinic. The medications that help prevent bone loss have an array of side effects that most of our patients want to avoid. So we use particular nutrients, hormones, and dietary strategies that allow the body to continue to build strong bones. Of course, we emphasize exercise, since a sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for osteoporosis.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which cells from the inside lining of the uterus grow in other places in the body. This transplantation of these endometrial cells can cause pain, bloating, irregular periods, heavy menstruation and infertility. This condition can be serious as these pockets of cells can show up on ovaries, in abdominal tissue, and even in the lungs. These cells are also under hormonal influence, just as they would be if there were in the uterus and often the symptoms have a cyclical nature to them.

At Southwest Integrative Medicine one of the first things we look at in a woman who has been diagnosed with endometriosis is her hormone levels. In some cases, a relative high level of estrogen, also known as estrogen dominance can be a contributing factor to the severity of symptoms experienced, as well as the frequency of new growths. In this situation, we use herbs and hormonal treatments to help decrease the estrogen dominance. We also look into lifestyle choices, since smoking, alcohol and a diet rich in animal meats can all make the condition worse. We help women make informed decisions when it comes to their body, and what they can do to restore optimal health.

PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a condition that involves an imbalance in hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Additionally, there is also an insulin resistant component to this condition. Women with PCOS suffer from, anovulation (no ovulation and therefore fertility issues), irregular menstrual cycles, acne, hirsitism (excess hair due to high levels of testosterone), glucose dysregulation, and cystic ovaries. The cause of this condition is unknown, and each person presents differently, with some issues more prevalent than others.

There are many things that we can do to help balance out the body in a woman suffering from PCOS. It is essential to follow hormone levels constantly, and to utilize naturopathic therapies to help normalize these levels. Diet is a major component in the treatment plan due to the high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Also, stress management is a key feature, most women with PCOS notice that their symptoms are exacerbated during stress. These treatments help balance the body and enhance fertility outcomes.

 

Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Tempe, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree and more. 


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