After being diagnosed with breast cancer in my early 30’s I have been dedicated to finding alternative methods to help women manage hormone imbalances naturally without the use of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). I am so thankful the Lord led me to Douglas labs and my connection with Dr. Joseph Collins! His years of research and formulation has helped thousands of women navigate the crazy world of hormones and use amazing products to help balance the endocrine system.

The Olive Leaf addresses hormone imbalances by using focusing on several areas:

* Nutritional Recommendations

* Hormonal Testing

* Lifestyle Recommendations

* Nutrient Evaluation

* PH balancing

* Menopause Type Clinical Questionnarie

* Specialized Nutritional Formulations

Menopause & Your Menopause Type®

Menopause is a time of transition and change in a woman’s life that results in permanent ending of reproductive fertility and the end of monthly menstrual cycles. This change typically occurs when a woman is in her late 40s to early 50s. By definition, menopause is recognized when a woman hasn’t menstruated for 12 months. If a woman misses a few periods, then has a period, then menopause is not considered to have taken place until 12 months after that last period.

The hormonal changes that occur with menopause can be different in each woman. In some women estrogen levels drop dramatically, in other women the estrogen drop is not as severe and may actually stay adequate enough to be beneficial for the rest of the woman’s life. The same can occur with progesterone, it may become quite low, or it may remain adequate enough to be of benefit to the woman – even though she will no longer have the higher amounts of progesterone that happen in the second half of the month. Likewise, testosterone levels can become low. In some women the testosterone can actually become elevated. These are different possibilities of hormone changes.

Perimenopause

Perimenopause is the time “around menopause”. It includes the 12 months that have to pass before we can say that menopause has taken place. In addition, it can also include those years leading up to menopause where symptoms related to menopause start to appear. During perimenopause a woman may start to experience hot flashes, night sweats, changes in sleep, mood changes or other symptoms for over a year – or even years – before her menses even starts to change. During this time of transition, hormone production and hormone function is very variable. Months of severe symptoms may be followed by months that are symptom free. The menses can become quite irregular, with some cycles becoming shorter and some becoming longer.

So during perimenopause a woman who has always had 28 day cycles may start to have shorter cycles and or longer cycles. Perimenopause can last from as little as the 12 months required to make the determination that menopause has actually taken place as long as five years of irregular cycles and fluctuating symptoms. A woman is in perimenopause until she has not menstruated for 12 months.