Feeling the changes? You’re not alone.

It’s been a wonderful first week back in practice. I’ll admit, I had a few butterflies on my first day, almost like the feeling of heading back to school after Labor Day.

One thing I’ve noticed throughout my years in medicine is that certain weeks seem to have a theme when it comes to the concerns patients bring in. This week, that theme has been menopause, and its counterpart in men, sometimes called “manopause.”

For women, menopause typically occurs in the 40s or 50s, when menstrual cycles stop for 12 months due to a decline in estrogen and progesterone. Common symptoms can include hot flashes, sleep disturbances, weight changes, lower libido, and even mood shifts like anxiety or depression. Perimenopause, which happens in the years leading up to menopause, can be just as challenging, sometimes even more so.

Men can experience similar changes as testosterone gradually declines, leading to fatigue, lower libido, mood changes, and weight gain.

The good news is there are many ways to navigate this stage of life. From lifestyle strategies to natural and conventional therapies, treatment can be tailored to your unique needs. The goal is to make these changes more manageable and help you continue to feel like your best self.

If you think you might be going through perimenopause, menopause, or andropause, I’d love to work with you to uncover the root causes of your symptoms and find solutions that fit your life. You can schedule a meet and greet at https://calendly.com/drlarry-hearthstonefamilycare/meet-and-greet?month=2025-07. Together, we can focus on helping you become the healthiest version of yourself.