Women’s Wellness

What is perimenopause??

What is perimenopause??

While natural, perimenopause is a period of time characterized by fluctuating hormone levels. Many women experience unpleasant symptoms as their bodies are going through these changes. Some common symptoms are: mood swings, increased irritability and rage, tearfulness, hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, memory issues, word searching, vaginal dryness, skin complaints, joint aches and pains, fatigue, weight gain (especially around the middle), decreased libido, heavy bleeding and missed periods. These symptoms are unpleasant and unwanted to say the least.

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Thoughts about fertility preparation

Thoughts about fertility preparation

At Tendwell, we use cutting edge science and take an integrative medicine or functional medicine approach to health. When I work with clients desiring fertility, I tend to look at a lot of labwork in the beginning. Some of my favorites being: CBC w/diff, CMP, vitamin D, vitamin B12, homocysteine, MTHFR, CoQ10, Omega 3/6 levels, iron, ferritin, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, and a full thyroid panel. We also get very specific hormone testing: day 3: estrogen, FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin, DHEA-S, SHBG, AMH and day 21: progesterone levels.

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“The Galveston Diet” by Mary Claire Haver, MD

“The Galveston Diet” by Mary Claire Haver, MD

"The Galveston Diet" is a health and wellness book written by Mary Claire Haver, an OBGYN and expert in the field of women’s health. This book presents an actionable approach to dealing with the changes that can be caused by menopause. In this functional medicine blog, we will explore the main concepts, key takeaways, and notable aspects of "The Galveston Diet."
"The Galveston Diet" revolves around the concept that women experience unique hormonal fluctuations throughout their lives, which can impact their level of inflammation, their weight, moods, energy, and overall health. Dr. Haver explains how these hormonal changes can affect metabolism and hinder weight loss efforts which negatively impact hormones, energy, and mood. Dr. Haver presents the Galveston Diet as a solution specifically designed to support women's hormonal balance and promote sustainable weight loss.

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Spotlight on the DUTCH test

Spotlight on the DUTCH test

Not all hormone testing is created equal. At Tendwell, we often use advanced hormone testing to obtain a nuanced and full picture of what is happening with an individual’s hormonal function. Sadly, this is not what usually happens in standard primary care. Most of the time, standard medical practices send patients to a company like Quest for blood-based hormone testing. This kind of hormone testing has its place but it often misses information that is truly valuable. A far better method is the one used in the DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones), which is one of my favorites.

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Using Natural Methods for Menopause Relief

Using Natural Methods for Menopause Relief

In our Denver functional medicine practice, we frequently treat members who are experiencing symptoms of menopause. Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life that can be characterized by a range of physical and psychological symptoms that may significantly impact the quality of life. While hormonal therapies and pharmaceutical interventions are commonly prescribed, there is growing interest in exploring natural methods for reducing menopausal symptoms either with bioidentical hormone therapy or alone. This article reviews the current literature on the efficacy of natural approaches, including herbal remedies, lifestyle modifications, and mind-body practices, in alleviating menopausal symptoms.

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Book Review: The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis: How to Improve Bone Strength and Reduce Your Fracture Risk by Dr. Keith McCormick

Book Review: The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis: How to Improve Bone Strength and Reduce Your Fracture Risk by Dr. Keith McCormick

At Tendwell, we often collaborate with patients over concerns of osteopenia, osteoporosis and overall bone health. Utilizing a functional medicine approach that includes advanced testing we are able to tease out specific areas where each individual needs support. One of my favorite books on this subject is The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis: How to Improve Bone Strength and Reduce Your Fracture Risk by Dr. Keith McCormick.

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Interview with Dr. Kate Salama – A Women’s Health Integrative Psychiatrist in Denver, Colorado

Interview with Dr. Kate Salama – A Women’s Health Integrative Psychiatrist in Denver, Colorado

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Kate Salama, an integrative psychiatrist practicing here in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Salama and I share similar views about how taking a holistic approach to health care is desperately needed in our modern, broken system. Functional medicine doctors and your Tendwell providers do a great job of treating the whole person to promote relief from chronic illness and improved well-being across many domains, physical as well as mental. But sometimes patients need a sharper and deeper focus on the mental and emotional aspects of health. In those cases your care team should include an integrative psychiatrist, like Dr. Salama.

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