It may be a natural part of life, but many women find menopause to be an unwelcome life-change; with symptoms that make them feel un-natural. “It starts from the head, with foggy thinking, mood changes, inability to sleep, arthritis, lack of libido. They notice that their skin gets thin, they feel like they age more rapidly, the wrinkles come on quicker,” says Dr. Heather Auld. It’s no wonder many are exploring alternatives, including hormone replacement. Women who come to Dr. Heather Auld, an integrative specialist with Lee Memorial Health System, are looking for a wholesome approach. “Bioidentical hormones are what your body naturally produces,” says Dr. Auld. Interest in bioidentical hormones is high. Derived from plant sources, they are individually matched to each patient, based on their personal makeup and needs. There are limitations on its natural state. “Bioidentical hormones still have to be synthesized in the laboratory. But what makes them bioidentical is that they are the same compound that your body produced when your ovaries were producing hormones,” says Dr. Auld. Non-hormonal approaches are another option. A more holistic way to manage symptoms, it relies on diet tweaks and healthy changes. Using methods that have been practiced around the world- for hundreds of years. “There are many herbal substances that don’t have any hormones in it, that actually achieve the same results in many women. And so that and lifestyle changes relieve some of those symptoms. And that would be a hallmark starting day one,” says Dr. Auld. The end game is that women don’t need to suffer through the change of life. And if they choose, they can deal with menopause, naturally. View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/ Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries. Visit leememorial.org