Whether you are visiting us because you are struggling with menopause or suspect you are going through it, integrative practitioner Dr. Kait Chang, ND, is here to help.
"I was desperate and heading into perimenopause. I found Dr. Chang, and she was exactly who I needed to help me to navigate through this chapter. Dr. Chang is extremely knowledgeable, and explains things very well so you have a clear understanding. DR. Chang makes you feel very comfortable. She asks alot of questions, and she answers all of mine. I never feel rushed, she takes her time and really listens to you. I am so thankful to of found her clinic."
As women, menopause is a normal and natural event in our lives — but it doesn't mean you have to face it on your own. Our bodies are unique and menopausal symptoms can look and feel different to each of us. If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause and need support, Calgary Menopause Wellness is here to support you.
We are menopause practitioners providing a tailor-made wellness path that works for you, your lifestyle, and your amazing body during this transition period. We live in an exciting time where ideas, education, and awareness about menopause are changing. While there is still more to do, studies confirm that our personal attitude towards one's own menopausal experience can have a significant impact on our own menopausal experience and outcome. We are here to support you during this time in your life and to tell you that it is normal to feel all your feelings, and we encourage you to talk and lean on us as much as you need.
Menopause is a normal and natural event where a woman's ovaries retire, resulting in a reduction of estrogen and progesterone levels in the body. When a woman does not have their period for 12 months in a row, they are officially in menopause. Menopause is a milestone for a woman as they no longer carry the responsibility and capacity to reproduce children. On average, natural menopause occurs at 51 years of age, although it can occur between 45-55. There are outliers, of course – some women arrive at menopause earlier or later than this age range. The time surrounding the arrival of menopause is a window of opportunity to reassess health.
Menopausal symptoms can result from hormonal changes directly and indirectly. For example, lower progesterone level is associated with waking up middle of the night, and in turn, prolonged sleep deprivation can lead to reduced patience and heightened tension. Most symptoms do eventually resolve. However, some can persist anywhere from 2 to 15 years. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle during this transition is essential for your health and can even prevent or blunt some of these changes.
Every woman's body is unique. Some only experience irregular menstrual periods, while others are also bothered by hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty sleeping, mood changes, memory problems, vaginal dryness, fatigue, and weight gain.
Naturopathy assesses the state of hormone imbalance and offers ways to buffer the effects of hormonal changes. Lab tests and clinical queries identify excesses and deficiencies, ongoing infections, and dysfunctional biochemical processes. Various treatment modalities are used to correct and compensate for biochemical anomalies. Our clinic's treatment modalities include nutrient injections, acupuncture, nutrition counselling, herbal prescribing, and nutrient supplementation. Our clinicians practice evidence-informed medicine, and we assist patients in gathering the latest research to make an informed decision about their adaptation to hormone replacement therapy. Some of our patients are on hormone replacement therapy under the supervision of their medical doctor. At the same time, they also employ naturopathic treatments for a rounded approach to their health.
"Dr. Chang took her time to listen to my concerns and suggested comprehensive approach to help me through this time in my life. She is professional, cordial and relatable."
Perimenopause symptoms can be trickier to treat than symptoms arising post-menopause, as perimenopausal individuals are still making somewhat of a sufficient amount of estrogen, albeit inconsistently.
According to established research-supported guidelines, assessment is based on symptoms and not blood tests.
Categories:
During perimenopause, your hormones and neurotransmitters are in a storm. The storm is constantly changing and moving. The good news is that a well-nourished body, with nutrients and other necessary support therapies and/or medication, can tame the storm and bring you back to feeling your best.
Please speak with our team today to help you navigate through menopause using a combination of pharmaceutical and/or natural therapies.
The complete cessation of the menstrual period for at least 12 consecutive months, on average, occurs at 51, but in our practice, we have seen natural menopause occurring as early as the 30s and as late as 60 years of age. The age of menopause is unpredictable for every woman and is not correlated to the timing of her first period. Research also shows that a mother's menopausal age does not correlate to a daughter's menopausal age.
Interestingly, many of our patients who are well past perimenopause still experience hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, and insomnia. These presentations have been investigated in studies showing connections to a continued decline in estrogen, disturbed melatonin and serotonin release and neuronal reception, age-related muscle loss, inadequate dietary intake, and age-related insulin resistance. Hormone shifts can continue up to 8 years after the final period, and symptoms can be addressed through appropriate medication, supplementation, nutrition, exercise, and other adjunct therapies under the care of a team of evidence-based clinicians.
Saying goodbye to menstrual cycles means no more PMS, menstrual cramps, leakage accidents, contraceptives, etc. However, menopause isn't a farewell to estrogen. Aside from its role in maturing eggs and building uterine lining in our reproductive years, estrogen is highly important in maintaining our bones, joints, heart, blood vessels, and brain. The first five years of menopause serve as a window of opportunity to optimize the continual production and metabolism of healthy estrogen to set up a healthy and graceful aging journey, preventing heart disease, dementia, depression, mental health problems, bone loss, and arthritis.
Work with Calgary Menopause Wellness to help ensure you have comfortable and vibrant years ahead. If you feel you are still experiencing menopausal symptoms significantly after menopause, please also contact us today.
Research in menopause management has come a long way since the 1940s. In our care model, we approach menopause from a neutral standpoint, integrating non-hormonal and hormonal therapies depending on the individual's requirements and preferences. We follow the international guideline in menopause management, providing patients with the necessary evidence-based information on hormone and non-hormone therapies, as well as assessing and offering solutions to pertinent health risks that lie ahead in women going through menopausal transition.
Dr. Kait Chang, ND, MSCP is certified by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners, The Menopause Society, and is licensed under the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the Alberta Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the Confident Clinicians Club, and The Menopause Society.
Our office offers customized nutrient infusion therapy, also known as IV nutrition therapy, to address nutrient deficiencies that may contribute to menopause-related symptoms and conditions.
To find out whether IV nutrition therapy is suitable for you, book your complementary consultation with Dr. Kait.
To support imbalances associated with menopause, we offer various IM injections:
To find out whether IM injection is suitable for you, book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Kait.
Rarely are these lab tests needed for supporting menopausal transition. However, they are available through our clinic. Please consult our clinician for more information. The lab tests we offer are:
Acupuncture is an effective energy re-alignment technique for relieving mood disturbances and sleep concerns. Dr. Kait Chang, ND, provides the Acupuncture service and is billed as a naturopathic acupuncture visit. You must have had an initial assessment appointment before your first acupuncture session. Each acupuncture session is 75 minutes. Depending on your health presentation, cupping or moxibustion may be included.
"I began seeing Dr. Kait 3 or 4 years ago. I had never been to a naturopathic doctor and was unsure of the outcome. Within 1 month with weekly acupuncture treatment I was sleeping much better! Dr. Kait has also utilized other treatment modalities to continue supporting me. She is very thorough, kind and conscientious in prompt follow up. I now only need to see her infrequently for 'tuneups'! Thank you Dr.Kait"
At Calgary Menopause Wellness, we are dedicated to helping perimenopausal and menopausal women get through this transition with support, openness, and a safe place to understand and take care of their bodies.
