Hormonal & Women's Health

Menopause Treatment in Greenville, SC

Menopause symptom relief in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry treats hot flashes, sleep disruption, mood changes, and hormonal imbalance naturally. Call (864) 365-6156.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation that occurs naturally around age 51, defined as 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. The transition — perimenopause — begins years earlier and brings the most significant hormonal fluctuations. Declining estrogen and progesterone affect virtually every body system, producing a wide range of symptoms that significantly impact quality of life. Integrative medicine offers effective, natural approaches to menopause symptom management.

Common Symptoms

Hot flashes — sudden waves of heat, sweating, and flushing

Night sweats causing sleep disruption

Insomnia and non-restorative sleep

Mood changes — irritability, anxiety, low mood, and emotional lability

Vaginal dryness and discomfort with intercourse

Brain fog and difficulty concentrating

Weight gain, particularly around the abdomen

Joint and muscle pain (estrogen has anti-inflammatory effects that decline with menopause)

Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective

Hot flashes are driven by estrogen deficiency dysregulating the hypothalamic thermostat — the brain region that regulates body temperature. Serotonin and norepinephrine changes are intermediaries in this process. The metabolic changes of menopause — declining estrogen's insulin-sensitizing effects — promote central adiposity and metabolic syndrome. Declining progesterone (which begins years before estrogen in perimenopause) disrupts sleep by reducing GABA receptor sensitivity.

Systemically, women who enter menopause with good nutritional status, lower inflammatory burden, and healthier adrenal function experience significantly milder symptoms — the adrenal glands serve as a secondary estrogen production site after menopause, buffering the transition for women with healthy adrenal reserves.

How We Treat Menopause at IHP

Acupuncture for hot flashes has been validated in multiple randomized trials, with the most rigorous demonstrating significant reduction in hot flash frequency and severity compared to sham acupuncture. Acupuncture regulates hypothalamic thermoregulation through beta-endorphin pathways and balances the serotonin and norepinephrine systems disrupted by estrogen decline.

Dr. Hendry's functional medicine approach to menopause includes adrenal support to optimize the body's natural estrogen production buffer; phytoestrogen supplementation (specific soy isoflavones, red clover) where appropriate; dietary changes to reduce inflammatory load and support metabolic health; targeted sleep support; and bone health protocols (calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3/K2, weight-bearing exercise guidance) to address the accelerated bone loss of the early post-menopausal period.

Dr. Hendry's Approach

Dr. Hendry views menopause as a transition that can be navigated with minimal suffering when the body's hormonal, nutritional, and physiological foundations are properly supported. He discusses the risks and benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy where clinically appropriate and works with the patient's gynecologist or primary care physician to coordinate care.

Treatments We Use for Menopause

Frequently Asked Questions About Menopause

Can acupuncture reduce hot flashes?

Yes. Multiple randomized controlled trials confirm acupuncture significantly reduces hot flash frequency and severity, with effects persisting well beyond the treatment period. It is particularly valuable for women who cannot or prefer not to use hormone therapy.

Is there a difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are structurally identical to the hormones your body naturally produces, while synthetic hormones have modified structures. Some research suggests bioidentical hormones have a more favorable safety profile, though the evidence is still evolving. Dr. Hendry discusses all options and coordinates with your physician.

Can diet affect menopause symptoms?

Yes, significantly. Phytoestrogen-rich foods (soy, flaxseed, legumes), reducing refined carbohydrates and alcohol, and an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern reduce hot flash frequency and support metabolic health through the menopause transition.

Why does menopause cause weight gain?

Declining estrogen reduces insulin sensitivity and shifts fat storage to the abdomen. The muscle loss associated with aging reduces metabolic rate. Addressing insulin sensitivity, supporting muscle mass through protein and resistance exercise, and regulating thyroid function — which often declines around menopause — are the key levers.

How long does menopause transition typically last?

Perimenopause typically begins 4–8 years before the final menstrual period and symptoms can continue for several years post-menopause. With appropriate integrative support, most women move through this transition with much less disruption than expected.