Perimenopause Treatment in Greenville, SC
Perimenopause relief in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry helps women navigate the hormonal transition with acupuncture and functional medicine. Call (864) 365-6156.
What Is Perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause — typically beginning in a woman's mid-to-late 40s but sometimes as early as the late 30s — during which hormonal fluctuations become increasingly erratic. Progesterone often declines first, followed by increasingly variable estrogen, before both settle at post-menopausal levels. This transition typically lasts 4–8 years and can produce significant and disruptive symptoms.
Common Symptoms
Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective
Perimenopause begins with the decline of progesterone — often a decade before estrogen drops significantly. Low progesterone relative to estrogen creates 'estrogen dominance' symptoms: heavy periods, breast tenderness, anxiety, and insomnia. As the transition progresses, estrogen levels become erratic — spiking high (causing fluid retention, breast tenderness, and anxiety) and crashing low (causing hot flashes, brain fog, and low mood) — before eventually settling into stable post-menopausal levels.
Adrenal function significantly determines symptom severity: well-nourished adrenals serve as backup hormone producers, buffering the transition. Thyroid function frequently changes during perimenopause, complicating the hormonal picture. Gut health influences estrogen metabolism and elimination — dysbiosis can worsen estrogen dominance symptoms.
How We Treat Perimenopause at IHP
Dr. Hendry's approach to perimenopause prioritizes progesterone support in the early transition: vitex (chasteberry) and specific nutritional interventions support natural progesterone production; acupuncture regulates the HPO axis and reduces the erratic hormonal swings that drive perimenopause symptoms. As the transition progresses, he adjusts the protocol to address the evolving hormonal picture.
For women with significant symptoms, bioidentical progesterone and estrogen therapy — discussed carefully with the patient and coordinated with their gynecologist — can provide bridging support through the most difficult phases of the transition. Dr. Hendry monitors lab values and symptoms throughout to ensure appropriate dosing and transition.
Dr. Hendry's Approach
Dr. Hendry views perimenopause as a predictable biological transition that, with proper preparation and support, should not be debilitating. He works proactively with women who are approaching or in early perimenopause to build hormonal resilience before symptoms escalate, finding that early intervention leads to a much smoother transition.