Menopause Treatment

Menopause Treatment refers to the various medical interventions and strategies aimed at managing and alleviating the symptoms associated with menopause, a natural biological process that occurs in women as they age. Though menopause can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, every woman’s experience is different. Some of the most common include hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, depression, weight gain, and problems related to intimate well-being. To get the most successful outcomes possible, patients should speak with a professional about their specific goals for treatment.

At Swan Medical, our providers are dedicated to helping women thrive and become the best version of themselves as they experience perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Our location in Los Gatos is led by Dr. Peter Castillo, a fellowship trained Urogynecologist, and Nurse Practitioner, Remy Paille. At our newest clinic in Danville, we have recently welcomed Physician Assistant ,Elizabethe Cooper who brings in over ten years of experience providing hormonal and urology care. Our staff believes that effective approaches involve addressing both wellness and medical needs as one.

To get started with a consultation at one of our California practices, call (925) 905-9922 or use our contact form.

About Menopause

Biologically, menopause marks the end of one’s fertile years since the ovaries cease to release an egg each month. Although it is a natural transitionary period, it has the reputation of being an uncomfortable time in a woman’s life. Once a woman goes through an entire year without a menstrual cycle, they are considered to have officially entered menopause. In the United States, the average age for a woman to enter this stage of life is 51 years.

The 4 to 8 years leading up to menopause are marked by dramatic physiological changes. In this particular stage, called perimenopause, the ovaries produce mature eggs at a rapid pace, causing menstrual irregularity. Women gradually lose their fertility since the ovaries begin to produce lower-quality eggs, and the ovaries exhibit fewer egg-containing follicles. ⁽¹⁾ During this drastic shift, the body cannot produce enough female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone. This can cause vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes, night sweating, and blood pressure-related symptoms like recurrent headaches and heart palpitations. Typically, more than half of perimenopausal women also find that they have reduced vaginal elasticity, uncomfortable dryness, and increased urinary frequency and/or incontinence to some degree. ⁽²⁾ Studies also find that women also report emotional and cognitive instabilities of increased irritability, inattention, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Addressing these problems requires a holistic approach that promotes long-term wellness throughout perimenopause, menopause, and beyond. With comprehensive treatments at Swan Medical, you will not have to put your life on pause due to these issues.

Longevity

BHRT For Women

BHRT stands for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, a personalized treatment plan that incorporates molecularly identical hormones to replace naturally occurring estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. BHRT can allow the body to utilize this supplementation and relieve vasomotor symptoms and sexual dysfunction. To administer this treatment, your provider may use subcutaneous hormone pellets. This method imitates the natural release of hormones since the body slowly metabolizes them over a few months. Other methods of administration may include patches, creams, and injectable forms of hormones. BHRT is an excellent way to help you gain stability and feel like yourself again.

Sermorelin with Glycine

Sermorelin is a type of growth hormone-releasing hormone that promotes tissue repair, growth, and anti-aging skin benefits. When administered alongside Glycine, an amino acid, the treatment can help you maintain muscle mass gained at the gym and assist with cognitive health. Glycine enhances this effect by acting as both an antioxidant, promoting anti-inflammatory effects, and improving sleep quality. ⁽³⁾ Sermorelin with Glycine is available at Swan Medical as an injectable treatment.

Medical Weight Loss

Medical weight loss with semaglutide (Ozempic) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro) can help you curb your unhealthy food cravings and reap the health benefits of slimming down. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist, a type of medication that imitates a hormone that triggers insulin production. This increased insulin goes to the hypothalamus area of the brain and sends signals of satiation. When prescribed in appropriate doses, semaglutide promotes healthy blood sugar levels. Tirzepatide works similarly, but it also interacts with another chemical pathway. It stimulates the release of both insulin and another hormone called adiponectin. With the help of adiponectin, insulin can more optimally travel from the bloodstream into the body’s cells and utilize glucose for energy even more efficiently.

Diet and Supplementation

Supplements are nutrient-dense and allow your body to function at its best, giving you a more natural solution to resolving menopausal symptoms. Consuming more leafy greens, lean protein, and foods rich with calcium and vitamin D are essential to promoting heart and bone health during this stage of life. Soy products that contain phytoestrogens- similar to estrogen- can serve to ease vasomotor symptoms. You may want to cut back on alcohol consumption, caffeine, and certain spicy foods that can worsen these vasomotor symptoms. If you would like guidance, ask about the supplements available at Swan Medical.

Intimate Wellness

O-Shot®

The O-Shot® is a treatment that incorporates platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to revitalize sexual response and restore sensitivity to the vaginal tissues. For this treatment, we will take a sample of your own blood and isolate PRP, a substance rich with growth factors that promote cellular regeneration. We will then administer this all-natural substance as an injection.

PT 141

PT 141 is a peptide treatment designed to increase libido and make sexual encounters more gratifying. At Swan Medical, we offer it as both a nasal spray and injectable.

Vaginal Rejuvenation

We offer vaginal rejuvenation with the DiVa and MonaLisa Touch lasers, both gentle and effective at rebuilding collagen within the vaginal wall. As a result, you can expect long-term benefits of improved moisturization and elasticity after a treatment course. They can also reduce symptoms of urinary incontinence. Our other vaginal rejuvenation device, ThermiVa, utilizes electromagnetic waves (radiofrequency) to produce the same effects.

Sexual Wellness Products

Prescription sexual wellness does not have to require an in-clinic treatment. We offer the Thrill Pill to improve sexual dysfunction and ignite an enhanced emotional connection with your partner, while the topical Climax Cream is formulated to increase blood flow and sensitivity for heightened orgasmic experiences.

Urinary Incontinence Treatment

Though our other treatments can relieve genitourinary symptoms, the eCoin implant specifically targets the root cause of this issue. For eCoin insertion, Dr. Castillo will use local anesthesia on the ankle and insert this small device near the peripheral tibial nerve, helping you gain better control over your urge to urinate.

Aesthetic Wellness

Labiaplasty

After carrying and birthing a child and experiencing the changes of menopause, you may find that your most intimate area does not appear to look the same as it once did. With a labiaplasty, Dr. Castillo can trim stretched and elongated labia using minimally invasive techniques and local anesthesia. Not only can this improve this area aesthetically, but it can also resolve any issues of chafing or irritation experienced during intimate moments or exercise.

Vaginoplasty

A vaginoplasty involves techniques that repair loosened and damaged pelvic floor muscles, improving tightness within the vaginal canal. Dr. Castillo can also rejuvenate the outer skin as well to create a more youthful appearance similar to a labiaplasty. He may perform perineoplasty in conjunction with a vaginoplasty to create a more ideal angle for the vaginal canal.

Perineoplasty

A perineoplasty is focused on repairing the perineum, the tissue between the anus and vulva. With this procedure, Dr. Castillo can restore muscular functioning, remove scar tissue from childbirth trauma, and improve the vaginal profile to create a neater look.

Clitoral Hood Reduction

A clitoral hood reduction involves the removal of excess skin around the clitoris to improve clitoral sensitivity and the overall appearance of the vulva. The procedure does not interfere with the nerve functioning of the clitoris itself.

Other Aesthetic Treatments

Swan Medical offers a collection of other non-invasive and minimally invasive aesthetic treatments to help you age beautifully. We provide laser skin resurfacing for skin-tightening and wrinkle elimination, stimulating your body’s natural process of collagen production. We also offer skin rejuvenation with dermal fillers to support skin hydration and provide more structure to the dermis layer of the skin. Other treatments include PRP-infused skincare, neuromodulators (Botox), laser hair removal procedures, and more.

Personal Consultation

During your consultation at one of our locations, Dr. Castillo will review your medical history and ask you about the changes you have experienced since entering menopause. Although it is a natural stage of life, it should not have to reduce your quality of life. He will review your options with you and discuss the treatment plan for his recommendations, giving you agency over the next steps for revitalizing your mental and physical health. You will be able to ask as many questions as you would like before proceeding with the next scheduled appointment.

To begin your menopause treatment plan today, call our Danville or Los Gatos office at (925) 905-9922 or fill out our contact form, and Dr. Castillo’s staff will get back to your inquiry as soon as possible.

If you would like to explore more options before scheduling your consultation, see our blog.

Cost of Menopause Treatment in Los Gatos

Dr. Castillo will give you a summary of the total cost of your treatment/s after the consultation. He will be sure to give you a complete and detailed breakdown of each fee according to your chosen treatment.

FAQ

References

1. Peacock, Kimberly, and Kari M Ketvertis. “Menopause.” Nih.gov, StatPearls Publishing, 11 Aug. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/.
2. Crandall CJ, Mehta JM, Manson JE. Management of Menopausal Symptoms. JAMA. 2023;329(5):405. doi:https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.24140
3. Razak MA, Begum PS, Viswanath B, Rajagopal S. Multifarious Beneficial Effect of Nonessential Amino Acid, Glycine: A Review. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2017;2017:1-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1716701