Congratulations on beginning your journey towards looking your best and feeling your best during the peri-menopause, menopause, and post menopause stages of your life. The word "Model" represents the ideal or "Model" way to navigate the normal hormonal transitions of middle-aged and older women using evidence-based health tools. It also represents the fact that each woman is a model of beauty in her own right with the ability to enhance her health and beauty if so desired using this 5 step program.
The word "Ageless" represents the diverse tools in M-MAP used to reverse or slow the signs of aging. Model Menopause Ageless Program (MMAP) 5 steps: Discovery, Diagnostics, Evaluation/Education, Prescriptions, and Monitoring.
Model Menopause Ageless Program (M-MAP) step 1: Discovery This step represents collecting information about you to determine potential causes for hormone disruption including lifestyle, bowel habits, disease and medications. It also helps us determine if you are a safe candidate for HRT.
Model Menopause Ageless Program (M-MAP) step 2: Diagnostics There are several tests that may be required to evaluate your need for HRT and risks with HRT such as hormone panel testing, mammogram, PAP test, Pelvic exam, etc.
Model Menopause Ageless Program (M-MAP) step 3: Evaluation/Education. During this step diagnostic test results will be evaluated and analyzed. An educational review of the results and what they mean will be provided during this step. Lastly, a review of treatment options will be reviewed.
Model Menopause Ageless Program (M-MAP) step 4: Prescription. Prescriptions for life style changes, diet, supplements, peptides, treatments, and medication options will be discussed. *We are proud to be one of the few clinics offering Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT).
Model Menopause Ageless Program (M-MAP) step 5: Monitoring After treatment initiation, your symptoms will be monitored and reviewed after 3 months to determine if your goals are being reached. Prescription(s) or supplements will be adjusted as needed . After your symptom management goal(s) are reached monitoring will occur if changes occur or annually.
Menopause is the biological gateway to changes in the body that accelerate aging mainly due to inflammation. This phenomenon is coined "Inflammaging" - low grade chronic inflammation.
Menopause is derived from the latin words “meno” meaning “months” and “pausia” meaning “halt” respectively. Three stages Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause
Perimenopause -45 years on average. Periods fluctuate, may become lighter or heavier and irregular. Ovaries are still producing estrogen but less of it as the ovarian follicles decline. The pituitary gland is still producing the master reproductive hormones follicle stimulating hormone FSH and leutinizing LH. High FSH is associated with a range of symptoms such as worsening hot flushes, poor sleep, and changing cardiac health.
Menopause-occurs when periods cease. Usually occurs age 51-52. Pilot whales are the only other mammals that experience menopause.
Postmenopause- periods have ceased for a year. Cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome are the two most prominent health conditions in post menopausal women.
Production of oestrogen by ovaries decreases from 250-300mcg/day down to 20mcg/day After one full year or more of menopause there is a greater susceptibility to the occurrence of low-grade chronic inflammation that is now seen as contributing to post-menopausal heart disease, auto-immune problems such as fibromyalgia and increased vulnerability to infectious disease (Baylis, Bartlett et al, 2013). High cortisol over time leads to depression due to reduced serotonin, reduced immunity, increased blood sugar, increase in blood pressure and sensitivity to pain.
Are the M-MAP appointments Covered?
When a Nurse Practitioner (NP) orders diagnostic testing and lab work that is covered by Alberta Health Services (AHS) there is no charge to you. In addition, if you have a drug plan, then eligible prescriptions written by NPs are usually covered under that plan.
The initial consultation and follow up provided by the NP is not covered by AHS. However, you may have coverage through a Private Health Insurance company, but you will need to check with your own personal provider.
Medical expenses are tax deductible meaning they are eligible for a non-refundable credit (Medical Expense Tax Credit) provided they are listed as an eligible expense under the Income Tax Act. A ‘medical service’ is defined as a ‘service relating to the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of disease performed by a medical practitioner acting within the scope of his or her professional training.” Diagnostic procedures or services must be either for maintaining health, preventing disease, or assisting in the diagnosis of treatment of any injury, illness or disability. You may choose to speak with your accountant first to verify that this applies in your situation.
After you schedule a consultation, you will receive an intake form with several comprehensive questions about your health and wellness. Not only is it important for the NP to understand how menopause, or perimenopause is impacting your life, but the information gathered will help to rule out symptoms of other disease. Perimenopause and menopause can be similar to many other conditions.
HORMONE TEST TYPES
Dried Urine Test Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH): Estrogen production Estrogen metabolism Estrogen methylation Testosterone production Testosterone metabolism DHEA production DHEA metabolites Progesterone production Cortisol free pattern Cortisol production Cortisol metabolism B6, B12, Glut. Deficiency Neurotransmitter balance Oxidative stress Melatonin production. Difficulty sleeping, anxious, stress, brain fog could be Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal HPA axis dysfunction - the Dutch test can determine this.
Serum Blood: Estrogen production Testosterone production DHEA production Progesterone production. Measures one point in time so not as comprehensive as the DUTCH test. For example, the blood serum test cannot identify HPA axis dysfunction as well.
Saliva test: Cortisol free pattern or Cortisol CAR. Not recommended for monitoring hormone replacement therapy (HRT). * Saliva testing is the Gold standard to determine HPA axis dysfunction. BUT the DUTCH test is statistically equivalent.
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