The transition through perimenopause and menopause can feel overwhelming. Your body is changing, and you may experience hot flashes, sleep issues, or mood swings — a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms related to fluctuating hormone levels.
At the practice of Daniel Kushner, MD, we understand how these changes affect your daily life. We provide compassionate gynecological care in White Plains and Queens, New York, to help you navigate this transition with more comfort and confidence.
Dr. Kushner offers personalized solutions tailored to your unique body and lifestyle. With his years of experience and his drive to listen and treat each patient with the utmost care, he works to help you find safe, effective treatments that work for you.
Many women hear about "bioidentical" hormones and wonder if they’re safe. Some marketing campaigns claim that custom-compounded hormones are safer than traditional options. In reality, many standard, FDA-approved therapies are already bioidentical, meaning they match the hormones your ovaries naturally produce.
According to The North American Menopause Society, FDA-approved bioidentical products are regulated and tested for safety. These approved options, like transdermal estrogen patches, bypass the liver and carry a lower risk of blood clots compared to oral pills.
In contrast, custom-compounded hormones from specialized pharmacies lack standard safety testing and dose consistency. We prioritize your safety by prescribing highly regulated, FDA-approved hormone replacement therapies that we can carefully monitor.
If you can’t safely take estrogen, you still have excellent options to find relief. A newer, nonhormonal prescription medication called fezolinetant targets the brain's temperature control center directly.
In a recent clinical trial, a 45 mg daily dose of fezolinetant reduced daily hot flashes. Patients experienced 2.53 fewer moderate-to-severe hot flashes per day compared to those taking a placebo. This medication blocks specific brain receptors to calm down the overactive signals that cause flushing.
However, nonhormonal options don’t protect your bone density or treat vaginal dryness. Dr. Kushner evaluates your complete health history to determine if a nonhormonal approach is the right fit for you and what other approaches you can take to manage all symptoms.
Your daily habits play a major role in how you feel during menopause. Exercise is helpful in easing symptoms and is important overall wellness. Adjusting your diet can help blunt the metabolic shifts and inflammation caused by dropping estrogen levels.
A systematic review in Nutrients found that women who closely follow a Mediterranean diet report fewer moderate-to-severe hot flashes. This eating pattern is rich in olive oil, leafy greens, and omega-3 fatty acids.
Every woman experiences menopause differently, which is why we never use a one-size-fits-all approach at Daniel Kushner, MD. We look at the whole picture of your health and combine medical treatments with practical lifestyle guidance to help you feel your best.
To learn more about navigating perimenopause and menopause so you can regain control of your health, schedule a consultation with our team today.
