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Colloquially, menopause is referred to as the entire transition from full ovarian function (ovaries capable of ovulating) to complete cessation (ovaries stop ovulating, meaning no more eggs are developed) — it’s essentially puberty in reverse. 

Medically speaking, menopause is just one day — the day twelve months after the final menstrual period. However, the full menopause transition is a continuum involving three stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. These three stages will last between one-third to one-half of a woman’s (or anyone with ovaries) life.

Perimenopause marks the beginning of the menopause transition when the hormone levels in your body start to fluctuate. These fluctuations can trigger a range of symptoms including sleep disruption, mood swings, hot flashes, and night sweats. Perimenopause often starts in the mid-to-late forties (but can begin earlier), and lasts between 1-7 years depending on the person.  

‍Find out more information about perimenopause.

Many different symptoms can accompany the menopause transition, but hot flashes and night sweats (also called vasomotor symptoms) are often the most well-known. A hot flash isn’t just a feeling of heat, it’s a wave that envelops the body (typically around the neck and upper chest) and makes it warm to the touch. Night sweats are essentially hot flashes that happen while you’re sleeping. 

The mechanisms behind hot flash and night sweat symptoms aren’t fully understood, but we know estrogen plays a role in temperature regulation. This means that a significant drop in estrogen levels can lead to your brain thinking you’re too hot (when you’re not) and it needs to rapidly cool you down. Everyone may experience hot flashes slightly differently, but they can happen anywhere and can often be distressing and unpleasant.

Treatment for menopause symptoms can differ in approach depending on the severity of symptoms along with your individual lifestyle and health needs. 

At its core, Menopause is about hormone fluctuations. Severe symptoms can be treated by rebalancing hormone levels. Taking hormones can smooth these fluctuations and help relieve symptoms. These medication options typically come in several different forms (pill, patch, cream) to accommodate various lifestyles.

For those who may have milder symptoms, allergies, or cannot take hormonal options, non-hormonal medications designed to treat specific individual symptoms can help alleviate discomfort. 

While they don’t target symptoms themselves, some vitamins and supplements can also help your general well-being by contributing to areas like energy levels and sleep.

Connect with a Felix healthcare practitioner trained in menopause symptom management to discuss what treatment options might be right for your symptoms and lifestyle.

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At Felix, we do not require testing to assess or treat menopause symptoms. This phase of life is natural and expected, and clinical guidelines recommend that treatment be prescribed by way of symptom review rather than lab tests or blood work.   

The standard recommendation is that if a patient is of an appropriate age to be going through menopause, and no other issues are present, labs testing hormone levels are not necessary and offer little value in diagnosing and treating symptoms normally seen in menopause. Due to fluctuating hormones, testing can end up being misleading and therefore problematic.

We use long-standing, proven medication options authorized for sale by Health Canada to treat menopause symptoms. Our solutions are the most common and effective medication options for symptoms of menopause as outlined by the latest clinical standards. 

As with any medication, there are risks associated with treatment. Our healthcare practitioners are trained to discuss these risks in detail with you and provide a treatment plan that works best with your medical history, symptoms and lifestyle.

Felix healthcare practitioners are licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) and doctors (MDs) who have been trained in the treatment of menopause symptoms. In addition to their invaluable clinical experience, they receive intensive training from nationally recognized experts in perimenopause and menopause.

Published in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative study (WHI) revealed what turned out to be exaggerated risks associated with Hormone Treatment, severely impacting the way menopause is treated for decades to come.

The resulting media storm led to a communications catastrophe that drastically diminished the use of hormone treatments among women and led to the removal of menopause education from the medical curriculum for all Canadian doctors. Even today, menopause is not part of the standard curriculum in most medical schools.

We launched the Felix menopause program because we believe women deserve to know about all their treatment options and have a choice in how they manage their menopause transition.

Clinically proven, prescription medications that help manage hormone fluctuations are the primary treatment option to relieve menopause symptoms. 

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, other products, strategies, and lifestyle modifications can also help:

• Nonprescription remedies such as over-the-counter vaginal lubricants (silicone or water-based) or moisturizers with hyaluronic acid can be used as cooling techniques for vasomotor symptoms 
• Lifestyle modifications such as regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding trigger substances like caffeine and alcohol can help support your overall health and reduce stress
• Dietary adjustments such as including more calcium and vitamin D can help maintain a healthy immune system as well as support bone and teeth health ‍
• Mind-body techniques such as yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, and meditation can help manage stress and improve mood

Many women manage their symptoms with natural remedies and lifestyle changes, but this doesn’t work for everyone. Clinically proven prescription medications that help manage hormone fluctuations are a primary treatment option to relieve symptoms of menopause. 

Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any natural treatments. Herbal supplements, in particular, may interact with other medications and are not subject to the same safety and efficacy regulations as prescription medications.

Progesterone is a hormone produced by your ovaries after ovulation. It helps balance estrogen levels during a normal menstrual cycle by regulating the growth of your uterine lining. During perimenopause, more estrogen and less progesterone can lead to longer and heavier periods that can be very uncomfortable. Increasing progesterone can level out hormones, alleviate irregular and painful menstrual cycle symptoms, and avoid unchecked thickening of the uterine lining. 

Transgender women, and women who have had a hysterectomy, have a hormonal IUD, or have a congenital absence of the uterus will not need progesterone.

The menopause program has an initial visit fee of $99, which is only charged if your visit is approved and a prescription is issued. This covers:

1. Your first consultation with a Felix healthcare practitioner trained in midlife health and the treatment of menopause symptoms
2. A symptom-specific treatment plan to suit your individual needs and lifestyle 
3. Ongoing access to our chat to connect with your practitioner 24/7 for support or to ask them any questions you might have about your treatment
4. Free shipping and automatic refills of your chosen treatment option

If required, you can book additional follow-up visits with your practitioner for $40/visit — though if things are going well with your treatment these may not be necessary. 

Medication costs for the program are separate and will vary depending on the medication prescribed and your private insurance coverage. Medications authorized for sale by Health Canada are likely to be covered by your insurance provider, and we can bill them directly.

Felix healthcare practitioners are here to provide you with high-quality on-demand care. Felix healthcare practitioners are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of menopause symptoms. They will be able to give thoughtful medical recommendations, effectively assess your risks based on medical history and provide in-depth answers to all your questions. 

After your initial consultation, they’ll be available to chat with you 24/7, which means you can reach out with questions, concerns, or updates whenever you need.

Though the menopause transition is universal, symptoms can vary widely from person to person. This means everyone’s individual experience is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. 

Felix healthcare practitioners are trained in the treatment of menopause symptoms and will work with you to create a care plan that targets each of your symptoms. They’ll also customize your treatment options based on your lifestyle, and adjust your plan as required if your needs or symptoms change.

Common treatment options for symptoms of menopause include:

• Hormone treatment: A widely used treatment for relieving menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes and vaginal dryness
• Topical treatments: Applied locally to relieve vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse, and some urinary symptoms
• Non-hormonal medications: typically used for women who cannot take hormones or are allergic to components of the medications. 
• Vitamins and supplements like vitamin D and melatonin: Often taken alongside common medications to help maintain overall good health.
• Diet and lifestyle changes: eating nutritious foods that include vitamin D and calcium, as well as regular exercise can help support overall health and immune system 

Estrogen is a broader term used to describe the group of hormones that includes estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Estradiol is a specific type of estrogen hormone that is often referred to as the most potent form of estrogen. Estrogen hormones play an important role in reproductive health, as well as other bodily functions like metabolism, regulating temperature, stabilizing mood, and maintaining bone density and cardiovascular health.

During the stages of menopause, your estrogen levels decline. Though this decline is completely natural, it creates hormonal fluctuations that can lead to uncomfortable symptoms. Increasing Estradiol can help balance these fluctuations and alleviate menopause symptoms associated with a lack of estrogen. 

Learn more about what happens to your hormones during menopause

Side effects can differ depending on the treatments you’re taking to alleviate your symptoms. 

Some of the most common side effects could include breast tenderness, nipple sensitivity, bloating, leg cramps, nausea/heartburn, and headaches. 

Other common side effects could range from mood changes, PMS-type symptoms, breast tenderness, bloating, or headaches.

If side effects are intolerable, please talk to your healthcare practitioner to discuss side effect management.