Women's Health Optimization
Premenopause, Pregnancy, Perimenopause & Postmenopause Support
A detailed approach to treat women properly, through every life stage.
At Stark, we understand that women are NOT just small men – they are physiologically different, so we treat them differently. As simple as this concept may seem, it is contrary to how the current medical system operates today.
A woman’s needs and health challenges change throughout life as she experiences menstruation, pregnancy, peri menopause, and post menopause. We are here to not just help women get through these phases, but experiencing Her Optimized health in every stage of life.
STAGES OF LIFE
PREMENOPAUSAL
- Training: based around menstrual phases
- Nutrition: support peak performance and healthy body composition
- Lifestyle: hormone imbalances & menstrual regulation; physiological repercussions of birth control
- Stress: build foundational stress management practices that work for you
STAGES OF LIFE
PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM
- Training: focused on supporting a healthy pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum recovery
- Nutrition: changes in nutrient needs to support both mom & baby
- Lifestyle: avoiding toxins that are detrimental to fetal development
- Stress: stress management for conception, breath work for baby’s well-being
STAGES OF LIFE
PERIOMENOPAUSAL
- Training: train fast twitch muscle fibers & neuro learning
- Nutrition: support for metabolism shifting and increased protein to prevent insulin sensitivity issues
- Lifestyle: checking for onset of perimenopausal symptoms, fatigue management
- Stress: breath work and HRT options to address physiological symptoms and stress of perimenopause
STAGES OF LIFE
POSTMENOPAUSAL
- Training: account for connective tissue laxity and neuro learning repercussions of menopause
- Nutrition: based around changes in metabolism and energy needs, and adjust recommendations for increased cravings and decreased insulin sensitivity
- Lifestyle: address sleep issues that are tied to low hormones, possible bio identical hormone prescription
- Stress: breath work focused on decreased lung capacity due to menopause
THE STARK DIFFERENCE
WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICES
Pregnancy & Postpartum
This specific care is for women who are actively trying to become pregnant, are currently pregnant, or have recently given birth. Pregnancy & Postpartum care address specific macro and micronutrient needs for mom & baby, throughout the course of pregnancy, birth, while breast feeding, and during postpartum recovery. Other important considerations made for women in this stage also include properly managing heart rate during exercise, emphasis on core stabilization, and an increase in pelvic floor work.
Premenopausal
Premenopausal female optimization is focused on women who are regularly menstruating and are not currently pregnant or actively trying to become pregnant. This includes care specifically geared towards balancing your natural sex hormones, training phases based around your luteal and follicular menstrual phases, providing guidance on birth control options that do not disrupt your hormones, and general fertility support.
Perimenopausal
Specially crafted for women beginning to have irregular periods, this phase accounts for the variety of changes women experience as they enter perimenopause. What worked for women when they were premenopausal will NOT work for them now, so care includes everything from providing educational resources, to checking for the onset of perimenopausal symptoms, fatigue management, focus on connective tissue needs, manage neuro learning repercussions, and much more. During this phase we also adjust nutrition to account for these metabolic shifts and reinforce the foundation of protein to prevent insulin sensitivity issues.
Postmenopausal
For women who have not had a period in over a year, postmenopausal care is geared towards managing any lingering menopausal symptoms and provide resources as they adjust to a new normal. Treatment such as bio identical hormone prescription may be recommended, breath work practice for decreased lung capacity due to menopause should be added, nutrient plans will now account for metabolic changes and decreased insulin sensitivity, and prescribed training programs will address new physiological needs with less volume and higher intensity.
Stark has created a seismic shift in every area of my life. They helped me to redefine my nutritional goals and to take on strength training to gain muscle and maintain my bone density as I age. I have been able to lift weights that I never imagined I could. I used to wake up often every night, but Stark gave me the tools I needed to improve my sleep significantly. I have been able to navigate menopause with the help of the naturopathic team at Stark, including hormone replacement therapy, which has dramatically improved my energy level. I was even able to eliminate all of the prescription medications I was taking. I can't say enough great things about these incredible professionals and the improvements they have helped me make in my life. I feel stronger and better overall than when I was ten years younger!
Stark has transformed my fitness. It’s a personalized approach. Taking biomarkers, a Dexa scan - Really seeing where I need to focus on, personally, has been a huge game changer for me. And I can’t say enough about strength training and their coaches. After 20 years of Pilates - which were great in many ways - my body was slender and “toned” but now I’m strong, and SMALLER but stronger - lower body fat and higher muscle. Muscle is compact in the body and makes you look incredible! Tight, lean, flat - I can see my abs for the first time! And my arms have shape - not bulk, but beautiful shape. And I can lift everyday things and not hurt myself. Packages, a child, my suitcase. I used to hurt my back every holiday season trying to move around furniture in my house now I know HOW to lift and move heavy objects. The form is key. Starks team is top notch, fully personalized- and covers all the bases from personalized strength programs based on your goals (for example I climbed Kilimanjaro so we had a program to get me in top shape for that activity, strengthen my quads, glutes and back and core) personalized nutrition and coaching to keep us on track and really finally dial this in, functional medicine analysis and optimization, working with top doctors, the top notch trainers, and having a team just cheering you on the whole way. You get so much value beyond “a workout”.
WOMEN'S HEALTH FAQ
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Is this covered by insurance?
No, unfortunately we do not accept insurance.
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I am pre-menopausal but don’t want kids, is there a service for me?
Absolutely! These phases are all relative to the patient and their goals, so there is no set timeline or order you must follow. Whether you are 15 or 35, services for pre-menopausal women are focused on health optimization for menstruating woman. Whether you want to get pregnant, or stay in this phase until peri menopause begins, we are here to help! -
I have had trouble conceiving and am exploring options such as IVF. Do you provide specific fertility services?
No. While we can support the overall health of a woman which many times can help with conception, we are not fertility specialists. We are happy to help in conjunction to any fertility treatments, but we would refer you to a specialized fertility clinic for these types of services.
However, there is much we can do to optimize your ability to conceive naturally as well as after conception, ensure you have the right nutrients to help with the health of your baby.
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I am on birth control and concerned about my health. Do you have better, healthier solutions?
Absolutely. We can provide guidance on how to use technology to track your cycle along with alternatives to the pill for better health. Side effects of the oral birth control include:
- Decreased libido and impaired ability to build muscle and lose body fat from low free testosterone
- Increased inflammation (hsCRP)
- Increased risk of cancer
- Increased risk of blood clots in those who are genetically predisposed
- Increased anxiety and depression
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Increased risk of gallbladder disease
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I’m turning 50 and feel like I’m going crazy. Why is this happening to me?
Your sex hormones have a powerful impact on your brain and over all cognition. When all hormones decline, your brain will not work as it did before, hence making you feel “crazy”. -
I’m turning 48, why can’t I sleep anymore?
This is most likely due to low progesterone and/or estrogen, and if that is the case, hormone optimization or HRT may be a solution. Alcohol can also negatively impact your sleep. -
I’m almost postmenopausal. I used to be so fit. Why doesn’t anything work any longer?
What worked for you pre menopause will most likely NOT continue to work after menopause. Estrogen and testosterone are important for insulin sensitivity. If you are postmenopausal and are not being treated with HRT, you no longer have those hormones in place for optimal blood sugar control, and an impaired ability to build muscle mass. -
I’m 55 and have nagging joint pain that won’t go away. What can I do?
Estrogen receptors are found in almost all tissues of the body, including your joints. If you have nagging joint pain, consider estrogen replacement therapy. You may also need omega 3 and collagen support. -
I am in my mid 40’s and my cholesterol keeps rising, but I don’t know why this is happening. Both my family practice doctor and Ob/Gyn want to put me on a statin. Is there another way?
Sex hormones are made from cholesterol, so as hormones decline with age, the body may respond by increasing circulating cholesterol in an attempt to make more hormones. Alcohol can also cause cholesterol to rise.
Increasing soluble fiber will help, but there are also other medications that can reduce cholesterol such as ezetimibe and PCSK9-inhibitors. -
I’m in my early 40’s and am absolutely exhausted. No one seems to know why, can you help?
Yes, we can help! This fatigue could be due to a variety of factors, from micronutrient deficiencies (B12, CoQ10, iron), to poor sleep, poor thyroid function, and or even lower production of sex hormones (yes, this can start in the late 30s)! After identifying the cause with testing and lab work, we will work with you to address the root issue of your fatigue. -
I have never had so much brain fog. I’m now taking Adderall and drink too much coffee. Is there a natural solution?
There are a few possible solutions such as micronutrient optimization (B12, Coq10), as well as optimizing sleep. If these remedies do not work, we recommend checking your hormones. -
I’m really struggling with my libido. I’m 47 and don’t know what to do. Please help!
For females, high levels of stress will negatively impact libido. Engaging in stress management techniques may mitigate low libido, as well as communicating with your partner about your needs, as women in their 40’s may need more foreplay.
We also recommend checking your estradiol, free testosterone, and total testosterone, as these are all important to libido. If this is the case, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be warranted.
Hormonal Imbalances
Diabetes and Blood Sugar
Gastrointestinal Problems
Thyroid Issues
Cardiovascular Problems
Fatigue
Dermatology
Weight Management
Respiratory/Immune Conditions
Musculoskeletal Pain
INTERESTED IN WOMEN'S HEALTH OPTIMIZATION?
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