15min – Cutting-edge hormone therapy makes its way to Lithuania – AUM Clinic opens Women’s Health HUB

“Women’s health after reproductive age is often left behind, and the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause become a major challenge that many women face alone. Our goal is to ensure that every woman has access not only to comprehensive information but also to science-based care. “Ageing is a natural process, but suffering should not be part of it,” says Violeta Jurgaitienė, the clinic’s founder. The Women’s Health HUB has assembled a team of experts specialising in women’s hormones. They include functional medicine expert Algė Ivaškevičė, obstetrician-gynaecologists Justina Gailiūšienė and Regina Giliasevičienė, and gynaecologist-reproductologist Valerija Aglonietė, all of whom have extensive experience in the field of hormone therapy. Family doctor Daiva Puškoriūtė, clinical psychologist Kotryna Mikalauskaitė, endocrinologist Kristina Švaikevičienė and dietician Rasa Jonušienė will also provide full care. This team has been deeply involved in the latest research and treatment standards in order to offer the most advanced and personalised solutions for each woman. The Women’s Health HUB will take care of women at every stage of their lives, from young to mature. “It is important for women to have their hormone levels checked at least once a year, as this helps to ensure long-term health and prevent potential problems. Recent research shows that changes in hormone levels during perimenopause and menopause can have long-term negative effects on health – estrogen deficiency is linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, hormone imbalances affect metabolism, skin and mucous membranes, and the immune system,” says Violeta Jurgaitienė, founder of the AUM Clinic. However, the focus is on women going through perimenopause and menopause, stages that often require complex decisions and a personalised approach.

“Women spend 30-40% of their lives with peri- and post-menopausal symptoms, and each woman experiences them differently. But the changes cannot be ignored: hot flushes at the wrong time and place, insomnia and fatigue when you wake up in the morning and know it’s not your day. The heightened emotional turmoil makes it seem like you’re going to faint when you shouldn’t. Weight gain when you haven’t changed your diet, or maybe even eat less. You may experience brain fog and memory lapses, not to mention muscle and joint pain (morning stiffness or frozen shoulders), dry skin and vaginal dryness, painful sex, increased urinary tract infections, and more. Scientists around the world are working to prove that properly selected hormone therapy not only reduces these risks, but also significantly improves quality of life,” said Ms Jurgaitienė. According to the founder of the clinic, these consequences can be avoided. “Properly tailored hormone therapy and health care can ensure women’s well-being and long-term quality of life, but so far, both in Lithuania and around the world, specialists lack knowledge about the latest methods to help women during menopause,” Jurgaitienė stresses. Statistics show that hormonal changes and their impact on women’s health are often ignored. There is no accurate data on the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in Lithuania, but according to information provided by Associate Professor J. Ališauskas in 2019, it is estimated that only about 4% of women choose this therapy. Global statistics vary widely, with PHT use as high as 26-30% in Israel and the UK, Germany and France leading the way in Europe. Meanwhile, in the USA, the use of PHT fell to 7% in 2002, due to misinterpretation of research results. Overall, the global market for hormone therapy is projected to grow rapidly at 6% annually until 2031, with an increasing number of modern solutions for restoring hormone balance emerging on the market.

One of the newest practices in hormone science is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT). Unlike older hormone therapies, which used synthetic or animal-derived hormones, BHT uses substances identical to hormones naturally produced in the human body. This means better compatibility, lower risk of side effects and the ability to tailor the treatment to each individual. The AUM Clinic implements innovative Women’s Health HUB solutions, such as BHT – hormone therapy protocols have been developed on the basis of the most advanced practices of European clinics and the latest research. “These protocols have been developed in close collaboration with Dr. Vicente Mera, one of the world’s leading experts in bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) at the prestigious SHA Wellness Clinic. In addition, we work with partners in Spain, Latvia and the United Kingdom to ensure that the necessary products are available even in cases where they cannot be found in Lithuania,” said the founder.

“AUM Wellness Clinic aims to raise the standards of women’s healthcare by offering comprehensive solutions that include the latest hormone therapy techniques, nutritional planning, physical activity recommendations and innovative diagnostics. Read more: https://www.aumclinic.lt/en/news/introducing-the-aum-womens-health-hub/.

“AUM Wellness Clinic is the first longevity and wellness clinic in the Baltic States, established in 2022 in Vilnius. The clinic combines traditional, science-based, personalised functional and non-traditional medicine methods, offering the highest quality diagnostics and treatment tailored to the needs of each client.