As we age, it’s fairly natural that our bodies will go through hormonal changes. And while the odd hormonal deficiency is to be expected, hormone deficiencies can cause major changes in our bodies, leaving us in discomfort and seeking aid for symptom relief. Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has several amazing benefits that can help reduce many of these undesirable symptoms.
Let’s answer a few questions and find out exactly what hormone replacement therapy is and how to tell if you need it!
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
During menopause, women’s estrogen levels drop, and specific individuals experience uncomfortable symptoms like vaginal dryness and hot flashes. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the hero in the equation because it balances your hormones, with the result being that symptoms are relieved! Hormone Replacement Therapy has also proven to be the most effective treatment of menopausal symptoms.
What Are the Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
While each person is unique in how soon they might experience the benefits, these are the benefits that bioidentical hormone therapy can achieve when addressing hormone imbalances:
- Relieving hot flashes
- Improving sleep
- Easing vaginal inflammation and itchiness
- Reduce pain in sexual activity
- Preventing fractures by osteoporosis, which is thinning of the bones
- Reduces risk of heart disease in some women
- Reduces risk of dementia
What Does a Hormone Imbalance Do?
Hormones are chemicals that send signals to certain organs in the body to perform bodily functions. A hormonal imbalance is when you have too much or too little of one or more hormones. When this occurs in the body, it presents itself in many different hormone-related conditions.
Apart from the very natural rising and falling of hormones in one’s life cycle, certain periods of life cause more dramatic fluctuations in hormones, including:
- Puberty
- Pregnancy
- Menopause
Then there are the unexpected occasions in one’s life where a hormone deficiency occurs, and the common causes include:
- Stress
- Certain medications
- Steroid use
However, the above hormonal imbalances can be managed or controlled through lifestyle or medication changes.
What Are the Signs Women Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?
- Restless sleep
- A decrease in muscle strength
- Low libido
- Low energy and fatigue
- Increase in weight, especially around the midsection
- Hair loss or thinning
Hormone Imbalance in Men
Did you know that hormone imbalances affect more than just women? It’s true; many men experience some drastic changes in their hormones as they age. Men in their 40s and 50s are typically affected by a biological process called andropause, where a man’s testosterone levels slowly decrease.
What Are the Signs Men Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?
- Exhaustion and low levels of energy
- Difficulty achieving or sustaining an erection
- Brain fog
- Little to no libido
- Weight gain
- Hair thinning
- Moodiness
- Dry and flaky skin
Am I a Candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Experiencing Extreme Menopause
If you’re experiencing extreme pre-menopause, menopause, or severe post-menopause, it’s recommended that you consult and consider HRT. Nobody wants to go through that amount of discomfort in their everyday lives if it can be helped.
Noticeable Changes in Your Hair
There are many reasons that you might be experiencing hair fall or hair thinning, but a major hormone imbalance could also be a role player. The culprit hormone here is DHT (dihydro testosterone). When there is a loss of it in the body, hair follicles are often jeopardized.
Severe Changes in Mood
Are you suddenly aware of irrational behavior or thoughts that you’re experiencing? Hormones are the typical cause of this symptom. The odd mood swings here, and there shouldn’t raise any alarm bells, but if they’re creating destruction in your daily life, chances are that you might have a hormone imbalance.
Lack of Sex Drive
Hormones are directly tied to libido and sex drive; they are even responsible for how you perform sexually and how much pleasure is derived from the experience. If you’re finding it difficult all of a sudden to reach intimacy with your partner or have a lack of desire entirely, your sex hormones might be out of balance.
Struggling to Sleep
Sleep is a health necessity, next to the fact that we all love good sleep! If you’re restless and not getting enough hours in with no rational explanation, it’s very likely that your hormones are keeping you awake. Other side effects of hormonal sleep interruption include:
- Insomnia
- Night sweats
- Brain fog
- Anxiety
Balance Your Hormones with Port Orchard Natural Medicine & Aesthetics
If you have any concerns regarding your hormones, Hormone Replacement Therapy could be for you.
At Port Orchard Natural Medicine & Aesthetics, we want to bring your hormones and your life back into balance. With several treatment options for both men and women. We’ll be able to assess you and recommend the ideal treatment program to balance your hormones as safely and quickly as possible! Contact us for more information!
