An imbalance of hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol can negatively impact health and quality of life. As we age, hormone levels naturally decline leading to undesirable effects. Working with an experienced hormone therapy provider can help detect and treat hormonal imbalances through bioidentical hormones and lifestyle changes.
Symptoms vary by gender but may include:
Seeing a practitioner for hormone testing can determine if hormone imbalance is causing these symptoms.
Bioidentical hormones are structurally identical to those made naturally in the body. For both men and women, replacing deficient hormones with bioidentical hormones can provide extensive benefits:
Balanced hormone levels enhance mental clarity and physical vitality. Patients report having more energy, better concentration, and greater productivity.
Hormone imbalance often manifests as anxiety, irritability, and depression. Correcting deficiencies can stabilize moods.
Hormones like melatonin, estrogen, and testosterone play a role in healthy sleep-wake cycles. Optimal hormone levels promote sounder, more restful sleep.
Testosterone plays a pivotal role in libido and sexual function in both sexes. Restoring testosterone to healthy ranges improves libido and sexual performance.
Proper hormone balance assists with building lean muscle mass and burning body fat, making weight management easier. Testosterone is key for increasing muscle mass.
Balanced hormones are crucial for physical and mental health as we age. Proper levels may help delay impacts of aging like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Patients wondering if hormone imbalance could be causing their symptoms should seek out testing and treatment from an experienced hormone therapy practitioner.
Comprehensive lab testing analyzes levels of key hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, cortisol, and thyroid hormones. Testing may also assess related factors impacting hormones like iron levels, inflammation markers, nutrient status, and insulin sensitivity.
An effective, customized treatment plan depends first on identifying specific hormone deficiencies and imbalances through testing. After testing, the practitioner analyzes results to determine the appropriate hormones and dosing to bring the patient back into balance.
Treatment options include:
Because each patient responds differently, follow-up testing is necessary to ensure hormone levels are optimizing without exceeding proper ranges. Most patients feel significantly better within a few weeks but full benefits often take 3-6 months. Expect to follow-up every 3 months at first.
Hormone therapy prescribed by an experienced practitioner can effectively restore hormones long-term. However, diet, exercise, stress management, and other lifestyle factors also significantly impact hormone health. Patients should be prepared to make permanent lifestyle improvements for lasting results.
While hormone therapy can provide life-changing benefits, diet and lifestyle behaviors remain crucial for balanced endocrine function. Patients should adopt the following practices:
Nutrition: Follow an anti-inflammatory diet high in healthy fats, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables. Reduce sugar and processed foods which disrupt hormone pathways. Ensure adequate intake of micronutrients that support hormone health like zinc, magnesium, selenium, and vitamins A, E, C and B-complex.
Exercise: Engage in regular exercise appropriate for your age and fitness level. Weight bearing activities plus strength training provide the greatest benefits for hormone balance and production.
Stress Management: Chronic emotional stress raises cortisol which disrupts endocrine function. Make time for relaxing activities like light yoga, meditation, massage, or nature immersion. Prioritize proper sleep and rest. Manage workload and commitments appropriately.
Healthy Weight: Excess fatty tissue produces estrogen and promotes inflammation, negatively impacting hormones. Reach and maintain a healthy weight through calorie conscious eating, active lifestyle, and hormone balancing treatments.
Avoid Unhealthy Habits: Minimize or eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, smoking and exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals which disturb hormone pathways.
Professional Care: Even with a healthy lifestyle, aging inevitably decreases endogenous hormone production. Seek professional care from a qualified hormone therapy practitioner if experiencing low energy, weight gain, low libido, anxiety, depression, hot flashes, or other hormone deficiency symptoms. Monitoring and properly administered bioidentical hormones can help patients regain optimal hormone balance.
Hormone imbalances negatively impact quality of life and long-term health. Diagnosing and treating deficiencies earlier leads to better patient outcomes. Restoring balance through hormone replacement therapy, an improved diet and lifestyle, stress reduction, and weight management helps both women and men feel healthier and more energized while strengthening resilience to aging and disease.
Work with a trusted local practitioner specializing in bioidentical hormone therapy and functional medicine to determine if hormone imbalance could be at the root of your symptoms. Testing and personalized treatment will help you address deficiencies, deficiencies and restore optimal is a draft FAQ on hormone therapy in Flora with about 500 words:
There are a few main types of hormone therapy we offer patients here in Flora. For women, we provide estrogen and progesterone replacement, which can help alleviate symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. We also offer testosterone replacement for men who have low testosterone (low-T). Bioidentical hormones are also an option and can be custom made to match your natural hormones.
Good candidates for hormone replacement are men and women experiencing symptoms related to hormonal imbalance or decline like low energy, sexual dysfunction, hot flashes, night sweats, and loss of muscle mass. It's best to come in for testing to determine your hormone levels first before starting treatment. We'll tailor a therapy plan focused on restoring optimum balance.
Patients report many benefits on hormone therapy including increased energy, improved sexual function and desire, better mood and cognitive function, reduced menopause symptoms like hot flashes/night sweats, increased muscle mass and bone strength, thicker skin and hair, and improved sleep quality. The benefits depend on your needs and can promote an overall enhanced quality of life.
There are minor risks mainly from improper dosing. We'll monitor your hormone levels every 3 months and make dosage adjustments accordingly to maximize benefits and minimize risks. Too much testosterone can negatively impact cholesterol or sleep. Too much estrogen could potentially impact dementia risk later on or chances of estrogen-dependent cancer. But data shows the benefits outweigh these smaller risks when hormones are properly balanced.
Most patients need an ongoing hormone regimen rather than short-term solutions. Your body's needs and optimal levels change over time, which is why continued monitoring and dosage adjustments lead to the best control of your symptoms. Our doctors view this as managing a chronic condition just like high blood pressure or diabetes which require ongoing care for best control rather than "permanently" fixing them. The goal is supporting your wellbeing lifelong.
