Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
Hormonal imbalance affects millions of women in the United States. Conditions, such as menopause, thyroid dysfunction,
and hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) are linked to out-of-balance hormones. The symptoms of hormonal imbalance
can be life-altering. From mood swings and insomnia to weight gain and hair loss, women suffering from symptoms of hormone
imbalance can find relief. Better yet, women can experience better health and a higher quality of life when hormone balance is safely
and effectively restored with bio-identical hormone therapy and a comprehensive treatment plan from a qualified practitioner specializing
in hormone health and hormone therapy.
Menopause and Hormonal Imbalance
Menopause is among the leading causes of hormonal imbalance among middle-aged women. On average, most women begin to experience menopausal changes around the age of 51, however symptoms can occur much sooner. Some women endure symptoms, like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, difficulty concentrating and short-term memory lapses, for as many as 14 years, limiting productivity at work, affecting relationships at home and seriously degrading health and quality of life.
Despite being a common issue, menopausal treatments are often limited. In fact, research has shown that the average doctor is ill equipped to help modern women manage menopausal symptoms. An antiquated system that fails to keep up with the times or an inept review of current research may be the reasons many general practitioners are uncertain of the most effective treatments for menopause. Either way, women over 50 who want to continue to grow their career or travel the world rather than sit home and fan off hot flashes can do just that—there are viable treatment options for the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause.
Since 2010, more than 10 major medical organizations have come forward to endorse menopausal hormone therapy, heralding it as the best treatment for menopause. Yet, many doctors still side step the therapy citing dangerous side effects and risk of disease. This fear began in 2002 when the widely-publicized Women’s Health Initiative (WHI)—the largest study1 ever conducted on the effects of hormone therapy—was halted because female subjects were falling ill. The study has since been reviewed and analyzed by experts nationwide, finding that the study’s design and methods were faulty and that the use of synthetic hormones—synthetic estrogen and progestin (synthetic progesterone) were largely to blame.
Since then, reviews of the WHI have opened the eyes of the medical community and led many to seek more effective treatments for menopause. Physicians specializing in hormone health realized that bio-identical hormones, which are a structural match to the hormones found in the human body, reduced or eliminated symptoms of menopause, while improving safety and effectiveness.
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Women
Hormones play a key role in regulating most major body processes, including metabolism, appetite, heart rate, sleep cycles, fertility,
sexual function, mood, stress and body temperature, as well as growth and development. When even one hormone is out of balance,
your entire wellbeing may be affected. If you have been experiencing symptoms like those listed below, your hormone levels may be out of balance.
- weight gain
- hot flashes
- night sweats
- mood swings
- depression
- low libido
- insomnia
- fatigue
- memory loss
- fibroids
- endometriosis
- premenstrual symptoms
- vaginal dryness
Hormonal imbalance can affect women of all ages and early symptoms are easily dismissed as stress from daily living, leaving
many women suffering longer than necessary. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), perimenopause
and menopause are all influenced by hormonal fluctuations. None of these conditions should cause extreme discomfort or anxiety, therefore
if your symptoms are distressing, this is a sign you need to speak to an expert physician about your hormone health.