Are your hormones balanced?
Most of us give little thought about hormones when thinking about our health. Nonetheless, hormones are always there, working behind the scenes to regulate the way our body functions.
When hormone levels drop or fluctuate, however, they can cause an extensive array of unpleasant symptoms that affect your health, cognitive abilities and emotional state.
Whether you’re a woman going through menopause or a man experiencing andropause, you don’t have to live with the symptoms associated with hormone imbalance, thanks to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
Below is a list of 25 reasons you might want to consider hormone therapy:
1. Effective for Both Genders
Men and women both experience fluctuations and decreased hormone levels with age. Women experience a significant drop in hormone levels during menopause and the male equivalent is andropause. BHRT is appropriate for both genders and any age.
2. Long Lasting
The therapy utilizes a pellet the size of a grain of rice that’s implanted in fatty tissue, usually near the hip. It’s inserted during an in-office procedure using local anesthesia for complete comfort. It lasts for 3-6 months before it needs to be replaced and delivers a consistent level of customized hormones 24/7.
3. Stress Incontinence
Also referred to as urinary incontinence, the involuntary leaking of urine is an embarrassing effect which can be associated with hormonal changes and occurs when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or when lifting. It can even occur during love-making as hormone loss can weaken and affect muscle tone.
4. Reduces Depression, Anxiety and Mood Swings
Many women experience random mood swings, a sense of anxiety and depression during perimenopause and symptoms can intensify following menopause as hormone levels decrease further.
5. Improved Cognitive Function
One of the most distressing symptoms you may notice is a loss of memory, a lessened ability to focus or concentrate, and mind fog. A hormone imbalance can also hinder your ability to learn new things.
6. Libido and Intimacy
Hormones are essential for a fulfilling intimate relationship and reduced levels can result in loss of libido, vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.
7. Hot Flashes and Sweating
Hot flashes can occur alone or with uncontrollable sweating even while you’re at rest. Both symptoms can occur at any time and no amount of antiperspirant will help.
8. Sleep Disturbances and Night Sweats
Sleep disturbances are common and can exacerbate other symptoms. Uncontrollable sweating can also occur at night.
9. Restored Energy and Vitality
Loss of energy, feeling perpetually tired and fatigued, lethargy, and a general loss of vitality robs you of your ability to stay active.
10. Loss of Muscle Mass and Strength
Hormones are essential for maintaining, building and preventing the loss of existing muscle mass to maintain strength throughout the body.
11. Unexplained Weight Gain
Your hormones regulate how you gain and lose weight. Changes or fluctuations in hormones can cause weight gain that’s not associated with dietary elements and the weight typically accumulates around the middle.
12. Bone Loss
Women are at particular risk of developing osteoporosis and hormones are essential for providing protection against bone loss.
13. Disease Protection
Hormone loss and insufficiency opens the door to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and dementia.
14. Back Problems
Hormones are necessary for collagen production that aids in maintaining healthy connective tissue. Insufficient hormone levels can increase the risk of vertebrae disc fractures, along with the appearance of a hump or bend in the back.
15. Hair Loss
When your body has insufficient hormones, it directs existing levels to critical areas of the body to maintain health. That redirection can result in hair loss and thinning.
16. Headaches
Fluctuating and low-level hormones can trigger headaches and some women experience their first debilitating migraine headache as a result of hormonal changes.
17. Inflammation
If collagen production is interrupted due to hormone-related problems, it can result in increased levels of joint inflammation.
18. Numbness and Tingling
Tingling, numbness and a prickling sensation in the extremities can occur with a hormone imbalance. The sensation is typically short in duration, but can come back again and again for an extended period of time.
19. Acne and Complexion
Loss of hormones leads to decreased collagen production, resulting in increased acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and a complexion that can appear dry and dull, along with patches of itchy skin.
20. Lumpy Breasts
Tissues of the breast change in response to hormonal changes and if you have fibrocystic breasts, the effects of hormone fluctuations may be more pronounced.
21. Infertility and Irregular Periods
A hormone imbalance can occur for any number of reasons, even if you’re not of menopausal age, resulting in irregular periods, changes in menstrual flow, and issues with fertility.
22. Post-Natal Depression
Hormone levels change drastically after the birth of a child and BHRT can be beneficial in alleviating symptoms.
23. Immune Function and Digestive Upsets
The gut is where your ability to fight disease and infection is centered. Hormone imbalances disrupt that process and can speed up or slow down the digestive process, cause diarrhea or constipation, bloating and nausea.
24. Decreased Libido in Men
Improper hormone levels can result in erectile dysfunction and other issues related to sexual wellness in men.
25. Unusual Symptoms
There are some rare and unusual symptoms associated with hormone imbalances that are little known, but do occur on occasion.
- Burning tongue in which the individual experiences a sensation similar to that of burning the tongue or other parts of the mouth with a hot drink
- Another rare symptom is the sensation like that of an electric shock. It typically occurs in the head, but can also be felt in other locations in tissues beneath the skin.
Consult with a Physician
If you’re experiencing symptoms that you believe may be related to a hormone imbalance, it’s critical that you consult with your physician to discuss your concerns. There are easy diagnostic tests that can be performed to determine if an imbalance exists and to what extent.
Dr. Cook can provide you with information about Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, explain how it works, and the results you can expect.
Men suffering with a hormone imbalance are typically most concerned with their loss of muscle mass or decrease libido.
Women, on the other hand, feel like they’re losing their mind due to memory and cognitive difficulties associated with a hormone imbalance and sometimes wonder if they’re experiencing early onset dementia.
The good news is that help is available with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. BHRT is an easy, effective and convenient way to correct a hormone imbalance that puts you back in control of your life.
