This is different from cross-sex hormone replacement therapy, which seeks to introduce higher levels of opposite-sex hormones to prompt changes in secondary sex characteristics.
Bioidentical therapy only replaces hormones that have been lost. Hormone replacement therapy for women primarily uses estrogen. At our office, we use estrogen pellets to deliver the hormone into your system. Hormone therapy for women has many benefits, both for restoring bodily processes and for managing physical changes that happen during menopause.
The main benefits of hormone therapy for women include:. For women, many of the hormonal changes caused by perimenopause and menopause are obvious and disturbing. Changes in mood and frequent hot flashes are the most common symptoms that women notice.
However, with menopause comes an increased risk of osteoporosis, weight gain that is difficult to manage, and dry skin. Hormone therapy for women using estrogen pellets can greatly improve many of these symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy for men uses testosterone to correct hormonal imbalances. At our office, we use testosterone pellets as a means of delivering the hormone to your body.
Hormone therapy for men has many bodily process and physical benefits. Typically, hormone therapy for men is done to address the changes brought about by andropause. The main benefits of hormone therapy for men include:. For men, the hormonal changes caused by andropause are sometimes less obvious — and they are certainly less talked about.
The most common and obvious sign of hormonal imbalances caused by andropause is a significantly reduced libido, including the ability to sustain arousal. Andropause is also a heavy contributor to hair loss, negative mood swings, and difficulty sleeping. Hormone therapy for men using testosterone pellets can vastly improve these symptoms. By now you must be wondering what the process for hormone therapy is like. Regardless of your gender, the basic methods of hormone therapy are the same for men and women.
To give you a better idea of what hormone therapy would be like, we are providing a simple guideline for what hormone therapy appointments would be like at our office. Your first appointment is also your most important. During your initial consultation, you will speak with one of our expert professionals about hormone replacement therapy.
Our staff will be happy to answer any queries you have and give you the best information so you can make a fully informed decision.
At this initial appointment, you will discuss your symptoms — specifically, the symptoms you believe are caused by andropause or menopause. Our staff will ask you about when the symptoms began and the duration of symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances, or libido difficulties.
It is important to be honest about all of your symptoms so that our staff can correctly determine the correct dosage required to correct your hormonal imbalance. Each therapy appointment is generally the same. Before each session, we will ask about your symptoms to track for improvements. It is possible we will change dosage amounts based on how well you are responding to the treatment. Some people respond more quickly than others.
We will first cleanse the area at the site of insertion, either at your hip or buttock area depending on which is most comfortable for you.
Once the skin has been disinfected, we will apply a local anesthetic for your comfort. Some patients are needle shy and find that the local anesthetic makes the hormone therapy less stressful. We will only move on to the next step once we are sure that the site of insertion is properly numbed.
For pellet hormone replacement therapy, the pellets are about the size of a grain of rice. These pellets are naturally absorbed into your body and dissolve into the bloodstream over a period of a few months. Your insurance will typically pay for blood testing. When hormones are absorbed rather than swallowed, they go directly to the tissues and are not altered by the liver.
We use pellets as a convenient and measurable way to provide your hormone replacement. There are no studies to prove that bioidentical hormones are safer than standard hormone replacement pills; however, hundreds of thousands of women have been treated successfully and with fewer side effects. Certain women should not undergo hormone replacement therapy of any type until detailed studies on safety have been performed.
You are not considered for bioidentical therapy if you have a personal history of breast cancer or stroke, or if you have a blood clot. Bioidentical hormones are legal to prescribe and use in the US, although the FDA has not given its specific approval.
The lack of FDA approval is because there are no official placebo-controlled studies to prove whether bioidentical hormones are safer than standard hormone replacement therapy.
Insurance companies do not pay for bioidentical hormones because they are not FDA approved. Your insurance will cover issues related to under-active thyroid problems. In the beginning of your therapy, you will need frequent testing to check that each hormone component is in proper balance.
Depending on the cause of your hormonal imbalance, you may need follow-up treatments to maintain the ideal results. Hormones are produced by the endocrine system and help to keep your mind regulated.
Some hormones also play a role in regulating your body. There are several ways hormonal imbalances can occur. Occasionally, hormonal imbalance occurs because your endocrine system is producing too much of one hormone and not enough of other hormones.
Another way hormonal imbalance can occur is a deficiency in the production of one hormone. Regardless of why you are experiencing hormonal imbalance, changes in your mood, behavior, and overall outlook on life can occur. Often, people experiencing imbalanced hormone levels report changes in their hunger levels, sex drive, and ability to get restful, restorative sleep. Becoming hormonally imbalanced is common, particularly when you reach your mids.
Everyone goes through several hormonal changes as they age. As an adolescent, your body starts to produce more sex hormones. By the time you reach middle age, your body starts to produce sex hormones at a reduced rate. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, sometimes referred to as BHRT, is an incredibly advanced technique for restoring hormonal balance. In some cases, hormonal imbalances are temporary and BHRT needs to be used only briefly. Other times, longer-term treatment may be required. How long a series of treatments will last depends on the specific hormones that are diminished. Hormone therapies have been used by doctors for years to help their clients improve their quality of life.
This was accomplished through synthetic hormones derived most often from plants. These hormones were delivered via tablet, pill, or cream. Bioidentical hormones are different. They are identical in molecular shape to the hormones your body produces. Therefore, they are much safer and more effective than hormones that your body can tell are synthetic. Among the bioidentical hormones, people benefit from are melatonin, progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
There are several stages to BHRT. The process begins with a primary evaluation stage. Then, the hormones your body is deficient in will be introduced. Once these bioidentical hormones have been introduced into your body, there will be a monitoring stage. During the monitoring stage of the therapy process, we will ensure your therapy is as effective as it should be and modify the dosages you are receiving if necessary.
Regardless of your symptoms, a test will be the first stage of your treatment process. You should expect to answer questions regarding the behavioral issues you are experiencing and other changes you may be noticing.
After we have learned more about your unique experience, your hormone levels will be tested. Usually, a blood test is used.
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