Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is one of many options to consider if you think a hormone imbalance might be at the root of your symptoms. The first step is knowing what signs to look for to identify a hormone imbalance. These can range from physical to mental symptoms and are typically experienced over a sustained amount of time.
Fatigue
Weight gain
Sleep disturbances
Night sweats
Hair loss
Loss of muscle and bone density
Lack of motivation
Sexual dysfunction
Slow metabolism
Anxiety
Depression
Mood swings or irritability
Decreased sex drive
Difficulty focusing or concentrating
In addition to the signs and symptoms noted above, blood tests are often used to check hormone levels to determine if a deficiency or imbalance needs correcting. At BMSV, we perform extensive lab work, discuss your symptoms thoroughly, and consider your age and general health markers before prescribing any form of intervention.
There are several approaches to supporting optimal hormone balance. These include supplementation, regenerative therapies, and lifestyle changes that can help the body fall back into balance naturally. A more involved, but extremely effective, treatment is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which uses hormones that are identical in chemical structure to those produced naturally by the body, dosed in combinations designed specifically for a patient’s individual needs, and administered via pill, topical gel or cream, or pellet. This type of hormone replacement therapy involves rigorous testing to determine the appropriate hormone levels needed for each patient and monitoring over time to adjust levels if needed. Hormone balancing treatments can be life-changing for many patients. In time, patients can experience increased energy and vigor, higher libido, lowered body fat, improved mood, and a lessening of symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and mood swings.