Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can provide relief for both men and women experiencing symptoms related to age-related hormone decline or imbalance. Vitality Hormone Clinic offers customized BHRT programs to help patients regain optimal hormonal balance and improve quality of life.
As we age, hormone levels naturally start to decline. Major hormones affected include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA. Lower hormone levels can lead to unpleasant symptoms that disrupt sleep, mood, sexual function, energy levels, weight management, and more. Understanding some reasons why hormone declines occur can help in considering treatment options like BHRT.
For women, reduced estrogen and progesterone levels are often connected to changes in the ovaries and uterus. Events like perimenopause, menopause, or hysterectomy impact these organs' hormone production over time.
Experiencing chronic stress can prevent proper hormonal balance. Stress hormones like cortisol signal reduced output of key hormones like testosterone or progesterone when elevated long-term.
Certain medical conditions are associated with hormone disruption as well, like thyroid disorders, adrenal fatigue, or pituitary gland issues. Traumatic brain injury or tumors may also impact proper hormone release.
Diet, exercise, sleep patterns, and toxic exposures also influence hormone levels. Making positive lifestyle changes alongside BHRT can enhance a treatment program.
Recognizing potential signs of hormone imbalance is crucial for both men and women. Symptoms are often overlapping and may indicate declining estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, or DHEA.
Physical indicators of hormonal decline include:
Hormone issues can also manifest in mood changes like:
If experiencing a combination of these symptoms, BHRT may help alleviate discomfort and get to the root cause of imbalance. Our clinic offers advanced testing to assess current hormone levels and precisely identify areas of deficiency.
Accurately measuring hormone status is the first step toward developing an effective treatment program. Vitality Hormone Clinic utilizes advanced testing that goes beyond the standard screenings.
Blood tests check circulating hormones like estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA sulfate, and thyroid levels. However, blood only shows hormones at a single moment in time.
Saliva testing detects free, active hormones with multiple samples collected over days. This helps assess daily fluctuations. Saliva analysis measures circulating cortisol also.
Like saliva sampling, dried urine allows convenient at-home testing over several days. Hormone metabolites assess clearance of used hormones also. This analysis provides a wider view of hormone health.
Combining multiple test types paints a fuller picture of what’s happening in the body to cause symptoms like weight gain, mood issues, or fatigue. Vitality Hormone Clinic experts then make treatment recommendations based upon initial findings and ongoing monitoring.
After advanced testing, Vitality Hormone Clinic customizes a bioidentical hormone replacement therapy program to suit each patient’s unique needs. BHRT restores balance by supplementing the exact hormones that have declined.
Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to those made naturally in the body. This allows receptor binding and physiological action mimic natural hormones. Common bioidenticals include:
Made from plant sources, these are not synthetic or non-bioidentical hormones found in conventional replacement options that may produce unwanted side effects.
BHRT dosing regimens aim to optimize hormone levels, not maximize. With replacement, the goal is to relieve deficiency symptoms and regain optimal balance gently. This is not about achieving some arbitrary number.
Follow-up testing continues over months to ensure each hormone aligns properly as body chemistry adjusts. We monitor and modify the treatment plan until patients report feeling their best with lab work in optimal ranges.
There are variety of bioidentical hormone delivery methods to fit each patient's preferences and physiology:
Oral - Capsules - Sublingual drops
Topical - Creams - Gels - Patches
Vaginal - Creams - Suppositories - Rings
Injections - Subcutaneous - Intramuscular
Vitality Hormone Clinic experts discuss options that work best based on hormone types needed and health history. We provide support to teach proper administration also.
Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for menopausal symptoms. However, some women report preferring them because they more closely mimic the body's natural hormones. More research is still needed to fully understand the risks and benefits.
Millions experience hormonal imbalance, yet conversations around treatment often focus on peri/menopausal women. While declining estrogen and progesterone due to ovary changes prompts many women to seek help for disruptive deficiency symptoms, men also deal with problematic hormone-related issues.
By age 50, approximately 30% of men grapple with low testosterone or “low T”. Prevalence climbs higher above age 70. Declining testosterone corresponds with symptoms like:
Unfortunately, conventional medicine defines “normal” testosterone levels in a broad manner that misses borderline deficiencies producing these symptoms. Like with female hormone optimization, treatment success depends on restoring balance specific to each patient for improved physical, emotional, and sexual health.
Women generally begin perimenopause between ages 45-55 as the ovaries’ egg supply declines. This halts predictable menstrual cycles, signaling changes in fertility. Perimenopause lasts up to ten years for most women.
Key features include:
Ovarian hormone production fluctuates trying to regulate menstruation. Estrogen and progesterone may spike and crash randomly before stabilizing at lower levels. This hormonal rollercoaster commonly generates symptoms like:
BHRT helps stabilize hormones, easing this challenging transition toward menopause. Optimizing levels alleviates unpleasant symptoms for improved daily function and well-being.
In addition to bioidentical hormone therapy, Vitality Hormone Clinic offers specialized programs for a few specific conditions often related to hormone issues.
Stress has profound effects on the adrenal glands’ ability to regulate hormones like cortisol and DHEA that then influence downstream hormones. Adrenal fatigue occurs when chronic overload leaves the stress response depleted. Symptoms include:
Supporting adrenal recovery through diet, lifestyle adjustments, targeted supplementation, and balancing key hormones can help restore optimal energy levels. This facilitates dealing with life’s demands without crashing.
The relationship between the thyroid gland and overall endocrine system hormone regulation is complex and interdependent. Common thyroid disorders like hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's often coincide with estrogen/progesterone imbalance or testosterone deficiency as the body tries unsuccessfully to maintain homeostasis.
Proper thyroid treatment requires a full hormone panel evaluation, not just TSH and T4 screening. At Vitality Hormone Clinic, customized bioidentical thyroid hormone is just one part of restoring optimal function through our comprehensive hormone balancing programs when indicated.
Hormone optimization goes hand-in-hand with lifestyle measures for full vitality. Our wellness programs enhance nutrition, fitness, stress reduction, and environmental inputs to complement balance achieved via BHRT. Patients receive support to:
Evidence-based clean living components align with bioidentical therapy for energy, weight management, and sustaining peak wellness for years to come.
Hormone therapy involves complex physiology suited for practitioners with specialized expertise. Vitality Hormone Clinic focuses exclusively on hormone-related concerns using an integrated functional medicine approach.
We also offer convenient consult options. Virtual appointments make fitting assessments and follow-ups into busy schedules easier. Contact us today to see how our programs can help restore your vitality!
Now is the optimal time to address hormone health concerns. Reach out to Vitality Hormone Clinic today to learn more about precision testing and customized bioidentical hormone replacement tailored to your unique needs for balanced wellness!
