How to Know If BHRT Is Right for You
As we get older, many of us just blame it on age when we fatigue easily or put on weight that’s hard to get off. Some of us suffer from insomnia, irritable bowels, dry skin and hair loss. And then there’s the drop in our libido, as if as we get older, we’re just not that interested in sex anymore. We can get moody or even depressed, or experience memory loss and poor concentration.
Many times, hormonal imbalance is the root cause of these many symptoms. Such imbalance can occur due to natural changes, including menopause in women and a drop in testosterone in men. In addition, environmental and dietary toxins can accelerate hormone imbalance and difficult symptoms. But a diminished quality of life isn’t a foregone conclusion. If your hormones are imbalanced, bioidentical hormone therapy may be able to effectively treat it.
What Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is
Natural hormones, such as estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, are produced in various glands throughout the body. These hormones regulate an enormous range of body functions. When our glands under or over produce hormones, we begin to experience symptoms like those listed above.
Bioidentical hormones are hormones derived from plants. They are chemically identical to those the human body. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses these hormones to help address symptoms related to hormonal imbalance. BHRT most often seeks to increase or balance the hormones estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and adrenal hormones.
Treatment includes a comprehensive review of a patient’s current hormone levels, healthy history, and needs. According to this detailed information, a doctor will prescribe a customized treatment plan that may include creams, lotions, injections, gels, or tablets. The length of treatment also depends on your individual needs and how you are feeling – some people may require hormone therapy indefinitely while others many only need hormones until their symptoms have subsided.
Through state-of-the-art diagnostic hormone testing, using blood, urine and/or saliva testing, we can determine your hormone levels and your unique bioidentical hormone needs. Our process includes:
- A comprehensive review of symptoms, medical, family and personal history
- Testing – saliva, urine and/or blood laboratory analysis
- Natural hormone balancing
- Ongoing evaluations
- Quality compounded pharmacy
- Highest quality supplements
- Fitness programs
- Nutrition planning
- Stress reduction plans
Initially, you will need comprehensive lab panels to assess your body functions and your hormone levels. After that, a treatment plan can cost between $250 and $500 a month.
Bioidentical hormone therapy has a few potential side effects which are classically linked to dosage—as your hormone levels improve, your dosage may need to be adjusted. If you notice side effects, contact your physician. These side effects might include increased acne or irritability for men and women. Women may experience breast tenderness, spotting, cramping, and bloating. These side effects tend to wear off as hormone levels balance. It is vitally important to work with professionals such as doctors affiliated with BodyLogicMD, who are proficient in evaluating and treating symptoms and are passionate about creating a relationship that insures their patients receive the best care possible.
Who Needs BHRT
If you are experiencing the classic symptoms of aging, you may want to explore BHRT to help you feel healthier and more youthful (and often with an increased libido). These symptoms can include:
- Weight gain
- Limited energy
- Hair loss
- Low sex drive
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Sleeplessness
- Poor concentration
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
As noted above, menopause or andropause might be the root cause behind these symptoms. At the same time, environmental and dietary toxins can upset hormonal imbalance or make existing hormonal imbalance worse. If symptoms like these have begun to affect your quality of life, you could be a candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
You may want to consider BHRT if you’re experiencing conditions or diseases that result from an imbalance of hormones, such as:
- Adrenal fatigue
- Thyroid disease
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Sexual dysunction
The good news, for both men and women, is that hormonal balance can be achieved, as long as you are evaluated by a highly trained physician — including comprehensive lab testing and in-depth initial questionnaires — prior to creating a personalized treatment plan.
Is BHRT Different from Other Hormone Replacement Therapies?
According to a report produced for the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, patients report greater satisfaction with bioidentical hormone therapy than with a therapy that uses a synthetic hormone.
“Bioidentical hormones have some distinctly different, potentially opposite, physiological effects compared with their synthetic counterparts, which have different chemical structures,” states the report. Physiological and clinical data have indicated that a bioidentical hormone is associated with a diminished risk for breast cancer, compared with the increased risk associated with synthetic hormone, notes the report.
“Physiological data and clinical outcomes demonstrate that bioidentical hormones are associated with lower risks, including the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, and are more efficacious than their synthetic and animal-derived counterparts,” states the report.
Furthermore, the FDA has approved certain bioidentical hormones, and your physician might rely on these, or develop a therapy specific to your needs, consulting with a compounding pharmacy to develop the right dose unique to you. For this reason, it’s crucial that you work with a BodyLogicMD who is trained in developing the right formulation for you and to continually assess your response to therapy.
Explore Your BHRT Options with BodyLogicMD
There is a reason the physicians in the BodyLogicMD franchise are the most sought-after in the industry. Our network of experienced physicians is routinely supported with the latest technology, cutting-edge research and superior education available. Every bioidentical hormone doctor that joins the BodyLogicMD network is required to complete over 200 hours of advanced training with the American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine to join and maintain their status within the network.
When you become a patient, you receive the dedicated attention of an expert practitioner. Your questions about your condition, treatment plan, or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are reviewed and thoroughly addressed during one-on-one consultations with your practitioner. Your practitioner will partner with you throughout every step of your journey to help you achieve optimal health and reach your wellness goals.
Start feeling better today — contact a practitioner of the BodyLogicMD network nearest you and begin your journey toward total wellness.