What is bioidentical hormone therapy?
Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT) is a form of hormone replacement therapy that utilizes hormones identical to those your body naturally makes. Bioidentical hormones come from natural plant sources and are processed to mimic the effects of your natural hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
After middle age, your hormone production decreases significantly. This can cause fluctuations in hormones — leading to symptoms of menopause and low testosterone. Hormonal imbalances can also occur at other times in your life, depending on your nutrition, stress levels, and overall health. Using bioidentical hormones to regulate your hormone levels can reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
What causes hormonal imbalance?
Besides menopause and aging, hormonal imbalance can be caused by many factors, including:
- Poor diet
- Irregular sleep habits
- Some medications, like birth control pills
- Stressful lifestyle
- Autoimmune conditions
- Thyroid conditions
Hormones naturally fluctuate throughout your lifetime, from birth to puberty, your childbearing years, and middle age. When these fluctuations cause symptoms and disrupt your normal life, you’re experiencing a hormonal imbalance.
What are the symptoms of hormonal imbalance?
Hormone imbalance, especially imbalances associated with menopause and low testosterone, includes symptoms like:
- Weight gain
- Loss of lean muscle mass
- Low libido
- Fatigue
- Anxiety and depression
- Brain fog, including difficulty concentrating
- Insomnia
- Digestive issues, including food cravings
Normal hormone regulation allows your body to function optimally, but with hormonal imbalance, you get a roller coaster of symptoms that can make daily life difficult.
How can bioidentical hormone therapy help me?
Depending on your symptoms and overall health, your doctor determines if you’re a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy. Men and women have unique requirements for BHRT based on their naturally occurring levels of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
The Midwest Integrated Medical Center team tests your hormone levels using functional lab work to determine your current levels compared with your ideal levels. Using this information, he determines the correct type and dosage of BHRT to meet your needs.
BHRT is available in many forms — including pills, patches, injections, and subcutaneous implants — and your treatment regimen will depend on your lifestyle and goals.
Call or schedule an appointment online at Midwest Integrated Medical Center to learn more about how bioidentical hormone therapy can help you.
