Bioidentical Hormone Replacement (BHRT)
You don’t have to age miserably! There is a Fountain of Youth!
Our bodies produce almost 200 hormones daily that float around keeping it functioning properly. It’s miraculous that the human body works as beautifully as it does! Keeping your hormones in balance is vital for day-to-day health and metabolism. Unfortunately, as we age, we stop producing the hormones that we did in our twenties and in the amounts necessary to retain our youthfulness.
Bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT) means replacement of your body’s natural hormones with hormones that are biologically and molecularly identical to those your body used to produce. In other words, bioidentical hormones have the same exact chemical structure and look the same under the microscope as those produced naturally by your body. This is different than synthetic hormones such as Prempro, Vivelle, and Premarin, which are not specifically designed for you and are often too strong and produce unbearable side effects. BHRT is used to treat premenopause (PMS), perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. The three main hormones used in BHRT are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. Replacement of your hormones needs to be balanced properly for “you”. Hormones are not “one size fits all” – your needs and responses are as unique to you as your fingerprints. What works best for you may not work for your best friend.
If we have the correct blend of these hormones, in the right amounts, at the right time, we feel fine. And if not, then we start to have problems. We start with the lowest dose that alleviates your symptoms. BHRT will benefit you not only by relief of menopause related symptoms, but also will maintain heart health, bone health, tissue growth and repair, muscle mass, fat loss, and mental sharpness. They also improve the mood and emotional stability, sleep, libido, energy levels, and help prevent memory loss.
And how about the man in your life?! Yes, there is a male menopause which is called Andropause. You may recognize it better as the “Grumpy Old Man Syndrome.” Men begin to feel that they are in a bad mood all the time and don’t know why. They may begin to experience intolerance and discontent with their job. It may just be low testosterone. When testosterone is replaced, men experience benefits with increased muscle mass, decreased body fat, improved mood and sense of well being, increased energy, and improved sexual performance.
If you want to age gracefully, you will need these hormones forever! Studies have shown that women who use hormone replacement therapy live longer than those who do not. When you stop taking HRT, you lose the benefits that hormones provide, so this is a lifelong investment in you and your quality of life. BHRT with a healthy diet and regular exercise is your best prescription for a “Fountain of Youth”.
How do you get started?
Call to schedule your initial evaluation, which is a complete Healthy Aging evaluation. You can click on the link forms in the main menu and print the questionnaire to complete prior to your visit. Your initial appointment will last about 45 minutes. After evaluation of your symptoms and medical history, we will customize and compound a hormone regimen specifically for you.
Estrogen Replacement and Your Skin
Estrogen replacement protects against age-associated dermatologic conditions, prevents skin atrophy, wrinkles, dryness, skin laxity and decreased collagen.
| Estrogen: | Increases collagen in skin
Improves skin elasticity Improves skin thickness Improves firmness of skin Improves skin moisture Decreases wrinkle depth and size of pores Decreases loss of collagen and thinning of skin Improves healing of skin after injury |
We can help keep your skin healthy and radiant!
What a happy and joyous time it is! The anticipation of a new baby has come and gone and now you are holding your new, cuddly baby. So why isn’t the new mother experiencing pure happiness???
It is estimated that 75% of women experience the “baby blues” or postpartum blues. They may feel sad, depressed, anxious, angry, upset, and hopeless. They may question their ability to care for the baby and may have trouble completing routine daily tasks. Often these “baby blues” are gone after 1 – 2 weeks but in 10% of cases, these symptoms may worsen and persist. Many factors contribute to these symptoms including body changes, emotional issues, and lifestyle factors. The levels of hormones in the body decrease sharply in the hours after childbirth and may be the most physiological explanation for postpartum blues and depression. Quick replacement of these hormones often lessens or even resolves these symptoms.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, call today to see if we can help.
Premenstrual Syndrome
PMS refers to the physical and emotional changes a woman goes through every month because of her hormonal cycle. PMS is cyclical which means you notice these symptoms at the same time every month.
| Typical symptoms are:
Breast tenderness Headaches Anxiety and irritability Anger outbursts Feeling desperate Crying for no apparent reason Pelvic pain and discomfort |
Swelling of hands and feet Cravings for sweets Not feeling "like yourself" Depression Feeling out of control Unable to function |
PMS is caused by the drop in progesterone in your monthly cycle. Proper replacement of the progesterone helps relieve these symptoms that many women experience half of the days of the year!
We can help you alleviate these symptoms!
