Starting to experience increased irritability as you grow older? Or maybe you’re finding your sex drive isn’t what it once was? Is it getting more difficult to remember everyday things as well? All of these symptoms, as well as others, may be indicative of a hormonal imbalance in your body. A free consultation with the team at Optimal Health and Wellness in Pasadena, CA can help you find a potential solution to these problems with an innovative new treatment: bioidentical hormones used in replacement therapy.
What Are the Benefits of Bioidentical Hormones?
Before figuring out what the benefit of this treatment is, it’s important to first understand hormones and the role they play in our bodies. Hormones identify a family of chemicals found in the human body. Hormones are secreted into blood and other bodily fluids by tissues in our body. These chemicals are taken to cells throughout the body, which interpret the hormones as instructions.
For example, a hormone might instruct a cell to stop growing or to grow faster, or to communicate hunger to the brain. There are also hormones like estrogen and testosterone that define our body’s sexual characteristics and other processes. Bioidentical hormones are chemicals that replicate the molecular structure of hormones so that they can be used to naturally correct a hormone imbalance.
What Is a Hormone Imbalance?
A hormone imbalance occurs when your bloodstream has either too much or not enough of a particular hormone. Noticeable symptoms can result from only a small imbalance of chemicals. A variety of symptoms that include both direct and indirect issues can arise from these hormone imbalances.
Hormone Imbalance in Men
Noticeable changes in bodily functions are part of the natural aging process for men. Increased belly fat and thinning hair are signs that some men might suffer. These imbalances can occur at any point in your life, but often become more pronounced as you grow older. One thing to keep in mind is that not every sign of the natural aging process is necessarily caused by an imbalance of your hormones.
The clearest way to determine the source of the issue is to have a medical professional perform a test of your hormone levels. If an imbalance is detected, this therapy may be the right answer for you. Men who exhibit the following symptoms may be good candidates:
- Thinner hair
- Weight gain, especially around the belly
- Difficult sleeping
- Night sweats
- Decreased sex drive
- Sudden changes in mood
- Experience anxiety or depression
- Loss of muscle tone
- Quick to tire
- Trouble focusing
Hormone Imbalance in Women
Women have an increased chance of experiencing a hormone imbalance during or following menopause. Decreased levels of estrogen may result in mood changes, night sweats, hot flashes, and other symptoms. If these symptoms are having an impact on your relationships and quality of life, a professional consultation may be able to help. Women who experience the following symptoms may be good candidates for treatment:
- Weight gain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Increased fatigue
- Experiencing depression
- Diminished sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
Consequences of Hormonal Imbalances
Some results caused by imbalances in your hormones are unique to your gender, while others are the same among both women and men. These symptoms range from merely frustrating to potentially dangerous conditions such as osteoporosis or sleep apnea.
Difficulty Sleeping
Your sleeping patterns may be affected by a hormonal imbalance in your body. Progesterone is one hormone that assists in letting you fall asleep. Imbalances in this or other hormones can make it challenging to fall asleep or to stay asleep uninterrupted. Night sweats and hot flashes can also occur when hormone levels in your body decrease.
Acne
Women experiencing acne breakouts that correlate to their monthly menstruation cycles is fairly common. However, other adults with more persistent acne issues may be experiencing those symptoms as a result of a hormone imbalance. Imbalanced levels of androgen hormones in an individual can lead to increased oil production.
Both men and women have androgens despite the common misconception that they are a male hormone, and imbalances in females can be particularly frustrating. Acne can become an ongoing issue when androgen causes excessive oil production, clogging pores and creating blemishes. Other medical issues may also be connected to high androgen levels in women, so it is a good idea to consult with a professional.
Trouble with Memory
Hormonal imbalances make the sluggish memory associated with the aging process even more pronounced. Memory difficulties and a host of other symptoms can be caused by declining estrogen levels in your body. The lack of sleep caused by a hormonal imbalance may also impact your memory difficulties, making these symptoms feed into one another.
Stomach Issues
Your gastrointestinal lining includes receptors for hormones such as progesterone and estrogen. One thing that can impact this gastrointestinal lining is the female menstrual cycle, which leads to common menstrual symptoms such as constipation or bloating. Hormonal imbalances can make these difficult symptoms become even more noticeable and unpredictable. An imbalance may also cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
Increased Weight
Food cravings are another symptom of low estrogen levels in women. High fat and sugar foods provide a temporary relief for these cravings, but later may cause weight gain or feelings of depression. Low estrogen levels lead to a decrease in the hormone leptin, which combats feelings of hunger. This constant hunger and unhealthy cravings create a cycle of short-term satisfaction and long-term weight gain.
Headaches
Headaches are another symptom of decreased estrogen levels. Declining estrogen is one common cause of headaches, though there are many different possible triggers. The debilitating headaches associated with a hormonal imbalance can have a negative impact on our relationships and professional life.
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is another unfortunate sign of low estrogen levels. Sexual intercourse can become painful as the wall of your vagina becomes thinner. This can have an impact on your self-esteem as well as your relationships, if your partner doesn’t understand the cause behind this symptom and instead ascribes it to a lack of intimacy.
Lowered Sex Drive
Hormonal imbalances can lead to women avoiding sex due to the discomfort described above. However, chemical imbalances can also reduce the sex drive itself for both women and men. Relationships and marriages can suffer due to the impact of these symptoms. Testosterone is often associated with men, but the truth is that both women and men produce testosterone, and it can have a direct impact on the sex drive. This chemical impacts sexual satisfaction as well as your urge to have sex. However, only a medical professional should help you manage testosterone levels, as there can be unwanted side effects.
Osteoporosis
One important building block for healthy bones is estrogen. Bone weakness can become a major concern for women, particularly after menopause, who suffer from low estrogen levels. As many as half of women over the age of 50 suffer injuries due to osteoporosis, and up to 20% of men are faced with bone fractures. Balancing estrogen levels can help patients retain healthy bones. Discuss any concerns you have about weakening bones with your doctor.
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
The symptoms of a hormonal imbalance can be treated using bioidentical hormones and hormone replacement therapy. This treatment can help replace the hormones your body no longer produces, alleviating symptoms that range from bone loss to sexual dysfunction. Routinely re-evaluating hormone levels to guarantee efficiency and safety, as well as tailoring the treatment to a patient’s specific needs, makes this treatment maximally effective.
There are a variety of hormone replacement methods that can be implemented, which our team of professionals can go over with you to help you find the best fit for your needs. From topical creams to devices that release the chemicals needed for treatment, we’ll help you identify the solution that works the best for you as an individual.
Is This Treatment the Answer You’re Looking For?
Because all of our bodies are unique from one another, the signs and symptoms of a hormone imbalance can vary significantly from one person to the next. Using bioidentical hormones to replace what your body has lost can provide you with relief from the wide-ranging effects of hormone imbalances. Contact the expert team at Optimal Health and Wellness in Pasadena, CA today for more information about this treatment so that you can get your body back to its very best.
