Feel Like Yourself Again With HRT

It’s no secret that as we age, many factors work against us. With this, we are taught that these issues we face are just a part of aging – decrease in sex drive, menopause symptoms, weight gain, fatigue, and brain fog. Let us be the ones to tell you there is a treatment out there for you and it is through hormone replacement therapy.

What is HRT?

Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to treat a variety of deficiencies regarding hormones we lose as we age. The most common ones are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol and more. To figure out where you are most deficient, blood work consisting of a full lab panel is conducted then analyzed by our wellness coordinator to get you set up with the best HRT for your deficiencies.

Replacement therapy may have been started to help treat symptoms of menopause but it has now been known to help serve as a therapy for anyone dealing with a deficiency of any hormone.

Hormones in Women

Hormones regulate most of our bodily processes so if there is a hormonal imbalance, it can affect a wide range of those bodily functions. Hormones help to regulate metabolism and appetite, heart rate, sleep, sexual wellness, growth and development, mood, and stress levels.

As we age, naturally, our mind and body do too. Having low Estrogen or Testosterone is what makes replacement therapy so resourceful. While it’s unlikely that a woman will have a problem producing too much estrogen, it’s not uncommon for some women to experience low estrogen levels or a deficiency. 

Estrogen is the primary hormone that sets women apart from men, even though men have a little bit of the hormone. To stay healthy, females must have enough estrogen.

Women need hormones such as estrogen and progesterone to reproduce. However, estrogen levels generally decrease with age, so older women tend to have lower levels in their blood.

HRT is a medication that contains female hormones. This medication is meant to replace the estrogen that the body will stop making during menopause. The symptoms most concentrated on helping are hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. Yet studies have proven that it can even prevent bone loss and reduce fracture in postmenopausal women.

 

Symptoms in Women:

• Hot flashes
• Decreased libido
• Vaginal dryness
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Pain during intercourse
• Mental health issues
• Mood swings
• Brain fog and confusion

HRT For Men

For any male that has gone through puberty, they understand that testosterone stimulates the physical changes that characterize the adult male. Testosterone helps to maintain sex drive, production of sperm cells, male hair patterns and even muscle mass. Don’t get too confused though because testosterone also plays a large part in a woman’s energy, libido as well as mood changes. Low test can negatively affect the quality of life for men and women.

Depending on the severity of the testosterone loss, you can expect to experience loss of body hair and muscle mass and may even notice your testicles getting smaller and softer. A decrease in sex drive, lack of energy and even depression are common indications that you could be living with low testosterone.

Other symptoms of low testosterone may include

• Sudden weight loss
• Insomnia
• Headaches
• Dry skin
• Skin rashes
• Irritability
• Weak bones
• Prolonged fatigue
• Changes in heart rate and blood pressure
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Excessive sweating

Testosterone levels are known to peak during adolescence and early adulthood. Yet as you age, your testosterone levels will gradually decline — typically about 1% a year after age 30 or 40. When it comes to older men, it's important to determine if a low testosterone level is due to normal aging or if it is due to a disease called hypogonadism.

Getting Treatment

Hormone replacement therapy is undoubtedly changing the game for those suffering from the above symptoms. When we maintain balanced hormones over a period, it is almost guaranteed to help you get back to living a life you love!

Balancing out your hormones through HRT not only paves way for a more enjoyable lifestyle, it helps you feel good about yourself as well.

There is a misconception that hormone replacement therapy only applies to women going through or approaching menopause. But the reality is, this treatment could be beneficial for both genders experiencing symptoms of aging from physical and mental/emotional perspectives.

Call us today to schedule your lab work and see just which HRT could best benefit you in whatever stage you are in now.