Hormone therapy - Balance Hormones Clinic

Introduction

Hormones are essential chemical messengers that regulate nearly all major bodily functions. When hormone levels drop below optimal ranges, wide-ranging symptoms and health issues can occur. Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can safely and effectively restore balance.

This guide from the Balance Hormones Clinic will explore the fundamentals of HRT, including:

• Hormone imbalance signs and symptoms
• Treatment basics
• Types of hormone therapies
• Benefits of balanced hormones
• Importance of proper testing and monitoring
• Lifestyle recommendations
• Finding a qualified hormone therapy provider

Hormone Imbalance Signs and Symptoms

Hormone levels naturally decline with age, leading to problematic deficiencies. Low testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, growth hormone, and other hormonal imbalances cause sometimes vague yet often profoundly disruptive symptoms including:

Table 1. Common Symptoms of Hormone Imbalances

Men	Women
Loss of muscle mass	Hot flashes
Increased body fat	Night sweats
Low libido	Vaginal dryness
Erectile dysfunction	Painful intercourse
Depression	Mood swings
Fatigue	Depression
Poor concentration	Anxiety
Sleep disturbances	Memory problems
Loss of motivation	Fatigue

Left untreated, hormone imbalance symptoms tend to worsen over time, significantly impacting quality of life. The good news is that safe, effective hormone replacement therapy can resolve deficiencies, thereby restoring wellbeing on multiple levels.

Hormone Therapy Basics

What is hormone therapy?

• Hormone therapy, also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is the medical administration of hormones to supplement insufficient natural levels.
• It can take the form of pills, patches, gels, injections, implants, creams or sprays. HRT restores deficient hormone levels, thereby alleviating troublesome symptoms.
• Both men and women can undergo HRT to resolve low testosterone, growth hormones, thyroid hormones and other imbalances.

What are the most commonly prescribed hormone therapies?

The specific hormones replaced depend on individual patient bloodwork, medical history and symptoms. However, some of the most widely prescribed hormone therapies include:

• Testosterone - For men and women
• Estrogen - Usually combined with progesterone for women
• Thyroid hormones (T3 & T4)
• Human growth hormone (HGH)

Let's explore some of the major hormone therapy types in more detail:

Testosterone Replacement Therapy

• Over 20% of men over 60 suffer from low testosterone (low T). This critical male sex hormone regulates muscle mass, bone density, mood, sexual function and motivation.
• Restoring testosterone to youthful ranges with bioidentical testosterone therapy relieves low T symptoms including fatigue, anxiety, and low libido.
• Increased energy, endurance, mental clarity and self-confidence are common benefits of normalizing testosterone levels. For this reason, testosterone is sometimes referred to as a "health and wellness hormone" - optimizing this key hormone optimizes men's overall vitality and quality of life.

Estrogen Progesterone Therapy

• Declining estrogen is responsible for the majority of menopause symptoms in women including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, anxiety and mood instability.
• Restoring estrogen to optimal levels significantly improves women's comfort and quality of life during perimenopause and menopause.
• However, estrogen should never be taken alone long-term due to increased health risks. Progesterone is prescribed alongside estrogen to offset those risks in a carefully balanced ratio.
• Together, bioidentical estrogen progesterone therapy is safe, highly effective treatment for relieving disruptive menopause symptoms. In addition to symptom relief, balancing these two key hormones offers protective health benefits for women's hearts, bones and brains later in life.

Thyroid Hormone Replacement

• Produced by the small butterfly-shaped thyroid gland at the base of your neck, thyroid hormones regulate core body temperature, heart rate, mood and metabolism.
• When the thyroid gland does not produce adequate levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), body processes slow down, causing fatigue, stubborn weight gain, dry skin and intolerance to cold.
• Supplementing deficient T3 and/or T4 levels with bioidentical thyroid hormone therapy relieves low thyroid symptoms. The right thyroid treatment helps normalize energy, cognition, body weight, mood and more to dramatically improve patient wellness.

HGH Therapy

• Secreted by the pituitary gland, growth hormone (HGH) plays key roles in growth and cell regeneration during youth.
• As HGH production declines around age 30, loss of lean muscle, increased body fat, low energy, poor sleep and reduced collagen (contributing to skin aging) occur.
• Low HGH levels are also implicated in cardiovascular disease risks. Restoring youthful growth hormone levels can reverse this age-related decline in fitness and wellness.
• When prescribing bioidentical human growth hormone to address hormonal aging, Balance Hormones Clinic specialists carefully monitor IGF-1 levels and adjust dosages accordingly for optimum response.

Benefits of Balanced Hormones

Restoring hormones to optimal ranges with replacement therapy benefits both men and women in profound ways such as:

Increased Energy & Endurance

Balancing key hormones revitalizes feelings of vitality, allowing patients to meet demands with vigor versus dragging through activities of daily living.

Better Sleep Quality

Better energy regulation alongside reduced anxiety and body temperature fluctuations translate to deeper, more restorative sleep.

Enhanced Mental Sharpness

Resolution of "brain fog" and improved concentration ability allows patients to think faster and more clearly.

Weight Management & Fitness

Properly balanced metabolic and growth hormones help patients achieve and maintain healthy body compositions by accelerating fat-burning while preserving or building lean muscle mass.

Improved Sex Drive & Function

Optimal hormone levels, especially testosterone and estrogen, restore healthy libido and sexual responsiveness in both men and women.

Positive Mood & Motivation

Mood stabilization and connective motivation allow patients to experience more enjoyment day-to-day while also making and reaching goals.

Healthy Aging Protection

In addition to improving quality of life, certain hormone therapies offer protection against age-related declines including osteoporosis and heart disease in women or diabetes risks in men with low testosterone.

In essence, returning critical regulatory hormones to more youthful ranges helps patients look better, feel better and live life to the fullest!

The Importance of Testing & Monitoring

Safe, effective hormone replacement therapy relies on accurate testing, properly interpreting results, precision dosing and ongoing monitoring.

That's why the experienced physicians at Balance Hormones Clinic emphasize comprehensive:

Diagnostic Testing

Diagnosing hormone imbalances begins with a thorough history, physical examination and lab testing. We specialize in advanced hormone panel testing to uncover specific deficiencies contributing to patients' symptoms.

Responsible Prescribing

Our clinic protocols follow best practices for hormone therapy dosing, delivery methods and cycles. We avoid overly aggressive, risky regimens focusing instead on physiological optimization tailored to the unique patient.

Follow-Up & Adjustments

Patients undergo follow-up testing at regular intervals to ensure response to treatment remains within targeted, safe ranges so the benefits continue long-term without adverse effects. We educate patients on what to monitor between appointments and welcome calls with questions or concerns any time.

At Balance Hormones Clinic, your doctor partners with you at each stage to uncover deficiencies impeding wellness and map out an integrated treatment plan aimed at restoration versus aggressively pursuing super-human hormonal levels which can endanger health.

Lifestyle Recommendations

While hormone therapy provides enormous benefits reversing the decline of aging, certain lifestyle measures maximize treatment results:

• Nutrition - Eat a nutritious, high-fiber, anti-inflammatory diet emphasizing produce, lean proteins and healthy fats while limiting sugar, alcohol and refined grains. Support hormone balance with foods rich in zinc, magnesium and vitamins A, B, C and D. Drink plenty of filtered water.
• Exercise - Incorporate both cardio and resistance training into your routine. Workouts boost circulation, immunity and energy while also building muscle, burning fat and normalizing metabolism.
• Stress Reduction - Unmanaged chronic stress raises cortisol which can negatively impact hormone balances and health. Make time for relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, massage and vacations to mitigate excessive stress hormone production.
• High Quality Sleep - Stick to consistent bed and wake times, wind down pre-bed with calm activities, sleep in total darkness and avoid electronics in your bedroom - these measures all support restorative sleep critical for optimized energy and hormone health.

Making nutrition, activity, stress-busting and sleep health priorities empowers the clinical benefits of hormone therapy.

Finding a Qualified Hormone Therapy Provider

With hormone imbalances so prevalent yet effective treatment available, why do only an estimated 5% of candidates access therapy? One major barrier is locating properly qualified practitioners amidst the hype, misinformation and questionable hormone centers.

What should patients look for in a hormone therapy provider or men's health clinic? Top considerations include:

Comprehensive Testing - Bloodwork uncovering specific deficient hormones is essential for precision prescribing. Beware clinics pushing treatments without thorough lab work.

Tailored Treatment Plans - There is no universal dosage or preparation best for all patients. Responsible clinics develop integrated plans based on medical history, symptomology, test results and treatment goals.

Strict Monitoring - Reputable hormone doctors verify patient responses through follow-up testing and exams, adjusting regimens to keep hormone levels, symptoms and side effects properly in check.

Holistic Outlook - Genuine health-focused providers educate on lifestyle factors supporting hormone health and work collaboratively with other physicians important to a patient's care team.

Genial Bedside Manner - Quality time listening and addressing all patient concerns distinguishes truly patient-centric practitioners from those rushing through appointments or pushing products for profit.

The knowledgeable, caring medical team at Balance Hormones Clinic excels in all these areas - comprehensive testing, precision prescribing, vigilant monitoring and responsive support throughout each unique patient's treatment journey toward sustained vitality.

Conclusion

We hope this guide from Balance Hormones Clinic offered valuable insights into identifying and addressing the life-disrupting effects of hormonal decline associated with aging. You do not have to accept fatigue, weight gain, low sex drive or other issues diminishing your health and happiness.

Through advanced hormone testing and precision replacement regimens tailored to your unique needs, the knowledgeable doctors here at Balance Hormones Clinic can uncover your specific deficiencies and map out integrated treatment plans aimed at restoring balance for peak performance.

We warmly welcome your calls and visits to start the journey toward revitalized hormone health. Our courteous staff and attentive physicians look forward to partnering for solutions so you can feel your best physically and mentally while also reducing risks of age-related diseases now and in future years.