If you’ve started to feel like you’re not yourself lately, it might not be your imagination. When our hormones change, it can cause incredible disruption. Just think about the changes we all go through in puberty: that can be a very difficult time for a young person, and one of the biggest factors is the hormonal changes they are going through. At Rejuvené MD in El Paso, TX, we help adults going through hormonal changes pinpoint the cause and get back to feeling themselves through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Can Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Work for Me?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, can restore your body’s hormone levels to the right place for optimal health. And while your main health complaint could be just one glaring thing, most people find that restoring hormonal balance causes many pieces of life to fall back into place.
Signs You Need BHRT
As we age, we tend to just push through or blow off a lot of symptoms that we attribute to “normal” aging. In reality, many of these are actually caused by changes in our hormones. Here are just a few signs that it might be right to consider restoring the balance:
You’re Having Trouble Sleeping
Sleep disorders and insomnia are a classic sign of trouble with hormonal balance. This is especially a problem for women, but it can also afflict men who are struggling with unbalanced hormone production. When progesterone levels are too high, it interferes with sleep patterns and makes it hard to fall, and stay, asleep.
Your Libido Is Shot
For both men and women, a lowered sex drive is another sign that it might be time to try bioidentical hormone therapy near you. For women, having enough estrogen is crucial to feeling a desire for sexual intimacy. For men, testosterone is the primary driver of libido. When these hormones aren’t being produced at the right level, the result is disinterest in sex. In men, lowered testosterone can also contribute to erectile dysfunction, while for women, lowered amounts of estrogen can cause vaginal dryness. Both of these issues further disrupt a sex life already less satisfying due to lowered libido.
You Have Noticed Breast Changes
In women, hormonal imbalance can cause the breasts to feel lumpy, tender, and sore to the touch. Changes in hormone levels can cause the tissue of the breasts to become less dense. The good news, according to The National Cancer Institute, is that the vast majority of these changes are common and non-cancerous, but that doesn’t make them any more fun to live with. For men, a hormonal imbalance that causes estrogen to increase in relation to testosterone can cause unwanted breast enlargement. And if the cause is hormonal, simply targeting the area with exercise won’t get rid of the tissue.
You Have Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
These are classic signs of female menopause, but what few people talk about is that men can also experience these symptoms if the hormones aren’t in proper balance. For both men and women, an imbalance in hormones is usually the cause of these uncomfortable sensations. Without the right balance of estrogen and testosterone, the body has trouble maintaining temperature balance.
You Are Experiencing Mood Swings
For some people, hormonal changes can cause constant, frustrating mood swings. For others, it’s more of a steady decline into depression marked by sadness and lack of motivation. This can happen to both men and women, and while depression can have other causes, imbalanced hormones can be the primary culprit, especially if you are noticing other signs of an imbalance.
You Are Constantly Fatigued
We all get tired at times, and as we get older and have more responsibilities with work and growing families, it can be natural to blow off this symptom as simply a natural part of getting older. But if you’re tired all the time, even after you get a good night’s sleep, this could be due to an imbalance of thyroid hormones, overproduction of cortisol that is messing with your sleep cycle, or a lack of testosterone.
You’re Experiencing Memory Fog
We all occasionally find ourselves walking into a room and forgetting why we went in there, but if you’re constantly forgetting where you put things, and especially if this is accompanied by confusion or difficulty concentrating, the problem could be in your hormones. A drop of estrogen in women or testosterone in men, or a strong rise in stress hormones, can make it hard to concentrate, increase forgetfulness, and reduce mental clarity.
You Can’t Get Rid of the Weight
Our hormones are tightly tied to our weight, and if estrogen, cortisol, or insulin are high, and especially if testosterone is also too low, the result is usually weight gain. Until the hormone levels are fixed, it can be nearly impossible to lose weight. Changes in hormones can slow down the metabolism and signal to the body to keep storing fat around the waist in particular.
Why Is This Happening to Me?
Hormonal changes can be very frustrating, and unfortunately, no one is immune to the possibility of imbalance. For many people, age is the biggest factor in these changes. We naturally reach our peak hormone production some time in our 20s or early 30s, but then hormone levels start to decline. For some people, the decline is very slow and gradual, but eventually, it brings on all the unwanted symptoms of imbalance. For others, the drop can be precipitous, bringing on sudden changes that are hard to handle. There are also other things that can cause your hormones to go out of balance. If you’ve experienced any of these and are suffering from the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, talk to us about hormone therapy and how it can help:
- Unmanaged stress
- Eating disorders
- Thyroid problems
- Diabetes
- Injury or trauma
- Certain medications
- Disorders like PCOS
- Hormone drugs like birth control pills
- Poor dietary choices
How Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Can Work for You
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can restore your natural balance and help you feel like yourself again. It can combat all the signs of hormone imbalance listed above, and more, by naturally and gradually replacing what is missing. At Rejuvené MD, we provide hormones to treat estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid imbalances. It’s important to get the balance right, and that’s why the first step is always to consult with us so we can get to know you and the symptoms you’re experiencing. With the right testing, we can identify where your problem lies and get you the right hormones to bring back balance into your life. If your problem is being caused by an outside factor, like a thyroid disorder, stress, or certain medications, there may also be changes you can make that will help you get back to feeling like yourself.
What Exactly Are Bioidentical Hormones?
Hormone replacement therapy has been around for a long time, but earlier forms of replacement therapy came with some serious side effects, and some research suggests traditional synthetic hormones may increase the risk of certain cancers. This has led researchers to investigate more natural ways of replacing hormones. Bioidentical hormones are simply hormones synthesized to be an exact replica of the hormones your body makes itself. These are, at the chemical level, identical to the hormones in your body. That makes them more effective in providing balance and relief. They interact naturally with your body and don’t bring all the side effects of earlier synthetic, mass-produced hormone treatments.
How Does Treatment Work?
Every person is different, so we offer several options to find the treatment that works for you. Hormones can be delivered by:
- Creams
- Pills
- Injections
- Gels
- Patches
- Pellets
Each delivery method is a little different, and one will be right for you. Whichever method you choose, rest assured that you’re not locked into anything. Our priority is getting you to optimal wellness with the perfect balance of hormones. We’ll meet with you regularly to make sure the balance is correct and that you’re continuing to feel better. If you’re having any issues with the delivery method, we can discuss other options at follow-up appointments.
Pellets
Pellets are a popular choice because they allow you to “set it and forget it.” A pellet can be inserted during a very short visit and will continue to give you the hormones you need for the next several months. This is perfect for anyone who doesn’t like injections or who realizes that they will have trouble remembering to take pills or use creams and gels regularly.
Creams and Gels
The benefit of using creams and gels is that it’s simple, inexpensive, quick, and the hormones are easily absorbed. However, if you worry about remembering to use these daily, don’t have time to allow it to absorb, or have small children you think might get into it, another method might be better for you.
Injections
The benefit of injections is that the hormone bypasses the liver, doesn’t require daily use of creams, and doesn’t require you to remember when to change a patch. Talk to us about whether this is the best method for you.
Pills
This type of hormone delivery method is one of the oldest, but a pill must be processed by the liver, which some people with liver disorders will need to avoid. For some people, a pill can cause stomach upset, and for others, remembering to take a pill is harder than remembering to use a cream or change a patch. At the same time, this is one of the best-studied methods of hormone replacement.
Patches
Skin patches are very convenient. You simply stick one on and forget about it for a while. With a skin patch, the hormones bypass the liver and go straight to the bloodstream. It is important not to expose patches to direct sunlight, so you can’t use tanning beds or spend time outside with that area uncovered. If the patch irritates your skin, other methods of delivery might be better for you.
What to Know About Us
The mission of Rejuvené MD is to provide everyone with the ultimate care, and we’re focused not just on treating symptoms but on enhancing overall wellness. We work as a team, using our strengths together to provide you with the best possible outcome. Rejuvené MD is led by Dr. Karen Herman, MD. An El Paso native, Dr. Karen is a board-certified diplomat and fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine, board certified by the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine, and an associate member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, the International Society for Sexual Medicine, and the Cellular Medical Association.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Can Work for You
BHRT can get you back to feeling like your old self. Contact Rejuvené MD in El Paso, TX today and set up an appointment to talk to us about hormone therapy. We believe you should always feel your best, and we have the tools and experience to make that happen for you.
