Many people don’t realize just how much of an effect hormones can have on the human body. The reality is that hormones are responsible for a variety of functions carried out every single day. While each hormone does something unique, they also affect far more processes than you might realize. For example, a man who has low levels of testosterone might experience issues with energy and motivation, vitality and mood, and sexual and physical health.

Knowing this, it’s no surprise that having balanced amounts of hormones can ensure someone feels at their best. This is precisely why hormone replacement therapy is so important for many people. When hormones are missing or depleted, it can make a person feel “off.” While each person is different from the next, the goal of hormone therapy is the same for everyone: balancing the levels of hormones in the body to bring them all into a healthy range.

Estrogen replacement is a common solution used by women who are going through menopause. It helps with a bevy of things, including skin health, bone and muscle wellbeing, brain and mental condition, and sexual and reproductive health. In other cases, both estrogen and progesterone are prescribed as a combination hormone replacement therapy. Progesterone can help create the right balance of estrogen, but also assists with mood support, sleep, metabolism, and other health issues.

Keep in mind that while synthetic hormones are a potential solution, they do not come without risks. When hormones are created in a lab, there is never a 100% guarantee that no reactions or adverse effects will occur. This is precisely why many people choose another option – bioidentical hormone replacement.

Symptoms of Low Progesterone or Low Estrogen

When a woman has low levels of hormones, whether because of menopause or other health conditions, a variety of symptoms may crop up. Some women will experience a few of them, others will experience all of them, and some may not notice any of them. However, if you are experiencing some of the symptoms below, you likely have a hormone imbalance related to estrogen:

• Acne in adulthood
• Breast tenderness, swelling, or pain
• Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates
• Difficulty losing weight or noticeable weight gain
• Feelings of depression or being overwhelmed
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations and anxiety
• Insomnia and restlessness
• Joint stiffness or pain
• Low libido or a decrease in sexual function or interest
• Mood swings and irritability
• Trouble with temperature regulation, such as hot flashes and night sweats
• Thinning hair or loss of hair
• Trouble concentrating or unclear thinking

The most important thing to be aware of is that all of these symptoms are related to unbalanced hormones. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t something that is just in your head. Many women assume that since many of the signs are emotional or sexual in nature that they don’t relate to a hormone deficiency, which can prevent someone from seeking treatment. If these are symptoms you are dealing with, hormonal balance can be restored more easily than you expect.

Read on to learn more about what bioidentical hormone replacement actually is and how it can offer a way out of the struggle related to a hormonal imbalance.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Explained

What comes to mind when you think about the term “hormones?” If you are like many other people, it might make you picture a teenager who is dealing with mood swings and bodily changes associated with puberty. While this does correlate with hormones, you should be aware that estrogen and testosterone are only two of the 50 hormones in the human body.

If any of the hormones are unbalanced or depleted in the body, adverse reactions like weight fluctuations, loss of libido, and depression are common. When adults age, the body naturally goes through hormonal imbalances. However, that doesn’t mean that you should deal with large changes, such as menopause, without any assistance. Estrogen therapy or bioidentical hormone replacement can help someone feel better both physically and emotionally.

Women’s Bioidentical Hormone Replacement

For women, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is an effective and safe method of working through hormone imbalances associated with pre-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause. If you’ve been experiencing a lack of sex drive, anxiety or depression, insomnia, hot flashes, or fatigue, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help you start feeling like yourself again.

Getting Started Involves a Plan

Every person is unique and the right balance of hormones is going to be different for you when compared to the next person. This is one of the reasons it is crucial to work with a professional medical team to determine the perfect hormone therapy plan to meet your specific needs. The plan should take into account your lifestyle needs, medications and supplements you take, your nutritional needs, and your activity level. All of these things combine to create a plan that will bring your hormones into balance.

Purpose of Estrogen and Progesterone

Whether you are aging, dealing with health issues, or both, if you have insufficient amounts of estrogen in the body, it can create many health effects and risks. Low estrogen can cause fatigue, hair loss or thinning hair, memory problems, and more. When you replace the natural estrogen made in your body, you can experience a host of benefits such as protection from disease, bone protection, and better brain function. Choosing hormone replacement therapy for low levels of estrogen offers these benefits:

• Better reproductive health and sexual function
• Reduced aging effects on the skin and improved skin quality
• Less bone, joint, and muscle pain
• Less risk of bone loss or osteoporosis
• Reduced risk for certain cancers
• Better mood, memory, and concentration
• Less risk of heart attack and heart disease
• Better mood, memory, and concentration

As we mentioned, progesterone can help regulate the production of estrogen. However, if there isn’t enough progesterone available, that can bring about its own set of negative effects. There are many benefits to choosing a combination bioidentical hormone replacement using both estrogen and progesterone. It can improve bone health, offer immune function support, improve sleep, balance estrogen, and more:

• Enhanced thyroid hormone activity
• Natural calming abilities
• Natural diuretic properties
• Antidepressant effects
• Increased metabolism
• Reduced risk of high blood pressure and heart disease
• Improved fat elimination and use
• Lower levels of bad cholesterol

The Many Benefits of Hormone Balancing Therapy

Are you dealing with the symptoms of low estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone? Bioidentical hormone therapy could be the solution that you are looking for. It can create a better balance of hormones in your body, so you feel more like yourself again. If you’re ready to learn more about how bioidentical hormone therapy can help, reach out to us and learn more. We’d be happy to help you schedule an initial consultation and work to get you feeling your very best.