Bioidentical Hormone Therapy for Women

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy for Women

The Aging Process

Hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, loss of libido… a change in your hormones may be to blame for all this and more.

With age, our hormone levels naturally begin to decrease, a significant factor in the aging process. The human body does not function at an optimal level without adequate hormone balance. At some point, in the lives of both men and women, the endocrine glands fail to maintain adequate hormone levels, and the older we get, the more depleted our hormones become. It is at this point that replacing those hormones becomes desirable and leads to a happier, healthier life. The key to safe and effective hormone replacement therapy is to use bio-identical hormones and to administer them in as physiologic a manner as possible. The body cannot metabolize non bioidentical hormones in a normal manner; therefore, they persist in the body and exert an abnormal effect which can lead to medical problems.

What are Bio-Identical Hormones?

Bio-identical simply means that the hormone is exactly the same molecule as that which is naturally made by your body. This is important because your body recognizes it as such and can metabolize it normally. The term “bio-identical” does not indicate the source of the hormone, but rather indicates that the molecular structure of the replacement hormone is identical to that of the hormone naturally found in the human body. Bio-identical hormones are made by processing of hormone precursors found in plant sources, usually soy and yams.

What are the female aging process progression steps?

As We Age many things about our bodies change, one of the things that change is our hormones. Hormones determine how tall you grow and how you handle stress, they also regulate the functioning of your sex organs.

The normal aging process causes hormone production to decline in everyone, resulting in imbalances that have both physical and psychological effects.

The main hormones that regulate a woman’s body are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Any time one or more of these hormones becomes out of balance, a woman starts to experience change. This hormonal change is broken up into different stages:

Pre-menopause refers to a time before a woman’s first regular menstrual cycle to her last regular menstrual cycle. This is the period of “normal” reproductive function for a woman.

Perimenopause is the next stage. This refers to the “transitional” stage, which varies from 2 to about 10 years, prior to complete cessation of menstruation. This is usually experienced between the ages of 35-50 years of age. During this stage women can experience major hormone fluctuations which can cause typical symptoms, such as hot flashes.

Menopause is the third stage and marks the natural end of a woman’s reproductive cycle It is at this point that the body’s ability to produce estrogen and progesterone naturally, decreases substantially. The ovaries stop producing eggs and a woman is no longer able to become pregnant naturally.

Post-menopause is the period of life after menopause. This phase is generally believed to begin after 12 full months have passed since the last menstrual period.

When is the right time for Hormone Replacement Therapy?

When one becomes deficient in any hormone, it is optimal to replace it. Generally women will become deficient in progesterone and/or testosterone in their late 30′s to early 40′s. A lack of estrogen usually doesn’t occur until shortly before or at the menopause (average age of 51). Replacing all three hormones after the menopause is usually necessary for optimal hormone balance.

Sub-Dermal Treatment (Pellet Therapy)

The relatively new choice of sub-dermal pellet therapy is proving to be extremely effective, with about 98% of patients responding favorably and enjoying benefits that may include:

• Increased Sex Drive and Sexual Sensation
• Relief from Vaginal Dryness
• Control over Hot Flashes/Night Sweats
• Increased Energy Level
• Relief from Joint Pain
• Bone Density and Cardiac Protection