Hormonal imbalances present unique health challenges and come with a long list of life-draining symptoms, including hot flashes & night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and anxiety, as well as weight gain, slowing metabolism, and irregular periods.
Many of these symptoms occur as a direct consequence of naturally declining hormone levels (such as estrogen and progesterone) during perimenopause and menopause – but today’s busy, always-on lifestyle paired with an epidemic of chronic health issues frequently contributes to “hormonal havoc” that’s wrecking your life.
When your hormones are “out of whack,” everything is out of whack… making you think you’re going crazy.
Unfortunately, most medical schools aren’t teaching endocrine (hormone) disorders in sufficient detail, leaving PCPs and even OBGYNs ill-prepared to address your very valid concerns.
So if you feel discouraged, please don’t give up!
While taming these waves of hormone chaos is no small feat, it definitely isn’t impossible.
Perimenopause & Menopause
Menopause often begins in a woman’s late 40s to early 50s, when her ovaries cease producing eggs and stop the subsequent release of hormones that initiate the monthly menstrual cycle. Perimenopause is the stage just before menopause when a woman’s menstrual cycles start to become irregular, triggering symptoms similar to menopause.
Hormone levels change dramatically throughout perimenopause into menopause, inducing uncomfortable symptoms commonly associated with this stage in life.
Since hormones control every aspect of the body’s function – from temperature regulation to metabolism to the sleep cycle, it’s no wonder that most women experience a wide range of frustrating issues during this transition.
Yet, while menopause is unavoidable, you don’t have to let hormone imbalances call the shots.
Many women don’t realize that there are natural options available to help them restore optimal hormone levels, including lifestyle changes and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for women.
This type of therapy can naturally restore optimal hormone levels, leading to improved physical and mental health. Let’s dive into more detail about how BHRT for women works, who should get it, potential side effects, and why partnering with New Life Wellness is such a smart move.
Other Causes of Hormone Imbalances
OOPHORECTOMY
A woman’s ovaries produce hormones, including estrogen. If her ovaries are removed, post-surgical symptoms mimic menopause, even when the patient is younger than the typical menopausal age.
LOW TESTOSTERONE
Unusually low testosterone levels in women may manifest as low sex drive, fatigue, weakness, and muscle mass loss, as well as bone loss, depression & mood changes, or vaginal dryness.
PCOS
Counterintuitively, women can experience high testosterone, which may lead to a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is quite common in younger women. PCOS can be difficult to diagnose. High testosterone levels can present with symptoms such as irritability, moodiness, and excess facial hair.
HYPOTHYROIDISM
Also called underactive thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. When you do not have enough thyroid hormone, your body processes slow down, resulting in less energy and a sluggish metabolism.
PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMDD)
PMDD is a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). Those who suffer from PMDD may experience physical changes including tiredness, bloating, and breast tenderness, as well as irritability, sadness, and extreme moodiness.
Testing For Hormone Imbalances
Before diving into bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women, evaluating your current hormone levels is important to determine the best-personalized treatment approach – ideally through lifestyle changes that support natural hormone balance.
The most common lab tests for estrogen and progesterone are blood tests, but depending on your unique situation, urine, and saliva tests are frequently used as well.
In addition, we might also test for other hormones such as DHEA, testosterone, cortisol or thyroid hormones to get a more complete picture of your current hormone health. It’s important to note that these tests are usually done on specific days of the menstrual cycle and should be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Given our team’s expertise in treating hormone imbalances, the best first step is to schedule a free discovery call to discuss your situation and what hormone testing might be required. We will help you understand what’s going on and develop a comprehensive plan that might involve bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Why Should Women Consider BHRT?
BHRT is a treatment approach that uses bioidentical forms of progesterone and estrogen (identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced by your ovaries) to optimize hormone levels so you can reclaim your vitality, energy levels, and sex drive.
Because your body can’t tell whether the hormones came from your ovaries or the pharmacy, BHRT is arguably safer than synthetic progesterone and estrogen medications merely mimicking the function of these hormones.
In addition, there are many studies over the last 30 years that have shown BHRT as a safe and effective strategy for treating hormone imbalances – provided that appropriate hormone testing is used to individualize your dose to your specific needs.
Women who have used BHRT have experienced the following benefits:
- Increase in energy & resilience
- Stabilization of mood & improved sleep
- Boost in sexual drive & libido
- Increase in body tone & lean muscle (making weight management easier)
- Reduction in body fat
- Decrease in anxiety
- Maintains higher bone density (which can help prevent osteoporosis later in life)
Choosing A BHRT Provider
When considering hormone replacement, working with a licensed health practitioner with expertise in hormone issues is important.
When working with clients, our team provides the right guidance for their unique situation. We also examine lifestyle factors that could be unnecessarily draining your natural hormones and provide guidance on natural ways to boost your resilience and longevity.
Another way of delivering bioidentical hormone therapy is through pellet insertion. This form of BHRT offers many benefits, including consistent delivery and potentially fewer side effects compared to other dosing forms. If you think that this type of treatment might be right for you, then consider signing up for a free discovery call , so we can answer any questions you may have.