Remember the raging hormones of adolescence? Well, if you’ve passed the age of 40, hold on to your hat because the ride is about to get bumpy again.
Much like puberty, menopause sends your hormones into a tailspin with a great impact on your health and relationships. While this is a natural part of aging, you don’t have to live with all the symptoms.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can ease your way through this stage of life by getting your hormones back in balance and you back to being yourself.
Your Hormones During Menopause
Menopause onset tends to fall between ages 45 and 55 and can last anywhere from seven to 14 years. During that time, your ovaries stop producing eggs, leading to changing hormone levels.
Hormones serve as messengers in your body for all kinds of functions. Your ovaries produce estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and the lowered levels create a wide range of symptoms tied to menopause. These can include hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and weight gain, among others.
Why Replacement Therapy?
Almost half of women going through this stage talk with a doctor at some point about whether hormone replacement therapy is a good option for them. While menopause is a natural process, there are many reasons why replacement might be a good choice during that time.
While estrogen and progesterone are part of the menstruation process, they do have other jobs in your body. Estrogen has an influence over your cholesterol levels and use of calcium. The loss of this hormone correlates to the loss of bone density as you age, as well as changes to your sleep, skin, and heart.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy has been around for years. Concerns in the early part of the century about the health impact of synthetic hormones led to the advent of more natural versions, including bioidentical.
The goal with BHRT for menopause is to replace the missing hormones with exact copies and preferably from natural sources. They are made to work exactly the same way as the originals to bring your body back into balance and improve your quality of life.
BHRT can be delivered in several different ways, all with a dosage tailored to your unique needs. The most common options are pills, patches, creams, shots, or implanted pellets. Your doctor will work with you to determine the best delivery method along with the proper dosage for you.
Is BHRT Right for You?
Once you pass the age of 40, you might begin to experience the effects of hormonal changes due to menopause. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be a balm not just for menopausal symptoms, but also help guard against other symptoms of aging like dry skin and osteoporosis.
If you’d like to explore whether treatment for menopause hormonal changes is a good option for you, our staff would be happy to answer your questions. Contact us today to schedule an examination and test to determine the best plan for you.
