Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones naturally produced in the human body. As we age, hormone levels decline causing unpleasant symptoms. Replacing diminishing hormones with bioidentical versions can provide relief by restoring balance.
Bioidentical hormones are sourced from plant extracts and custom-formulated in a lab to match natural hormones produced by the endocrine system. This makes them easily recognizable and well-tolerated by the body without harsh side effects.
Benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy are significant, especially when treating symptoms related to perimenopause, menopause, andropause or other hormone imbalances. Let's explore why more people are turning to bioidentical hormones and what makes them a superior choice over synthetic versions.
Some key advantages of bioidentical hormone replacement include:
With a knowledgeable bioidentical hormone specialist guiding treatment, patients feel like themselves again often quickly noticing improvements.
Before considering bioidentical hormones, thorough hormone level testing is highly recommended. Blood, saliva or urine tests help determine which hormones are low or out-of-balance.
Your Optimal Hormone Health Center practitioner will order tests then evaluate results alongside symptoms to customize an effective treatment plan if needed. Ongoing testing permits proper monitoring and dosage adjustments.
Early detection and timely treatment gives bioidentical hormones the best chance to work their magic! Now let’s look closer at these natural marvels by understanding from where they originate.
Bioidentical hormones are scientifically formulated to match natural hormones produced by endocrine glands. Though chemically synthesized, their molecular structure comes from botanical sources.
The most common estrogen used is estradiol (E2) copying the principle estrogen women make. Estradiol can come from the Mexican wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) containing a substance called diosgenin used in processing.
Sometimes estriol (E3) is added which is weaker than estradiol but offers protective qualities potentially decreasing breast cancer risk. Estriol comes from the dried roots of the fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum).
Progesterone is crucial for balancing estrogen and also easily derived from plants, usually the soy plant (Glycine max) or wild yam (Dioscorea villosa).
Testosterone for men also originates from plants like soy beans and yams requiring conversion in a lab to bioidentical testosterone.
So in essence, these natural ingredients when scientifically refined end up biochemically identical to the hormones flowing through our bodies. Next, let’s look at conditions that can lead to hormone declines.
Hormone levels naturally rise and fall but sometimes they shift too severely causing distressing symptoms hampering health and happiness. Many factors are at play when this hormonal havoc occurs.
Besides growing older, other circumstances provoking hormone imbalance include:
Additionally some medications impact hormone production and activity potentially leading to many frustrating symptoms.
Thankfully custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy helps counteract falling levels boosting vitality, looks and longevity!
Having a well-functioning endocrine system is key to staying trim, happy and healthy as we pass through life. Getting the right fuel makes all the difference!
Appearance perks with balanced hormones are plentiful! Thick shiny hair, glowing skin, vibrant eyes, easy weight management and fit body composition are just the start.
Lean muscle mass, strong bones, quick healing, flexible joints and reduced inflammation also rely on sufficient hormone concentrations. Who doesn’t want all that?
Let’s face it, balanced hormones simply make people feel fantastic - surefooted, clearheaded and easygoing with a zest for life!
Mental clarity, emotional stability, positive moods, good memory, high energy and deep refreshing sleep all result from a well-running hormone system.
Truly our vitality and lifespan are profoundly enhanced by balanced hormones surging through body and brain effectively communicating between cells.
Heart health, metabolism, neurotransmission, digestion, vision, immunity to disease and even cancer prevention benefit from a properly functioning endocrine environment.
Not only our vigor but sometimes actual survival depends on hormones flowing properly throughout life’s stages without declining prematurely. Finding the right amount of support through bioidentical hormones provides that important balance.
For both women and men maintaining a enjoyable love life relies on keeping certain hormones from lagging too low. Namely testosterone, estrogen, progesterone and DHEA for full sexual desire and performance.
In men specifically, upright virle erections hinge critically on robust testosterone. For women estrogen and testosterone together ignite arousal and satisfaction.
Progesterone in ladies even helps with lubrication and achieving the big “O!”. And DHEA elevates enjoyment for both parties under the sheets by fueling our chief sensual neurotransmitter dopamine especially in the brain’s pleasure zones.
So if your mojo is amiss, get those hormones checked then replace any deficiencies with bioidentical versions carefully tailored to your individual needs. Light that fire once more!
Clearly keeping our key hormones balanced lifelong pays off in manifold ways from looking gorgeous, feeling terrific and staying vigorous longterm to rekindling romantic passion!
Now that the basics are covered about why and how bioidentical hormone therapy works so well, let’s talk specifics about relieving two common hormonal imbalances - estrogen deficiency and low testosterone.
Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for menopausal symptoms. In fact, there is little evidence that custom-compounded "bioidentical" hormones are better or more natural than FDA-approved bioidentical hormone products.
As women pass through the menopause transition with ebbing estrogen, rebalancing levels treats hot flashes, poor sleep plus other common annoyances. Customized bioidentical estrogen therapy also safeguards longterm health.
Ever feel that intense blast of heat prickling your face, neck and chest? Maybe breaking out in a sweat or getting red-faced? Then relief as warmth fades? Yes, the infamous hot flash strikes about 85% of menopausal women thanks to declining estrogen.
These sensations originate deep in the brain’s temperature control center due to dropping estrogen. They often hit out of the blue or at night jolting women awake drenched in sweat. And they can recur constantly making life quite miserable.
Thank goodness replacing fading estrogen with proper dosing of bioidentical versions - usually estradiol or sometimes combined with estriol - effectively eliminates or reduces bothersome hot flashes for most women.
Hand-in-hand with disturbing hot flashes comes drenching night sweats also caused by fluctuating and falling estrogen levels during menopause.
Middle of the night sweats combined with insomnia quickly become exhausting as a woman pokes her sleepy head wondering if it’s raining buckets inside her bedroom!
Not to mention wet soggy pajamas and sheets or having to pile on layers of covers and peel them off again when the next night sweat or hot flash arrives to disrupt sleep. Which they do frequently!
Balancing hormones by replacing missing estrogen with properly dosed bioidentical estrogens normalizes temperature regulation helping ensure restful rejuvenating sleep.
Many women approaching menopause often feel like they are on an emotional rollercoaster amplified by estrogen declines. High drama one minute then tearfully low the next or vice versa.
Irritability, anxiety, sadness and depression commonly occur along with distracting “brain fog” as estrogen levels start dropping erratically during the menopause transition.
Thankfully replacing diminishing estrogens with bioidenticals counteracts these unsettling mental states by ensuring consistent messaging to the billions of estrogen receptors throughout a woman’s brain.
Lack of lubrication “down there” causes significant discomfort and pain for many menopausal women thanks to waning estrogen. Vaginal dryness and irritation makes intimacy frustrating if not impossible without artificial lubricants.
Boosting moisture in delicate tissues by replacing missing estrogen with bioidentical versions helps restore comfortable function improving sensitivity and satisfaction.
Rapid estrogen declines during the menopause transition kickstart accelerated bone loss for most women. This ramps up chances of developing osteopenia or even osteoporosis with increased fracture risks.
Studies show estrogen therapy slows the rate of bone loss helping to maintain strength and density within the skeletal structure decreasing likelihood of breaks or frailty.
Of course personalized dosing of bioidentical estrogen with careful medical oversight provides maximum safety and efficacy. Testing bone mineral density at intervals further guides therapy.
The wide-ranging benefits of balanced estrogen from cooling hot flashes to supporting bone health clearly make this vital hormone replacement highly advisable for most women as levels diminish with age. Relief is in sight with Optimal Hormone Health Center guiding the way to become your best self again!
Now let’s shift gears and explore common low testosterone symptoms plaguing many men along with the proven benefits of replacing what’s lacking through properly administered testosterone therapy.
Robust levels of testosterone offer a clear edge to men helping ensure not only sexual prowess but also cardiovascular health, lean muscles, sharp minds and just feeling darn great in your skin every day! But this key hormone often declines prematurely.
Testosterone deficiency develops gradually usually starting for men in their late 30’s to early 40’s due to shifting body chemistry/lifestyle factors. And by age 70, most men have very low T blood levels leading to that tired, grumpy, flabby, low-drive “codger” stereotype!
Thankfully skillful testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) relieves frustrating hypogonadism symptoms effectively and safer than many realize when properly administered based on testing and retesting. Let’s review common low T signals along with proven TRT benefits.
Men struggling with two or more of the following symptoms likely have clinically low testosterone levels hampering health and happiness:
And the demise of desire, arousal plus performance in the bedroom is often the final straw sending men to get their T levels checked!
But regardless what first troubles you, testing is essential to determine if treatment makes sense. Optimal Hormone Health Center will order needed bloodwork then fully evaluate your symptoms, risk factors and test scores to map the wisest path forward together.
Under careful practitioner guidance, customized testosterone therapy offers life-enhancing benefits to men including:
Starting anytime emerging deficiencies first cause problems - even normal aging related - TRT helps men regain their mojo so they look better, feel stronger and live more vigorously. Optimal Hormone Health Center specializes in balancing hormones for optimal wellbeing.
As you’ve learned, both women and men seeking help for hormone related symptoms have innumerable benefits awaiting them through properly monitored bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. So why select Optimal Hormone Health Center over other providers?
We never take a “one size fits all” approach at Optimal Hormone Health Center but instead listen carefully to each patient's unique issues and history. Then after needed testing, we take the time to best determine which bioidentical hormones, combinations and doses make the most sense for that individual’s optimum improvement. Ongoing reevaluation continues to assure proper balance is reached and maintained longterm.
Right in the heart of Hillsboro within the Ronald McDonald House Campus, our clinic offers free ample parking in a relaxing park-like setting. The ambiance is warm, welcoming and private so opening up comes naturally in this safe environment.
While responsive hormone therapy gets to the root cause of imbalance symptoms, Optimal Hormone Health Center also offers evidence-based guidance on nutrition, exercise, stress reduction and targeted supplementation that supports the endocrine system. Patients become partners in their care plan. Our goal always is helping you thrive lifelong through balanced wellness!
In summary the array of revitalizing benefits available through properly monitored bioidentical hormone replacement clearly outweighs potential risks. Do your homework, find an experienced BHRT practitioner then confidently move ahead if testing indicates treatment makes sense for your situation.
Optimal Hormone Health Center stands ready to guide the way to feeling your best again! Now is the time - Make that call today to start balancing your hormones and mastering midlife!
