HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Hormones have to work together like a symphony, and when one hormone is out of harmony, the whole system is affected. In the body, there are sex hormones and hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands that support other functions. The sex hormones include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. While testosterone is usually thought of as being primarily a male hormone, women have testosterone present in smaller amounts. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is able to supplement deficient hormones levels and replenish what your body needs in order to restore your quality of life.
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Some of the hormonal imbalances we treat include the following:
Estrogen
Estrogen is one of the primary female sex hormones, and it has three different forms in the body, which all maintain different functions. The three main estrogens are estrone, estradiol, and estriol.
Estrone
Estrone is mainly produced after menopause, and it is considered to be a reserve source of estrogen. Estrone is derived from estradiol, the ovaries, liver, fat cells, and adrenal glands, and if amounts are too high, the body may produce extra breast and uterine tissue. For this reason, some researches agree that excess amounts can lead to endometriosis, fibroids, and breast or uterine cancer.
Estriol
Estriol is a form of estrogen that protects against breast cancer, and it also benefits the vaginal wall and the urinary tract. When Estriol is deficient, a woman may have an increased risk for breast or uterine cancer, increased urinary tract infections, and vaginal dryness.
Estradiol
Estradiol is the strongest form of estrogen, and the body relies on it for several functions. An estradiol deficiency is usually the culprit for many menopause related symptoms. When it is deficient, women may experience symptoms of fatigue, insomnia, mood swings, osteoporosis, frequent yeast infections, and vaginal dryness.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a sex hormone that takes part in pregnancy, menstruation, and the formation of embryos. Before menopause, progesterone is made in the ovaries, and after menopause, it is made by the adrenal glands. Progesterone deficiencies can be caused by aging, high amounts of sugar or saturated fat, insufficient thyroid hormone, and anti-depressant medications. Progesterone is responsible for many functions in the body, and when it is deficient, several activities can become impaired. Some symptoms of progesterone imbalances may include increased anxiety or irritability, weaker bones, bladder dysfunction, insomnia, poor moods, frequent miscarriages, bloating, and insulin resistance.
Testosterone
Testosterone, in women, is made mainly by the adrenal glands, but the ovaries also supply small amounts of testosterone. Testosterone controls a number of activities in the human body, and deficiencies can lead to a number of health issues. Testosterone deficiencies can be caused by adrenal fatigue, childbirth, chemotherapy, depression, endometriosis, and psychological trauma. When testosterone levels are too low, women may experience low libido, muscle atrophy, increased flabbiness and body fat, low motivation, and weaker bones.