Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream to signal different parts of the body to work properly. Some key hormones include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones. These hormones regulate many essential processes like metabolism, growth, reproduction, mood, cognition, and more.
When hormone levels decline, you may experience unpleasant signs and symptoms depending on which hormones are affected. Restoring balance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can help relieve issues caused by hormonal imbalance and improve quality of life.
There are several potential causes of low hormone levels, including:
Make sure to consult with a knowledgeable hormone doctor if you are experiencing any symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Identifying and properly addressing the underlying cause is crucial for developing an effective treatment plan.
Here are some common signs and symptoms that could indicate low levels of key hormones:
Estrogen/Progesterone Imbalance
Thyroid Deficiency
Bioidentical hormones are man-made forms of hormones that are structurally identical to those naturally made in the body. That means they can fit perfectly into hormone receptors and mimic the function of the hormones our bodies produce.
The main alternative is synthetic hormone replacement, which often fails to fully match natural hormones. As a result, many patients see better symptom relief and fewer side effects with bioidentical hormones.
Some key advantages include:
- Made from natural plant sources
- Molecularly identical match to human hormones
- Customizable dosing meets individual needs
- Less likely to cause unwanted side effects
- Natural rhythms and cycles preserved
With an experienced hormone doctor guiding treatment, bioidentical hormone replacement offers an effective way to restore balance, vitality, and an overall sense of well-being.
The Optimal Hormone Wellness Center specializes in bioidentical hormone therapies to get your levels back into optimal range. We provide:
We also offer custom compounded medications that are tailored to your individual biochemistry for maximum effectiveness.
If you decide to pursue bioidentical HRT, here is an overview of what you can expect:
Our goal is to provide science-based, patient-centered care that helps you look and feel your best long-term. We will work closely with you through every step of the process.
There are multiple ways to deliver bioidentical hormones:
Together we will decide which methods make the most sense for your treatment goals. Some methods allow for use at home while others require visiting our clinic.
When just starting bioidentical HRT, protocols often look like:
1. Start low, go slow - Begin with lower doses and gradually increase over weeks/months based on lab results and symptom monitoring. This helps body adjust.
2. Combination therapy - Use multiple delivery methods simultaneously. For example testosterone injections plus DHEA capsules. This enables fully customized regimens.
3. Cycle hormones - Rise and fall hormone levels mimic natural patterns. For example take progesterone only 12 days each month. This works with body's innate rhythms.
4. Re-evaluate frequently - Follow up one month after starting then again at three months. Make dosage tweaks based on bloodwork and feedback about symptoms/response.
The goal is to find the optimal dose of each hormone medication needed to resolve deficiency issues, maximize health benefits, avoid side effects, and fit your unique physiology. It takes some trial and error but with an experienced practitioner you can find the right regimen tailored just for you.
Left untreated, low hormone levels can truly take their toll on your mental and physical well-being. Over time hormonal imbalance contributes to issues like:
In the short term these symptoms disrupt day to day life, while down the road they lay the foundation for more serious age-related decline and health problems.
That's why timely treatment is so important - restoring balance early on can help:
With treatment guided by our highly trained hormone physicians, you can get your hormone levels normalized, reduce risk of age-related disease, improve resilience and longevity, and most importantly feel healthy and vibrant once again.
Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for menopausal symptoms. However, some women report preferring them because they more closely mimic the body's own hormones. More research is still needed on their long-term effects.
What sets the Optimal Hormone Wellness Center apart is our integrated, patient-centered approach focused on restoring wellness through optimal hormonal balance.
Our core advantages include:
We also offer state-of-the-art body composition testing, genomic risk analysis, nutritional guidance, medically supervised weight loss, and regenerative joint treatments.
With our comprehensive set of offerings combined with decades of specialized expertise in hormonal health and aging, we are uniquely equipped to help patients live their healthiest, most vibrant lives possible.
Lifestyle Recommendations for Improving Hormone Levels
Maintaining a healthy diet optimized for hormonal balance can make a big impact. We recommend:
1. Eliminate sugar and refined grains which lead to inflammation and hormonal dysfunction.
2. Eat plenty of produce like cruciferous vegetables that support detox pathways vital for hormone health.
3. Include high quality fats like olive oil and avocado that provide building blocks for hormones.
4. Choose grass-fed/organic animal products to minimize hormone disrupting chemicals found in conventional livestock.
5. Stay hydrated with filtered water and herbal teas to support liver function and flushing of waste hormones.
Additional ways to improve hormone levels naturally involve:
Adopting healthy lifestyle strategies alongside bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help restore optimal function.
Local partners
Convenient local partners for diagnostic lab testing prior to starting treatment include:
We also provide testing in-house via finger-prick blood samples or saliva swabs.
To enhance the therapeutic effects of hormone therapy, we recommend these relaxing spas:
And these local wellness centers:
Practicing self-care alongside hormone replacement therapy helps relieve stress, improve sleep quality, support mental health, and boost treatment efficacy.
