You may be suffering from a hormone imbalance and not even realize it. Hormone imbalances tend to occur later in life when hormones like testosterone and estrogen stop being produced as much in the body. The symptoms of that imbalance can have uncomfortable and often challenging effects that you have to deal with. Bioidentical replacement therapy could keep you from suffering from those symptoms and thrive in your life no matter how old you are.
What is bioidentical replacement therapy? Restoring your hormone imbalance to one that is balanced is the goal of bioidentical replacement therapy. By restoring your balance, the symptoms often attributed to conditions like menopause and andropause are often reduced if not eliminated entirely.
This therapy has a lot to offer both men and women. Understanding how it works and how it can benefit you is crucial. You are warmly invited to discover how bioidentical replacement therapy can change your life for the better.
Bioidentical Replacement Therapy: An Overview
Hormone replacement therapy is just another term for bioidentical replacement therapy. Except bioidentical means that the hormones that are used are identical to the ones inside your body. This is an important distinction because it means that the bioidentical version is natural. Sometimes, hormone replacement therapy can use hormones from animals or through synthetic labs that are crafted for use by anybody. While these won’t harm you, it does cause some people concern over what they’re injecting into their bodies.
Bioidentical replacement therapy utilizes hormones that match your body. They’re made for humans and don’t stem from non-human sources. The belief behind it is that it allows your body to recognize those hormones and utilize them more efficiently. With its efficient use, the symptoms of your hormone imbalance are lessened significantly, if not removed entirely.
Yet how do you know if you have a hormone imbalance? And how exactly does bioidentical replacement therapy help you? It first helps to learn more about what causes a hormone imbalance in the first place.
Hormone Imbalances
When you reached puberty, your body started to produce large amounts of testosterone, if you were a male, or estrogen, if you were a female. These hormones do far more than just make you capable of reproducing. They also control your metabolism. A lot of people have a difficult relationship with their metabolism. Once it starts to slow down, it’s easier to gain weight than it is to lose it. That’s because your metabolism is in charge of breaking down the food that you eat. Your food is supposed to be broken up to create energy for your body to use. The rest is stored as fat to be burned later when you have need of it.
In cases where the metabolism has slowed down, your body is no longer breaking down food as efficiently. You have less energy to utilize and more food that is stored as fat. A hormone imbalance can be a cause of a slow metabolism. It’s just another unpleasant part of aging. With estrogen and testosterone being produced regularly, the metabolism isn’t activated as much.
For both men and women, this means that it’s far more difficult to lose weight. Women, especially, can gain weight a lot easier than they used to. In men, they not only gain weight, but they also lose muscle mass. Your muscles become harder to build and grow once you’ve entered andropause. You may have enjoyed having a strong torso and build in your youth, but you can typically say goodbye to that physique once andropause begins.
Hormone imbalances can also affect how well you sleep. Melatonin plays a crucial role in the sleep process. It tells your brain when it’s time to go to sleep and helps it to stay asleep. With a hormone imbalance, melatonin may not be produced as much either. Or it may not be activated by other processes because of the hormone imbalance. Either way, you’re going to find that falling asleep is a lot more difficult to do. Insomnia is one of the key symptoms of a hormone imbalance.
Menopause
Women who suffer from a hormone imbalance as the result of menopause can suffer greatly. Physically, they will likely gain weight and find it difficult to maintain the weight they had before. They’ll also find that their hair is more prone to falling out and may even be greying. Their skin may also lose its shine and elasticity. This causes more wrinkles to form, which can be a cause of great despair for many women.
One pleasant part of menopause is that it finally stops menstruation. No more cramps, spotting, or heavy flows for women. However, they have to deal with other unpleasant symptoms instead. Hot flashes are quite common in menopause. This describes a period of time in which women suddenly find themselves extremely hot without reason. The temperature hasn’t changed and they haven’t performed any physical activity. Yet their body is suddenly hot and may even be sweating. Hot flashes can occur at any time without warning. They can last for as short as five minutes to even an hour. The severity of the hot flash varies from individual to individual, but the experience is unpleasant all the same.
Along with hot flashes, a woman might also experience night sweats. Similar to hot flashes, this is a period of time in which a woman’s body temperature suddenly rises while they sleep. While it’s common for bodies to heat themselves while they sleep, night sweats take it to the next level. A woman might wake up because of how hot she is feeling. Her body may be covered in sweat.
Women who suffer from menopause also take a hit sexually. It’s not uncommon for vaginal drying to occur. Because the body is no longer preparing for reproduction, it tends to shut off all of the processes related to reproduction. Sexual appetites might decrease. Even if you want to engage in sexual activity, you might find the experience lacking because you’re suffering from vaginal dryness.
Emotions can be affected by menopause, too. Women may become more irritable or aggressive. This is likely due to the increased amount of testosterone in their bodies. When aided by discomfort brought on through hot flashes or lack of sleep, it’s quite understandable why tempers might flare.
Andropause
A hormone imbalance that occurs in men is typically associated with a process called andropause. Besides losing muscle mass, men can also start to lose their hair. Understandably, this can cause a lot of distress. For many men, the health of their hair is a link to their virility and youth. As their hair starts to fall out and recede, they may be dealt a crippling blow to their confidence.
In fact, anxiety and depression are not uncommon among men who suffer from andropause. So much of their body is changing that they might feel out of control. Even with diets and exercise, they may not be able to retain the body that they’ve worked hard to shape and trim. This can shake their confidence and make them moody over what they have lost.
Men also suffer from their share of blows to their libido. Since they are no longer reproductively active, their bodies no longer direct energy towards that part of their biology. Men might notice that their sexual desires and appetites have decreased.
Energy levels also tend to suffer in men. This is likely due to the slowing of their metabolism. With little energy to draw from, men are less likely to continue working out at the gym or perform sports that enhance their fitness. Instead, they’re struggling to stay awake.
How Bioidentical Replacement Therapy Works
If you suffer from any of the symptoms above, then you might have a hormone imbalance. Mature age isn’t the only factor of hormone imbalances. They can actually occur due to faulty genetics or other conditions. Whether you have a hormone imbalance due to age or because of a condition, you can find relief with bioidentical replacement therapy.
We will take a blood sample to determine at what level your hormones currently are. If your hormone levels are below that standard amount, then you are most likely a good candidate for bioidentical replacement therapy.
In time and with consistent treatment, you’ll find that your symptoms from the hormone imbalance should start to correct themselves. This is because you’re introducing the same amount of hormones that existed in your body as they did before.
Your body will have those hormones present to return to its normal level of production and operation. Your metabolism will resume its efficient activity. As a result, men won’t lose as much muscle mass. Both men and women can have an easier time losing and maintaining their weight.
Sleep will be made easier as well. Women will be able to go about their day without a sudden hot flash interrupting them. Night sweats should be removed as well. Men will have an easier time holding onto their hair.
In terms of sexual health, both men and women may find that their sexual appetites have even increased. With this return of activity in the bedroom, men and women can enjoy satisfaction with their partners like they used to.
Bioidentical replacement therapy replaces the hormones that are no longer being produced naturally by your body. With their presence, your body is able to use them as they would normally. As a result, you’re no longer suffering from the symptoms and side effects of a hormone imbalance. Instead, you’re able to thrive and live life as you did before the imbalance.
Who is a Good Candidate for Bioidentical Replacement Therapy?
Those who suffer from a hormone imbalance are perfect candidates for bioidentical replacement therapy. If you suffer from a hormone imbalance, then bioidentical replacement therapy may be an excellent solution to alleviate your symptoms.
Everyone reaches menopause or andropause eventually. It’s a natural part of aging. However, that doesn’t mean that you have to suffer from its side effects and symptoms. Bioidentical replacement therapy at Zormeier Cosmetic Surgery & Longevity Center can be an effective solution to retain your youth no matter how many birthdays pass by. Contact us today to book an appointment at our office in Noblesville, Shelbyville, Danville, Healdsburg, or Ukiah. We look forward to hearing from you!