What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy “BHRT” for Women All About?
As the female body ages, it is increasingly unable to produce healthy levels of the hormones that her younger body once produced. Replacing the deficiency with natural hormones (just like her younger body produced) enables longevity with vitality. Symptoms related to hormone deficiency can be managed and often reversed by restoring the depleted hormones. Women treated for hormone deficiency report feeling younger with restored passion and zest for life.
When Do Perimenopause / Menopause Symptoms Begin?
In our clinic we have seen perimenopause symptoms happen anytime during a women’s natural life cycle but for those that visit our clinics for treatment 39-45 seem to be the standard range. Often menstrual cycles begin to vary during this period by 7 days or more in consecutive cycles. FSH levels begin to increase slightly while estradiol remains at preserved levels.
Symptoms of menopause often begin much earlier during the perimenopause transition at a median age of 47 or (4 to 6) years before a women’s natural menopause occurs. Vasomotor symptoms are most likely to occur up to 2 years after the last menstrual cycle, but this menopause phase lasts 1-6 years after the final menses. What is happening in the body is the ovaries almost reach follicular exhaustion causing low levels of estradiol to be produced and the follicle-stimulating hormone levels (FSH) to begin to increase.
It is not uncommon that other medical conditions associated with aging be confused with perimenopause and menopause symptoms and make the transition difficult to recognize and treat.
Symptoms also occur directly and many years after menopause, hysterectomies, and ablations where surgeries and the natural course of the body’s transition leave an increase of FSH levels.
Almost all women with a uterus experience changes in their menstrual patterns in the perimenopause and menopause years, as a result of wildly changing hormone levels prior to ovarian follicular depletion.
What are the Symptoms of Menopause / Perimenopause Due to Hormone Depletion?
Poor Sleep / Sleep Disturbance
Depression, Decreased Sense of Well-Being
Hot Flashes
Night Sweats
Vaginal Dryness with arousal and that can get so advanced that itching and general discomfort occurs
Migraine Headache
Irritability, Mood Swings
Fatigue, Low Grade Apathy
Diminished Sex Drive / Low Libido
Mental Fog and Forgetfulness / Reduced Concentration
Diminished Focus and Memory
Increase in body fat, both subcutaneous and visceral, especially in the midsection
Elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol
Bladder problems
Anxiety/Palpitations
Crying Spells
Insomnia
Decrease in Bone Density (Osteoporosis, Osteopenia) is accelerated after menopause with a decrease of estrogen’s.
Joint Pain
Decreased Muscle Tone and Exercise Tolerance
Weak Immune System
What Are the Differences in Hormone Replacement Care?
Are bio-identical hormones used instead of pharmaceuticals?
Does the provider address all the hormones and understand the interrelationships between them?
Are treatment plans built unique for each patients’ symptoms, lab values and medical history?
Are lab values interpreted to optimize patients’ symptoms vs. accepting patients’ labs within “normal ranges?”
Are symptoms to hormone relationships understood so individualized adjustments can be made for each patient?
Is the right delivery system for EACH hormone used (i.e. Injection, Pellet, Creams, Tablet, Troche) these have drastic effects on outcomes?
Is the dosage of each hormone correct?
Is the frequency between treatments correct for you body’s metabolism?
Are the potential side effects managed appropriately?
Are risk factors managed?
What are the Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy “HRT”?
Reverse menopausal symptoms: hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, and vaginal dryness
“Loss of hormones at menopause results in significant genital atrophy, vaginal dryness, introital stenosis, and painful intercourse.” Family Practice News 2005 March;58-59
Enhance sexual response, sexual desire, and level of sexual arousal
“Loss of testosterone causes loss of libido, energy, strength, sexual function, memory, cognition, muscle and bone. Testosterone replacement, as far as quality of life is concerned, is tremendous.” Medical Crossfire 2001 Jan;Vol.3 No.1:17-18
Increased motivation and sense of emotional well-being
“Estrogen protects against neuron-degeneration, changes in mood, cognition and behavior.” Clinical Genetics 1998 May;6(5):15-19.
Maintain and build bone (prevents/reverses osteoporosis)
“The largest study to date, the Nurses’ Health Study, demonstrated a 100% decrease in heart disease and cancer for estrogen users. It is never too late to initiate estrogen therapy to arrest the progression of osteoporosis and hip fractures.” Female Patient 2004 Oct;Vol 29: 35-41.
Decrease body fat/ increased muscle ton
“Estrogen lowers cortisol which in turn reduces abdominal fat.” Female Patient, 2001April; 26:18-24.
Improved cognition/ brain function
“Higher testosterone levels increase cognition and memory.” Neurology 2005 Mar. 8; 64-5:866-71.
For Questions on what to expect on your fist and second visit, Pricing, Insurance, HSA – Please visit our FAQ Section.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.