Hormone Optimization Therapy in Whitefish
What is Hormone Optimization Therapy?
Hormone optimization (aka Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT) is designed to address hormone imbalance. Traditionally it was thought to just be for women experiencing menopause but HRT is designed to address hormone imbalance in males and females across a wide age range! Signs of hormone imbalance can manifest at any age. If not addressed, hormone imbalance can cause many symptoms such as fatigue, inability to lose weight, loss of muscle mass, lack of focus and mental clarity, diminished drive, depression, mood swings (anger), anxiety, irritability, insomnia, lack of stamina, hot flashes, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido etc.
What are hormones?
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers that travel all around your body. They control how cells and organs work. Hormones impact energy, metabolism, mood, growth, development, sexual function etc.
Other Benefits of HRT
HRT has many additional health benefits besides improving energy, stamina, growth, libido, and mood. Proper hormone therapy implementation can have the additional benefits of promoting healthy bone mass and density, preventing osteoporosis, decreasing risk of memory loss and cognitive decline, increasing cardiovascular health, and preventing insulin resistance.
Bio-identical vs Synthetic Hormones
Don't all hormones work the same? No, they don't! A key factor to look for when considering hormone optimization is how the product is made. There are bio-identical and synthetic hormones. Bio-identical and synthetic hormones may have similar effects in the body but the main difference between the two is precision. Bio-identical hormones more closely mimic the natural hormones found in the human body so they have more positive outcomes and less negative side effects than synthetic hormones.
What are they made from?
Bio-identical hormones are made from plants including wild yam (not the kind of yam you buy at the grocery store) or soy. They are referred to as natural because they come from natural sources. Synthetic hormones are created in a lab.
How do hormones work?
The human body is extremely complex and so are the chemical messengers (ie hormones) it uses to communicate and function. Bio-identical hormones, unlike synthetic hormones, closely mimic the molecular structure of natural hormones found in the human body. Hormones work in the body based on a lock-and-key model. In this analogy, the hormone is a ‘key’ and the ‘lock’ is a receptor on an organ. When hormones bind to organs, they exert further physiological effects to result in normal body functions. If the key (ie hormone) fits the lock (ie the organ) then the body functions as it should. If the key doesn’t match the lock then the door won’t open, ie the organ won’t get the signal it needs to function and other issues and side effects could arise.
What Can Cause Hormone Imbalance or Reduction of Hormone Production?
There are many things that can cause hormone imbalance or a decline in hormone production with the most obvious being the natural aging process. Other things that can influence hormone production are high stress levels, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, inadequate sleep, smoking, alcohol, coffee, certain medications, chemicals, some personal care products, cleaning products, metabolic disease, illnesses, or other pre-existing health conditions.
Routes of Application
There are several routes of application for hormone optimization therapy with the most efficacious being pellet insertion. Topical creams and gels can be other options.
