The Value of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause

What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

To understand what Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is, you first need to understand what hormones are and how they control how your bodily functions. Hormones are chemicals made by the glands in your body, and they are responsible for directing the rest of your body on how and when to work. In that way, hormones control every facet of your body. From higher brain function to sex, and from growth spurts to digestion, hormones are behind it all. Just as robust hormone production equals healthy adults, imbalanced hormones can result in decreased bodily function.

So where does Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy come in? Bioidentical hormones are man-made replicas of naturally-occurring hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Through scientific innovation, drug companies have been able to introduce safe alternatives to other hormone therapies that help to replace decreased or absent hormone levels in the bodies of both men and women. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps to replenish hormone levels, resulting in a myriad of positive results.

Why Do We Use BHRT instead of Synthetic HRT?

In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) placed a black box warning on the synthetic hormone replacement therapies that were widely used to correct hormone imbalances in both men and women. Since then, both patients and scientists have struggled to find ways to replace the hormones that no longer function due to age due to menopause or andropause. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy rose from the controversy and offers patients a safer alternative to Synthetic Hormone Therapy. By using plant-based substances to deliver natural, hormone-like therapies to patients, Effective Integrative Healthcare can restore hormonal functioning in adults.

Moreover, FDA-approved Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapies have allowed Effective Integrative Healthcare patients to safely combat the effects of both low estrogen and hormone levels without the devastating side effects that come with Synthetic Hormone Therapies. If you are suffering from the side effects of menopause or andropause, it’s worth looking into Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy as a treatment method.

What Are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalances?

Unfortunately, hormone imbalances are quite common, and they become more prevalent and disruptive the older you get. While menopause is a well-known fact of life, men also experience extreme hormonal changes as they age. As a result, the bodily functions that once worked, begin to fail or slow down. The three significant hormones – estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone – most vital to sexual function are the ones hardest-hit by menopause and andropause. As a result, men and women experience a broad spectrum of unpleasant symptoms. Fortunately, bioidentical hormones help Millersville, MD patients recapture their vitality, energy, and overall functioning by replacing the lost hormones. If you’re experiencing either menopause or andropause, chances are you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Decreased sexual drive
• Pain during sex
• Difficulty sleeping
• Decreased daytime energy
• Chronic fatigue
• Loss of muscle mass
• Weight gain
• Foggy thinking and decreased mental agility
• Mood swings and irritability
• Memory loss

What Can You Expect When You Get Bioidentical Hormones?

Effective Integrative Healthcare advises you to make an appointment with one of our specialists to determine whether Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a good fit for you. While the treatment is effective, it is not for everybody. Our professionals will perform diligent testing on your hormone levels and use your medical history to judge whether bioidentical hormones can help you. Millersville, MD patients trust our expertise and knowledge implicitly, as we’ve helped countless patients recapture the feeling of their youth by minimizing the destructive symptoms of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Before your appointment, you should keep a careful log of all your symptoms, taking care to note how often and severe they are. It’s also helpful to provide us with context. For instance, let us know whether the symptoms are worse in the morning or evening, or whether they worsen after eating. Additionally, make a complete listing of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you’re taking and their dosages.

Our specialists will use the information gleaned from your data during your first appointment to determine whether you’re a candidate for the treatment. We perform a comprehensive blood analysis, measuring your hormone levels. We also use that bloodwork to determine what dosage level you’ll need during the treatment. After that, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy takes place in three phases:

• We implant the bioidentical hormone pellets: These customized pellets are placed in the fatty tissue under your skin. They’re created by fusing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone to small cylinders. These pellets are highly effective at delivering potent dosages of hormones directly into the system. Because they are the size of, or smaller than, a grain of rice, the procedure can easily be performed in our office.
• The implants release the desired amount of hormones: Once implanted, the bioidentical hormones begin delivering targeted, consistent dosages of hormones – estrogen, testosterone, or progesterone – into your system.
• Improvement is noticed: You’ll begin to notice the effects shortly. Some things to keep an eye on include a noticeable increase in energy, more stable moods, an increased sex drive, better sleeping habits, enhanced memory, and weight loss, among others. Don’t worry if you don’t notice all of these results. Each person is different, and the scope and time varies from patient to patient. Women will need to continue to undergo the treatment for four to six months, and men might need as much as five months to see results fully.

Benefits of Using BHRT for Menopause and Andropause

Effective Integrative Healthcare treats women suffering from the side effects of menopause every day. We want you to know that while menopause is an unavoidable fact of life, the symptoms aren’t. Bioidentical hormones can help Millersville, MD women go about their day with a clearer mind, fewer mood swings, increased libido, and sleep better at night. In fact, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is perfect for treating the effects of menopause. While less well-known, andropause, which affects men, elicits the same negative side effects. Bioidentical hormones can help men experience a greater sense of fulfillment in their daily lives. Take control of menopause and andropause with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

How Can You Increase the Effectiveness of Bioidentical Hormones?

As with all of Effective Integrative Healthcare’s treatments, how you care for your body makes a big difference in the efficacy of the treatments you visit us for. Eating healthy, protein-rich meals, exercising, and avoiding harmful foods or liquids will help the bioidentical hormones do their work more quickly and efficiently. When you visit our office, be sure to ask our chiropractor how you can play a part in the process and improve your prognosis.

What Are the Risks Associated with Bioidentical Hormones?

Biomedical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a medical procedure, and like with any other procedure, it does carry risks. However, BHRT is also safe. Effective Integrative Healthcare will make sure you’re aware of all the risks before proceeding with the treatment, and we make ourselves available to answer questions once the treatment begins. Your body is not used to the new hormone. That’s why it is critical you immediately contact us if you notice any side effects, even if they might seem minor. While minor side effects can disappear on their own, we still need to know about them. Side effects include:

• Increased acne
• Weight gain
• Blurry vision
• Fatigue
• Increased facial hair in women
• Headaches
• Breast tenderness
• Spotting
• Cramping
• Bloating
• Mood swings
• Indigestion
• Red spots around the treatment area
• In rare cases, you might experience blood clots, a stroke, or gallbladder disease.

Our Bioidentical Hormone Options in Millersville, MD

Effective Integrative Healthcare uses pellets to deliver highly-effective Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy to the body. The pellets are a great delivery system, as they are small enough to avoid a major surgical procedure and hospital stay. More importantly, they produce a steady stream of bioidentical hormones into your system. You might be wondering where these bioidentical hormones come from. One of the top rated pharmacy, Hormone Therapy Center of America, creates what are called compounded bioidentical hormones based on data gleaned from your lab work. That way we can calculate an exact dosage level and frequency and avoid costly and time-consuming trial and error.

Call Effective Integrative Healthcare About BHRT Today

Effective Integrative Healthcare provides innovative, custom-tailored bioidentical hormones to Millersville, MD patients in the form of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. As you age, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels decrease. While this is a natural byproduct of aging, you don’t have to suffer the consequences. Instead, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to minimize the impact of the side effects. In addition to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Effective Integrative Healthcare provides a host of chiropractic care and massage and therapy services to patients suffering from a wide range of conditions, including whiplash treatment, trigger point injections, and general neck pain treatment. We use a combination of chiropractic readjustment techniques and massage therapy to restore order to our patients’ lives. Contact us today.