HORMONAL IMBALANCE IN WOMEN AND TREATMENT OPTIONS
The normal aging process causes hormone production to decline in everyone resulting in imbalances that have both physical and psychological effects. Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone are the 3 hormones which are primarily responsible for regulating a woman’s body.
When one or more of these hormones becomes out of balance it can cause changes and symptoms that wreak havoc with respect to how a woman looks and feels.
THE 4 HORMONAL STAGES OF WOMEN WHICH OCCUR THROUGHOUT LIFE:
Stage 1 Pre-Menopause
Pre-menopause refers to the time between a woman’s first regular menstrual and her last. This is the period of “normal” reproductive function for a woman.
Stage 2 Peri-Menopause
Peri-menopause is referred to as the “transitional” stage. It can vary from 2 to 10 years before complete cessation of menstruation. This is usually experienced by women 35 to 50 years of age. During this stage a woman can experience major hormone fluctuations which can cause typical symptoms, such as hot flashes.
Stage 3 Menopause
Menopause marks the natural end of a woman’s reproductive cycle. It is at this point that the body’s ability to produce estrogen and progesterone naturally decreases substantially. The ovaries stop producing eggs and a woman is no longer able to become pregnant naturally.
Stage 4 Post-Menopause
Post-menopause is the period of life after menopause. This phase is generally believed to begin after 12 full months have passed since the last menstrual period.
As a woman passes through each of these four stages, she will go through many physical and psychological changes as her own body’s ability to maintain proper hormonal balance diminishes.
Symptoms
If you are experiencing hormonal imbalance, it is very likely your body is sounding alarm bells to let you know! While hot flashes and night sweats are 2 of the more common symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women, there are many more that may not be quite so obvious.
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight gain
- Mood swings
- Urinary tract infection
- Decreased sex drive
- Difficulty concentrating
- Insomnia
- Vaginal dryness
- Fibrocystic breasts
Complications of hormonal imbalance:
The following are potential risks that may be of concern for women with long term hormonal imbalance. Several of these risks such as osteoporosis, increased heart disease, and depression may be higher for women with a family history of them.
- Osteoporosis
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Depression
- Loss of bone mass
- Decreased muscle tone
- Accelerated aging process
Treatment
Thankfully hormonal imbalance is treatable. By simply restoring those 3 primary hormones to the correct levels, symptoms can be significantly or eliminated.
Because each woman and their lifestyles vary, our clinical care team will not only develop a custom treatment plan, but you will have several options in which to administer the hormones.
Your hormones may be administered in one of the following forms:
- Orally as a capsule, tablet or sublingual tab (dissolves under the tongue)
- Applied topically as a cream
- Inserted by the medical doctor as tiny pellets smaller than a tic tac under the skin
Goal of Treatment
Our primary goal is to diminish symptoms by correcting the imbalance of hormones. Once treatment is initiated, you will track symptoms and follow-up every 4-6 weeks to determine what if any adjustments need to be made.
Being consistent with treatment as well as tracking and reporting your progress is vital to the outcome you experience. During the first 90 days of treatment, you can expect minor changes to be made in your hormone plan to ensure results are optimal. You will play an important role in helping our care team help you achieve success balancing hormones and diminishing symptoms.
Contact Us
Contact us to schedule your free consultation with our one of our clinical care team members and start the process toward restoring your hormonal balance today!
