Hormones are chemical messengers that help control and coordinate many bodily functions, including growth, repair, and reproduction, by carrying messages between different parts of the body. There are over 50 different types of hormones identified in the human body, and they are made in the glands of the endocrine system. These glands include the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, and testes, among others.
Many medical conditions are caused by hormone issues, including diabetes, thyroid disease, irregular menstruation, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, and obesity. Hormone imbalances themselves can be caused by tumors or other growths, damage to part of the endocrine system, autoimmune conditions, and hereditary gene mutations.
In order to treat hormone imbalances, your doctor may recommend bioidentical hormone therapy to bring balance back to your endocrine system and restore your body’s proper function.
What Are Bioidentical Hormones?
Unlike the hormones made by your body’s glands, bioidentical hormones are artificially produced and come from plants. They are designed to mimic the body’s natural hormones and can help people who experience symptoms of unbalanced or low hormones. The most commonly used bioidentical hormones are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, but there are many others out there.
Bioidentical hormones can be administered in many forms, including pills, creams, patches, gels, shots, and implanted pellets. To determine which form is most suitable for your symptoms, consult with your healthcare provider. You may have to try more than one before you find the method that works best for you.
Conventional Hormone Therapy vs. Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
For conventional hormone therapy, the supplemental hormones are synthesized using chemicals or animals, rather than the plants used for bioidentical hormones. The result is a hormone that is similar to those found in the human body, but not exactly the same.
On the other hand, bioidentical hormones have an identical chemical structure to the body’s natural hormones, meaning they function just like the hormones your body naturally produces. This gives them greater efficacy compared to conventional hormone therapy.
Another difference between conventional hormone therapy and bioidentical hormone therapy is the dosage. People who choose conventional hormone therapy receive a set dosage of hormones, while bioidentical hormone therapy seeks to mimic the body’s natural rhythms and patterns by using different dosages at different times, allowing each patient to receive customized care.
Benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
People who choose to undergo bioidentical hormone therapy experience many benefits. These effects are different for men and women.
Benefits for Women
For women, the symptoms of hormonal imbalances can include especially heavy or irregular periods, hair loss, mood changes, dry skin, weight gain, and hot flashes.
Women can receive bioidentical hormone therapy at any stage in life, but those who are going through perimenopause or menopause are especially good candidates for this treatment. During menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels decrease, and bioidentical hormone therapy can bring the body back into balance.
Benefits for Men
There is a male equivalent to menopause, known as andropause. This occurs when testosterone levels decrease as men reach middle age, but hormone imbalances can occur at any time of life.
Common symptoms of hormone imbalances for men include reduced muscle mass, low sperm count, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, depression, and reduced body hair growth. Bioidentical hormone therapy can relieve these symptoms and restore a man’s energy and vitality.
Professional Care From Elevate Wellness and Vitality
If you’re experiencing the effects of a hormonal imbalance, you need high-quality care to get your life back to normal. The professional staff at Elevate Wellness and Vitality has the expertise to safely and effectively bring your hormone levels back into balance. If you’re interested in starting bioidentical hormone therapy, schedule an appointment with us today.
