Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
WHAT IS ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE?
Progesterone and Estrogen, commonly known as the “female sex hormones”, are steroid hormones that play a major role in normal sexual development, fertility and sexual performance along with being responsible for the various female characteristics in the body. In addition, they affect many other physiological processes in the body (cardiovascular health, bone health, sleep, mental and emotional health, and more).
Although Testosterone is known as the “male sex hormone”, women do produce and need testosterone, but at much smaller amounts. Women can have symptoms resulting from either too much or too little testosterone. (i.e. PCOS).
LOW ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE CAUSES?
Estrogen and Progesterone are primarily produced in the ovaries, a pair of ova-producing organs (that is, they produce egg cells), that maintain the health of the female reproductive system along with other systems of the body. Some estrogen and progesterone are produced in the adrenal glands (small gland that sits on top of each kidney).
For testosterone, about 25% is made in the ovaries, 25% in the adrenal glands and 50% produced in the peripheral tissues from the various precursors produced in the ovaries and adrenal gland.
Hormonal imbalances can be multifactorial and has many causes, internal to or external to the ovaries:
- Normal Aging (perimenopause, menopause)
- Medications
- Other hormone imbalance (thyroid, adrenals, insulin)
- Obesity, Overweight
- Poor nutrition
- Lifestyle (i.e. poor sleep, high stress, sedentary)
- Environmental toxicity
- Injury or conditions of the ovaries, hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland
- Surgical removal of the ovaries (surgical menopause)
- Genetic conditions
- Cancer treatments (i.e. radiation and/or chemotherapy
LOW ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE SYMPTOMS
For women, hormone imbalances (estrogen, progesterone, and yes, testosterone) can be as early as their mid-20’s. The most profound changes come in their 40’s to 60’s, as a women approaches perimenopause and menopause.
Symptoms of hormone imbalances in women include:
- Menstrual Irregularities
- Hot Flashes / Night Sweats
- Poor Sleep / Insomnia
- Low Sex-Drive (Libido)
- Breast tenderness
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Irritability & Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Depression or anxiety
- Foggy thinking
- Decreased concentration or focus
- Memory problems
- Low bone density
- Decreased muscle tone and mass
- Fat accumulation
- Thinning skin or wrinkles
- Chronic Urinary tract infections
LOW ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE TREATMENT OPTIONS
MEDICATIONS
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT):
- Transdermal - topical gels, creams and patches (most common form for estrogen BHRT)
- Oral capsules (most common form for progesterone BHRT)
- Sublingual (under the tongue) Troches
- Buccal (between the cheek and gum) Troches
- Intramuscular injections – (testosterone BHRT)
- Pellet Insertion – An in-office minor surgical procedure where testosterone pellets are placed within the fatty tissue, typically in the buttock area, thru a small incision. Typically, this last about 4-6 months.
NUTRITION & LIFESTYLE THERAPIES
LOW ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE CAUSES?
Estrogen and Progesterone are primarily produced in the ovaries, a pair of ova-producing organs (that is, they produce egg cells), that maintain the health of the female reproductive system along with other systems of the body. Some estrogen and progesterone are produced in the adrenal glands (small gland that sits on top of each kidney).
For testosterone, about 25% is made in the ovaries, 25% in the adrenal glands and 50% produced in the peripheral tissues from the various precursors produced in the ovaries and adrenal gland.
Hormonal imbalances can be multifactorial and has many causes, internal to or external to the ovaries:
- Normal Aging (perimenopause, menopause)
- Medications
- Other hormone imbalance (thyroid, adrenals, insulin)
- Obesity, Overweight
- Poor nutrition
- Lifestyle (i.e. poor sleep, high stress, sedentary)
- Environmental toxicity
- Injury or conditions of the ovaries, hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland
- Surgical removal of the ovaries (surgical menopause)
- Genetic conditions
- Cancer treatments (i.e. radiation and/or chemotherapy
LOW ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE SYMPTOMS
For women, hormone imbalances (estrogen, progesterone, and yes, testosterone) can be as early as their mid-20’s. The most profound changes come in their 40’s to 60’s, as a women approaches perimenopause and menopause.
Symptoms of hormone imbalances in women include:
- Menstrual Irregularities
- Hot Flashes / Night Sweats
- Poor Sleep / Insomnia
- Low Sex-Drive (Libido)
- Breast tenderness
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Irritability & Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Depression or anxiety
- Foggy thinking
- Decreased concentration or focus
- Memory problems
- Low bone density
- Decreased muscle tone and mass
- Fat accumulation
- Thinning skin or wrinkles
- Chronic Urinary tract infections
LOW ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE TREATMENT OPTIONS
MEDICATIONS
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT):
- Transdermal - topical gels, creams and patches (most common form for estrogen BHRT)
- Oral capsules (most common form for progesterone BHRT)
- Sublingual (under the tongue) Troches
- Buccal (between the cheek and gum) Troches
- Intramuscular injections – (testosterone BHRT)
- Pellet Insertion – An in-office minor surgical procedure where testosterone pellets are placed within the fatty tissue, typically in the buttock area, thru a small incision. Typically, this last about 4-6 months.
NUTRITION & LIFESTYLE THERAPIES
EVERY JOURNEY STARTS WITH ONE STEP
TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP TODAY
We invite you to schedule a free, no obligation “Discovery Meeting” to meet our doctors, or Personal Physicians as we like to say. In this meeting they will discuss your health goals, treatment options, and answer any of your questions.
