BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT) FOR WOMEN
You’re probably reading this because you may be experiencing symptoms that could be related to Menopause.
Strictly speaking, menopause occurs when your menstrual cycle ceases for one year, and it’s one of the few medical conditions that can persist for a year before being diagnosed and treated.
Of course, most of us think of menopause as the stage in a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop (and other bodily changes occur), as a result of decreasing levels of various hormones. But while most hormones are decreasing, two hormones – cortisol and insulin – may increase during the menopausal years, leading to excess abdominal fat and the slow disappearance of your waistline, among other things.
The average woman is familiar with some menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbance, foggy brain and depression. However, these problems may be just the tip of the iceberg.
Once you encounter menopause, you’re stuck with it, BUT you needn’t be stuck with adverse effects to your health and appearance, as long as you restore certain all-important hormones.
Today, you have a choice about how you want to age. You can live a healthy life, filled with energy and passion, provided you maintain a balanced endocrine system.
If you think you are in menopause, check the list of symptoms below or take the self examination.
THE MOST COMMON MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS:
- Hot Flashes
- Night Sweats
- Irregular Periods
- Vaginal Dryness
- Hair Loss
- Dizziness
- Weight Gain
- Incontinence
- Bloating
- Allergies
- Brittle Nails
- Changes in Odor
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Breast Pain
- Headaches
- Joint Pain
- Burning Tongue
- Electric Shocks
- Digestive Problems
- Gum Problems
- Muscle Tension
- Itchy Skin
- Tingling Extremities
- Osteoporosis
- Mood Swings
- Fatigue
- Sleep Disorders
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Memory Lapses
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Panic Disorder
- Loss of Libido
BIO-IDENTICAL VS. SYNTHETIC HORMONES
The debate still rages over treatment of menopause with synthetic pharmaceutical hormones versus the natural bio-identical hormones. On April 21, 2009, Dr. Phil addressed the importance of managing women’s hormone levels with Bio-Identical Hormones vs. synthetic.
Bio-identical hormones are made with the same molecular structure as the hormones in your own body. Synthetic hormones are intentionally different. Pharmaceutical companies can’t patent a bio-identical structure, so they invent synthetic hormones that are patentable like Premarin™, Prempro™ and Provera™.
Hormone therapy with natural, bio-identical hormones has been proven time after time to promote a better quality of life. Check with us to find out if you are a candidate for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.
THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF ESTROGENS: ESTRONE (E1), ESTRADIOL (E2) AND ESTRIOL (E3):
Estrone is the estrogen of menopause, but because it produces a number of undesirable side effects, there is controversy over whether or not to replace estrione. One drug, Triest, is a combination of 80% estriol, 10% estradiol and 10% estrione. However, few anti-aging doctors prescribe this combination of estrogens when treating menopause.
Estradiol is the most abundant estrogen during the reproductive years. In the brain, it affects serotonin levels, pain threshold and fine motor coordination. It also affects your ability to learn and multitask.
Estradiol also has a number of desirable affects on the heart. Transdermal estradiol reduces CRP, an inflammatory marker associated with heart disease. In many studies, it has been shown to be cardio protective, improving the elasticity of your arteries and decreasing the accumulation of plaque. Estradiol is also important for your skin and hair, your bones, energy production, and over all well-being.
Estradiol has a profound effect on a woman’s sexuality. It maintains the integrity of the vaginal wall and the cells lining the vagina. Without estradiol, the cells become thin, and the vaginal lining dries out. Obviously, this diminishes sexual pleasure by making certain activities uncomfortable and even painful.
Most important, without estradiol, the body is thrown into accelerated aging.
Estriol is the weakest of all three estrogens. Found in the placenta, Estriol appears to protect against breast cancer.
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BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY CONSULTATION
Schedule by phone at (414) 616-3935 or fill out the online consultation request