Hormones are messenger chemicals made by glands and tell other parts of the body how and when to work. Hormones control the majority of tasks in the body including sex and brain function, growth and the breakdown of food. Hormone imbalances can occur at any stage of life and when this happens, symptoms occur. In premenopausal women, doctors often attempt to control these symptoms by prescribing birth control pills which can actually cause an even greater imbalance.
Bioidentical hormones are lab created hormones that are almost an exact molecular match to those produced by our own bodies. The formulation of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can be used to supplement the hormones that are low or out of balance.
Bioidentical hormones can be premade at pharmaceutical companies, formulated by a compounding pharmacist or derived from naturally occurring plants and then processed for clinical use. Both the FDA-approved and compounded hormones come in a variety of doses and routes of delivery (pills/sublingual, creams, gels, and injectables on occasion).
The goal of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is to restore the levels of hormones which you had when you were in your prime feeling great and looking more youthful. By correctly balancing any irregularities, symptoms will improve.
Bloating, fatigue, irritability, hair loss, palpitations, mood swings, problems with blood sugar, trouble concentrating, infertility, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of interest in sex, pain during sex, problems sleeping, loss of energy, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, foggy thinking, memory loss -- these are just a few symptoms of hormone imbalance.
At La Bella é Famosa, we realize that hormone imbalances can actually impede the very results we are trying to achieve. In an effort to support our clientele in being their absolute best we have decided to add hormone therapy to our list of services.
As estrogen levels decrease in women who are postmenopausal, they may notice they gain more weight around the abdomen and arms. This is a huge concern in relationship to body contouring. Studies have proven that normalizing estrogen during menopause can counteract this disproportionate outcome.
Decreased levels of estrogen in perimenopause and menopause are associated with skin aging. The skin gets thinner as we age and it tends to wrinkle as collagen is lost. Skin also becomes drier, less elastic, and less vascular with age. Lower estrogen is associated with increased signs of skin aging. Hormone therapy may help prevent or delay the signs of skin aging.
Cortisol is an important hormone that may become imbalanced with stress or illness. Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands that lie on top of the kidneys. Stress impacts adrenal function and hormone levels. Get acquainted with hormone imbalance symptoms and signs so you can notice when things in your body and mind don't seem right.
If you can't sleep or you don't get good quality sleep, hormone balance may be to blame. Progesterone is one compound released by the ovaries that helps you sleep. Low levels may make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. A small study in postmenopausal women found that 300 milligrams of progesterone restored normal sleep when sleep was disturbed. Estrogen levels decrease in perimenopause and after menopause. This may contribute to night sweats and hot flashes, which often disrupt a woman's ability to sleep.