Hormone therapy is a treatment that replaces hormones when the body cannot produce enough on its own. As we age or due to medical conditions, our hormone levels can become imbalanced, leading to unpleasant symptoms that impact quality of life. Restoring optimal hormone levels through replacement therapy can provide immense benefits and drastically improve wellbeing. This guide covers all the basics of hormone therapy - who needs it, what it treats, available options, and so much more. We aim to be your trusted source of information to take charge of hormonal health.
Hormone therapy supplements the body with hormones that it lacks due to dysfunction of the endocrine glands. It is an effective treatment approach for age-related or disease-induced hormone deficiency.
The key hormones that are commonly replaced include:
Hormone therapy can take different forms like pills, skin gels/creams, injections, subcutaneous pellets, or adhesive patches that supply your body with adequate hormone levels it needs.
You may be a candidate for hormone replacement therapy if suffering from symptoms like:
These indicate your hormones are out of optimal range. Both men and women can undergo treatment after proper diagnosis by a hormone health practitioner.
A qualified hormonal specialist will begin by reviewing your signs, symptoms, and medical history.
They will order key lab tests to analyze hormone levels and check for nutritional deficiencies that could impact endocrine function.
Common lab tests include complete blood count, metabolic panel, thyroid panel, sex hormones like testosterone or estrogen tests, stress hormones like cortisol, and more specific tests to assess different hormone axes.
| Benefits for Women | Benefits for Men |
|---|---|
| Relief of menopause symptoms | Increased energy and stamina |
| Reduced risk of osteoporosis | Improved strength and endurance |
| Improved vaginal and bladder function | Enhanced libido and sexual function |
| Increased sex drive and satisfaction | Better mood and cognitive function |
| Improved sleep quality | Reduced body fat and increased muscle mass |
| Better physical and mental wellbeing | Healthier cholesterol levels |
Hormone therapy aims to restore normal hormonal balance so the body and mind can function optimally. The wide range of benefits spans several aspects of health.
There are a variety of hormone supplements and delivery methods to choose from:
Used to treat menopause symptoms in women caused by dropping estrogen levels. Estrogen therapy comes as pills, skin patches, sprays, and creams, such as:
The most common treatment for testosterone deficiency or "low T" in aging males. Helps build strength, energy, and sex drive. Options include:
Used when the thyroid gland is underactive and produces too little thyroid hormones, leading to weight gain, fatigue, and hair loss. Contains synthetic thyroxine (T4) or triiodothyronine (T3) to restore optimal metabolism and energy levels.
GH therapy uses synthetic growth hormone injections under the skin to build muscle mass and bone strength. Mostly prescribed to counter age-related decline in HGH levels but can help those with growth hormone deficiency.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) oral supplements can modestly increase declining DHEA levels. This mildly boosts testosterone and estrogen levels in aging men and women.
It is vital to select an experienced hormonal doctor to determine which hormones are deficient and require replacement through proper testing and diagnosis.
Here are important factors to consider when picking a hormone therapy provider:
Choose an endocrinologist or specialist certified in age management medicine with extensive hormone therapy experience.
A thorough evaluation of health history and lab testing should determine which hormones to target and preferred delivery methods.
Hormone therapy risks and benefits differ among individuals, so personalized plans based on actual deficiencies are ideal.
Hormone levels need periodic assessment to adjust dosages accordingly for optimal results and safety. Select a clinic focused on continuous care through treatment.
Rejuvenate Clinic meets all the above criteria for hormone replacement therapy. Our compassionate, holistic hormone specialists have 15 years of expertise in hormonal balance tailored to your unique needs.
Prolonged hormone imbalance can negatively impact physiological function and lead to chronic issues over time. Key reasons to prioritize treatment:
Balancing declining hormone levels with therapy simulates more youthful function and slows aspects of the aging process.
Fluctuating or low testosterone/estrogen long-term raises the likelihood of osteoporosis, heart problems in men and women.
Normalizing hormones alleviates unpleasant symptoms to renew energy, sex drive, emotional health, which all enhance overall quality of life substantially.
In essence, timely hormone replacement preserves vitality and reduces degeneration across critical parameters of health. Routine testing ensures any deficiency gets addressed promptly through an easy-to-start therapy process.
Beginning hormone treatment comprises three simple steps:
Your hormone doctor will review symptoms, medical history, and order diagnostic tests to analyze deficiency.
They will determine which hormones to supplement, preferred delivery method, dosage, and schedule based on your hormone profile and needs.
Follow-up visits allow for testing hormone levels to ensure the therapeutic range is achieved and maintained with dosage adjustments as needed.
The team at Rejuvenate Clinic will guide you through every aspect of hormone replacement tailored to your individual hormonal needs.
Certain lifestyle measures alongside hormone therapy will enhance overall results:
Engage in fitness appropriate for your age and ability at least 3 times a week for morphological and circulatory benefits.
Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet low in sugar and high in antioxidants to provide the raw materials needed for optimal hormone activity.
Chronic stress raises cortisol, which can disrupt endocrine function. Practice relaxation techniques like meditation, breathwork, and yoga.
Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep allows hormones and the body to fully recharge each day. Establish proper sleep hygiene.
Adopting supportive lifestyle habits creates an internal environment where replacement hormones can work most effectively for more noticeable benefits in energy, body composition, sex drive, and general vitality!
Hormone levels significantly influence mood, cognition, and outlook. Deficiency manifests through emotional symptoms like:
Imbalances in key hormones precipitate chemical changes in the brain. Restoring balance through therapy improves mental wellbeing as the brain and emotions grow more resilient.
Men undergoing testosterone treatment often report better mood, mental sharpness, and ability to manage daily pressures. It clearly impacts more than just the physical symptoms.
Aging brings about declines in growth hormone, testosterone, estrogen, and other hormones. Keeping levels optimal as we age with therapy ensures the regenerative and protective effects continue longer to slow aspects of aging and prolong peak performance.
Benefits of youthful hormone levels include:
In essence, correcting age-induced hormone loss maximizes masculine and feminine traits well into our later decades.
A common misconception is that hormone replacement, especially testosterone therapy, raises cancer risk or speeds tumor growth in people who have had cancer.
The Facts:
Large research reviews encompassing thousands of men find no convincing evidence that testosterone treatment increases the risk for prostate cancer or its recurrence in men with a history of prostate cancer.
Studies also show estrogen therapy does not increase recurrent risk for breast cancer or worsen outcomes in the majority of women who survived breast cancer.
Of course, those with active hormone-sensitive cancers should avoid treatment without doctor consent. Discuss your unique risk profile with a specialist.
Our endocrine glands secrete powerful hormones regulating critical bodily processes tied to youthfulness. Age or disease hinders their optimal production, resulting in deficiency symptoms robbing us of peak energy and wellness.
Thankfully, restoring levels to the normal range is now possible under expert care. The expansive benefits of treatment make hormones an indispensable key to prolonging and maximizing total health and function.
Reach out to Rejuvenate Clinic today about specialized testing and therapies to renew your hormonal balance for an elevated quality of life!
