Few things are more frustrating than feeling like you are no longer yourself. You’re not under the weather, but you feel off, physically and emotionally. For many, hormonal imbalances cause people to feel physically and emotionally off. At Anazao MD in Steamboat Springs, CO, we proudly offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to help our clients feel like themselves again.

If your hormones are imbalanced, you may feel like your life is spiraling rapidly beyond your control. You may suffer from insomnia and develop depression. You may feel overwhelmed and frustrated by the erratic shifts in your mood. Luckily, you don’t have to accept this as your new normal. Hormone replacement therapy can help you feel like yourself again.

How Long Does Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Take To Work?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, also known as BHRT, presents results at different rates in different people. Every client starts with different hormone levels at the beginning of therapy. Each client’s body metabolizes the administered hormones at different rates. Therefore, some people will notice certain symptoms improving while others have yet to enjoy an improvement at all.

Additionally, how quickly results become apparent depends on the type of hormone therapy received. While individual results vary, most people can expect to enjoy relief from their symptoms within the first 21 days following treatment. Some benefits that can be expected after treatment may include:

• Increased libido
• Elevated mood
• Increased energy
• Emotional stability

What You Need To Know

Bioidentical hormones are special because they exact molecular replicas of the hormones produced naturally by your body. These aren’t synthetic hormones manufactured in a lab. Rather, they occur naturally in nature and are most often plant-derived. Since these hormones are natural and completely compatible with your body, they are highly effective.

Bioidentical hormones are the ideal solution if your body can’t produce a particular hormone at an adequate rate. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can restore balance to your hormone levels. Both women and men alike can benefit from this therapy if they are suffering from the symptoms of imbalanced hormones.

Benefits of BHRT

People who receive bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can derive many benefits from restoring balance to their hormone levels. For example, they may find they sleep more soundly, wake up feeling more rested and falling asleep easier.

They may find they are once more interested in sex and the symptoms of sexual dysfunction are reversed. They may find they feel stronger, more astute, happier and energetic than they felt before their treatment. They may notice fat loss, muscle gain and an improvement in their mobility.

Hormone Application

There’s no such thing as an effective one-size-fits-all treatment. Every client is unique and needs customized treatments for ideal results. When you attend your initial evaluation, we will review the possible hormone delivery systems that may benefit you. Usually, people opt for oral supplements, dermal patches, creams and injections. However, it is also possible to have hormones delivered through nasal sprays or implanted beneath the skin in the form of a pellet.

The symptoms you are trying to relieve, the severity of your symptoms, your lifestyle and your personal preferences will all affect the delivery system selected for you. We understand each client is unique, and you can expect your hormone replacement program to be tailored to you.

Better Than Supplements

Over the past 10 years, researchers and nutritionists have become even more aware of how much havoc hormonal imbalances wreak on the body and mood. Some people have claimed changing your diet is adequate to restore balance to your hormone levels. This may help those with minor hormonal imbalances. That said, it is rarely adequate.

If you are suffering from severe hormonal imbalances, changing your diet may provide you with marginal benefits. However, it will not be enough to improve your quality of life significantly. No diet, no matter how clean, will correct severely imbalanced hormone levels. Stress, the aging process and thyroid problems can all cause your hormone levels so significantly that changing your lifestyle in an attempt to balance your hormones is nothing more than an exercise in frustration. Supplements are also inadequate.

What Happens Throughout the Treatment Process?

Evaluation

Before your treatment begins, you need to come in for an initial evaluation. We will talk about your lifestyle, medical history and family medical history. This will help us understand your mental, emotional and physical health. The more honest and thorough you are when describing your symptoms and lifestyle, your customized treatment will be more effective.

Blood Work

Your blood work is also essential to getting the best possible results from your bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. You will be asked to provide a sample for a comprehensive blood work panel. The results of these tests will provide us with objective data related to your serum sex hormone levels.

Your symptoms affect the recommended hormone delivery system. Your blood work tells us by how much each of your hormones is imbalanced and allows us to provide you with the appropriate dose of bioidentical hormones.

Tailored Treatment Plan

As noted above, each client gets a tailored treatment plan to address their hormonal issues. People come in with different symptoms, and customized plans are necessary so everyone can enjoy complete relief. Your unique plan will target all of your issues and your BHRT will begin as soon as we know the doses of hormones you need, how quickly you need them delivered and how they can be delivered most effectively.

Continued Monitoring

We will monitor your progress once your BHRT journey has begun. Quarterly, you will receive a blood work panel to ensure your serum sex hormone levels are appropriate. We will also ask you about the improvement of your symptoms to ensure you are satisfied with your progress. Additionally, we welcome any questions at any time throughout your hormone replacement process.

Who Is a Good Candidate for BHRT?

What’s outstanding about BHRT is it can correct many issues. You may be considered a good candidate for this treatment if you are experiencing mood swings, insomnia and unintended weight gain. At the same time, your sister may be considered a good candidate for this treatment if she is experiencing cognitive decline, night sweats and lethargy.

Notably, both men and women alike experience imbalanced hormone levels and can benefit from this therapy. Additionally, you don’t have to be in your 50s or 60s to be considered a good candidate for this treatment. People can experience severe hormonal imbalances in their 20s, 30s or 40s. A complete blood panel will reveal if you are a good candidate for this therapy.

Men Suffering From Low Testosterone

Low testosterone, also known as low-T, is an incredibly unpleasant condition to suffer from. Among the symptoms of this condition are reduced libido and weight gain. BHRT can help men restore their testosterone levels safely and effectively.

Men Suffering From Male Menopause

Men may never go through menopause, but they often go through a very similar condition. Andropause is a condition that usually affects men over the age of 40, but younger men can also suffer from this condition. Among the symptoms associated with this condition are fatigue, lethargy, insomnia, mood swings and a drastically reduced sex drive. Hormone therapy can reverse these symptoms by restoring sex hormone levels.

Women Suffering From Perimenopause

Different women will suffer from perimenopause at different ages, but the condition always precedes menopause. Among the most common symptoms associated with this condition are insomnia, fertility problems, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, pain during sex and vaginal dryness. This therapy can ease the symptoms of perimenopause and help women transition more smoothly into menopause.

Women Currently Going Through Menopause

Menopause is usually an incredibly uncomfortable experience. In fact, many women find this period of their life is punctuated with mental, physical and emotional exhaustion. Women going through menopause often don’t feel like themselves, but with BHRT, they don’t have to suffer for long. BHRT can smooth the transition into postmenopause.

Men and Women With Hormonal Imbalance

You don’t have to be suffering from low-T, andropause, perimenopause or menopause to be considered a good candidate for this treatment. There are several other reasons why your hormone levels may be imbalanced. That said, you can still benefit from BHRT. If you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance, schedule a consultation to find out for sure if your hormone levels are imbalanced and you could benefit from BHRT.

Why You Should Consider This Therapy

imbalanced hormones can cause a ripple effect that affects the rest of your body’s systems. That’s why people are often confused when they have symptoms throughout their bodies rather than localized symptoms. That’s due to the important roles hormones play in your daily operation.

Mental and Emotional Health

Stabilizing your hormone levels can result in the stabilization of your mood. In fact, the mental and emotional exhaustion that accompanies hormonal imbalance is often more difficult to handle than the physical symptoms. For example, hormonal imbalance can cause depression, making it impossible to hold down a job or enjoy hobbies. People with hormonal imbalance may also feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster they can’t leave.

Physical Health

Among the physical symptoms of hormonal imbalance are fatigue, weakness and chronic exhaustion. Acne breakouts are also common in individuals with imbalanced hormone levels. Furthermore, hair loss and unwanted hair growth can occur.

Even worse, people with imbalanced hormone levels are more likely to develop such diseases as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis, in particular, is common in postmenopausal women due to the significant role estrogen plays in maintaining bone density.

Quality of Life

Interpersonal RelationshipsUnfortunately, hormonal imbalances don’t just affect the person suffering from them. Severe symptoms can affect your platonic and intimate relationships alike. People with hormonal imbalances often experience depression, angry outbursts, moodiness and anxiety.

Your loved ones may feel they have to walk on eggshells around you to prevent angry outbursts. This can put a strain on even the strongest relationship.

It’s Time To Feel Like Yourself Again

You don’t need to spend the rest of your life suffering from the uncomfortable, frustrating symptoms of imbalanced hormones. You deserve to feel good as you age.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help you feel like yourself again. To find out if you could benefit from hormone replacement therapy, you need to come in for a one-on-one conversation with one of our hormone specialists. Contact us now at Anazao MD in Steamboat Springs, CO to schedule your initial consultation. You deserve to age gracefully in comfort.