When most people think of hormone replacement therapy, they immediately think of women going through menopause.
While treating hot flashes related to menopause is one of the goals behind this form of treatment, it’s definitely not the only one.
In fact, hormone replacement therapy in Atlanta can be used to help both men and women balance out their hormone levels.
Why are balanced hormones so important?
What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances?
Hormonal imbalances can affect anyone of any age. Here are just a few of the symptoms we’ve seen patients present with.
Basic Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances
- Unexpected weight loss or gain
- Sleep issues
- Changes in blood pressure and/or heart rate
- Irritability, increased anxiety, depression
- Extreme fatigue
- Headaches
- Reduced sex drive
- Infertility
- Thinning of the hair
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances in Men
- Erectile dysfunction
- Overdeveloped breast tissue
- Breast tenderness
- Reduced body hair
- Low sperm count
- Lower sex drive
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances in Women
- Breast tenderness
- Deepening of the voice
- Heavy, irregular periods
- Weight gain
- Acne
- Vaginal dryness
- Night sweats
- Skin tags
What are the causes of these imbalances?
There are a number of causes, the most common being aging. Some other culprits include:
- Excessive or prolonged periods of stress (physical, mental, and/or emotional)
- Diabetes
- Under or overactive thyroid
- Poor nutrition
- Medications (particularly anabolic steroids)
- Tumors/cysts
- Cancer
- Overweight/Obesity
- Iodine deficiency
- Anorexia
- Exposure to toxins and other endocrine disruptors
The list is definitely not exhaustive. Anyone who has any of the symptoms above should have blood work done to evaluate for hormone imbalances and to check for serious health conditions.
Hormone Replacement: How We Can Bring You Back into Balance
When patients come into our practice for a hormone consultation, we’ll order lab work so we can see the levels of the patient’s hormones, macronutrients, and cardiometabolic levels.
Based on the test results, we can create a customized treatment plan which can include testosterone cream or injections, as well as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) therapy for men. A treatment plan for our female patients often includes nutritional supplements, as well as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone treatments.
After 8-10 weeks, we have the patients check back in with more lab work to evaluate their hormone levels. Depending on the results of the lab work, we can make adjustments to the patient’s treatment plan.
The Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men and Women
Why do we highly recommend hormone replacement therapy for both men and women?
We do this because so many are dealing with hormonal issues, and these types of problems can cause a lot of problems in a person’s life.
When we can straighten their hormone levels out, though, we often see people’s lives completely turn around. They go from feeling exhausted, depressed, and anxious to feeling energized and full of life.
The transformation is something we want everyone who is dealing with these issues to experience.
Hormone Replacement Can Help People of All Ages
While hormones can be used to help people who experience lowered hormone levels later in life, it can also be beneficial to people in their younger years.
We’re all prone to hormone fluctuations. These can be triggered by illness, medications, or lack of proper nutrients.
Hormones which are out of balance can have a profound impact on our lives. This is why it’s so important to get hormone levels checked regularly – regardless of age.
The sooner we know there’s a hormone issue, the faster we can fix it with hormone replacement therapy – which will result in better health, more energy, and improved quality of life.
