By Mary Halpin
Summer’s here, and you want to get out and enjoy it, but you’re feeling under the weather, right? It’s a common situation once you get into perimenopause and post-menopause years – or even earlier with other health issues. So – let’s look again at hormonal imbalance and what BHRT can do to help you feel more like yourself.
In this post, I’ll answer questions about hormones and BHRT – and specifically, I want to include:
- what BHRT is and how it differs from conventional hormone therapy
- how BHRT can help with hormone imbalance
- long-term benefits of BHRT
What Are Hormones?
You probably don’t want a detailed science lesson – so here’s a general background before we dive deeper!
Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. Glands in your endocrine system produce them, and they travel through your bloodstream to reach specific organs and tissues. They then play a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions such as growth and development, metabolism, and reproduction.
So let’s make that crucial link between your body’s natural hormones (that may be failing in some way) and bioidentical ones, as in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
What is BHRT, and How is it Different From Conventional Hormone Therapy?
BHRT is a specialized form of hormone therapy that’s popular because it uses natural, plant-based hormones with the same chemical structure as those naturally produced by your body. This means that BHRT offers a more usable and natural approach to hormone replacement.
In contrast, conventional hormone therapy involves synthetic hormones that differ from the ones that naturally occur in your body. While conventional hormone therapy can still be effective in treating certain conditions, it may not be the best choice for everyone.
I always recommend bioidentical hormones – as they’re often safer and more effective than conventional hormone therapy.
Because BHRT uses hormones that are identical to those already present in your body, it can help alleviate your hormone imbalance symptoms without causing you unwanted side effects. The choice of BHRT therefore makes complete sense.
What Types of Hormonal Imbalance Can BHRT Help With?
Hormonal imbalance is often the underlying cause of chronic diseases and conditions that lead to the increased aging of our population. I’m thinking of conditions such as inflammation, heart disease, cancer, type II diabetes, osteoporosis, and depression. They can often have hormone imbalance as the root cause.
Hormone imbalances that BHRT can help with include
- estrogen dominance,
- low testosterone,
- adrenal fatigue, and
- perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause symptoms.
But hormone imbalances range wider than the menopause ones I just mentioned!
They manifest in various ways, but some common signs of hormonal imbalance you might experience include:
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Acne or other skin issues
- Mood swings
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Fatigue or low energy levels
- Changes in libido
- Hair loss or thinning
- Difficulty sleeping
- Digestive issues
- Headaches or migraines
BHRT can help you with all of these. You might also like to have a look at our checklist of symptoms for men or women.
How Does BHRT Help Solve Hormonal Imbalances?
The key is to restore balance within your hormone system. By supplementing the body with hormones identical to the ones it naturally produces, BHRT aids in restoring homeostasis to your body’s endocrine system.
In addition, by addressing deficiencies in your hormone levels, BHRT effectively mitigates the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances. Think hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and mood swings, etc. What’s not to like?
What Are the Potential Benefits of BHRT?
Thinking longer term, you’ll find that BHRT not only offers you immediate relief from the symptoms of hormonal imbalance that we just mentioned – and more – but can also provide
- reduced risk of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and colon cancer,
- improved blood vessel elasticity,
- increased energy levels,
- better sleep,
- reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety,
- healthier skin and thicker hair, and
- less brain fog.
How Do We Customize BHRT For Your Individual Need?
The specific dosage and frequency of pellet insertion are determined based on your specific hormone levels, symptoms, and health considerations – and we adjust those as needed during the course of your treatment.
This personalized approach ensures that the BHRT regimen is tailored to meet your specific needs. In contrast – and recalling what I said above about synthetic hormone replacement – those are produced in standardized versions with specific dosages, rather than personalized.
What we do at Evexias Denver is to take an integrated and functional medicine approach to your care and go to the root cause of your hormonal imbalance and then create a customized BHRT plan for you.
How Do We Deliver BHRT at Evexias Denver?
Our preferred way to administer BHRT is through pellets – we recommend this method because it’s a straightforward in-office procedure. We insert the pellets in the fatty tissue under your skin via a minor surgical procedure.
Once inserted, the pellets release a steady and consistent dose of hormones into your bloodstream over several months. This ensures a continuous and balanced hormone delivery, avoiding the fluctuations often associated with other forms of hormone replacement therapy.
Your body decides when it needs the hormones (as it always does, naturally!) and when the hormones are used up, your body absorbs the pellet.
How Long Does it Take to See Results With BHRT?
This varies depending on you and the specific hormone(s) being replaced. Some people may see results within a few weeks, while with others it may take several months. If your hormones have been in the tank for a while, it will take some time to bring your levels up to get maximum symptom relief. We monitor your situation and encourage feedback on your symptoms at all times.
Are There Any Risks or Side Effects Associated with BHRT?
When you first start BHRT, you might experience some side effects, such as:
- acne,
- mood changes,
- fluid retention
- cramps,
- bloating,
- fatigue,
- uterine spotting/bleeding,
- hair growth, or
- headaches.
These symptoms usually only happen with the first and second pellet insertions. Once the body adjusts to the hormones, these go away.
And like any medical treatment, BHRT also has some potential risks. One of these might be increased risk of blood clots and stroke (in patients who are obese, smoke, or have a history of blood clots)
I always recommend having an open discussion with us before you start BHRT treatment for hormone imbalance, to mitigate any potential negative side effects.
Ready to Get Started With BHRT?
Don’t let the problems associated with hormonal imbalance hold you back this summer! If you think BHRT might be right for you, contact us at Evexias Denver to learn more about BHRT and how it can help you feel your best at any age.