Hormone balance in men and women is heavily decided by a variety of factors. While some alterations of hormone levels come with aging, they can also be caused by stress, irregular appetite/sleeping patterns, and subjection to toxic substances. At Integrative Medicine of NYC we believe that tracking your hormone levels over time will help prevent any health risks that are caused by an imbalance.
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormone Imbalance can be due to the dysfunction of certain endocrine glands, which store and release the hormones in the body. There are multiple endocrine glands in the body, some of which include the pituitary gland, adrenal gland, hypothalamus gland, etc.
Some conditions that may affect one or more of these endocrine glands/hormones are:
Hypoglycemia
Poor dietary habits
Severe allergic reactions
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Exposure to toxins (including pesticides and herbicides)
Tumors
Eating Disorders
Causes for women:
Women experience hormonal imbalance naturally through puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, but can also experience hormone imbalance from medical conditions:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Birth Control Medication
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
Early Menopause
Causes for men:
Men may also experience hormone imbalance through certain medical conditions aside from puberty:
Prostate Cancer
Hypogonadism
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
The symptoms of hormonal imbalance are different for each person, as it depends on which hormone/gland is affected. In addition to this variability, symptoms may increase over time and become more frequent.
Weight gain/loss
Fluctuations in heart rate
Anxiety/Irritability
Difficulty sleeping
Dry Skin
Depression
Fatigue
Appetite changes
Muscle weakening
Headaches
Changes in blood pressure/blood sugar
Increased sweating
Symptoms for women
Women may also experience the following symptoms:
Heavy/Irregular period
Breast tenderness
Diarrhea
Constipation
Vaginal dryness
Symptoms for Men
Men may also experience the following symptoms:
Reduced body hair growth
Breast tenderness
Enlargement of breast tissue
Low sperm count
Low muscle mass
Treatment
Get treatment from top-rated doctors at Integrative Medicine of NYC with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
BHRT is the process by which hormones in the patient’s body are replaced with hormones that are molecularly identical. These identical horomones are obtained from the chemical substances of plants that are modified in a laboratory. The hormones are then made into gels, creams, and pills that are ready to use.
BHRT is not to be confused with synthetic hormones. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a natural process. Synthetic hormones have been shown to increase risk of diseases because they are not identical to those of the human body, thus being recognized as a foreign substance.
When to use Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
BHRT is primarily used for those over 30-40+ years who have been exposed to toxins (environmental/dietary) that lower hormone levels.
Hormonal Imbalance can cause a variety of diseases, which in turn can affect your quality of life:
Metabolic syndrome
Adrenal fatigue
Sexual dysfunction
Thyroid disease
If you notice that any of the following symptoms are hindering your daily activities, then you may be a candidate for BHRT:
Depression/Mood swings
Memory loss
Fatigue
Hair loss
Weight gain
Low energy
The Benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
BHRT is not the same for everyone; each prescription is made to fit the needs of the patient. For this reason, BHRT is much safer than any other hormone therapy and has more potential benefits:
Protects bone density
Decreases hot flashes
Decreases vaginal dryness
Reduced risk of depression
Better sleep patterns
Improve energy levels
Improve cholesterol
Adverse Effects of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
The negative effects that may occur are temporary and depend on the remaining hormones that are unbalanced. While in the process of BHRT you may experience the following the side effects:
Headaches
Breast tenderness
Mood swings
Irritability
While it may be disappointing to experience side effects similar to those of hormone imbalance, there will likely be an absence/ huge reduction of these side effects once your hormones have reached their balance. While BHRT make take multiple sessions, it will certainly result in a better lifestyle.
Schedule online today, and we'll follow up with a quick introductory phone call to get you set up. And that's it!
You can also call us at (212) 242-5300 to get started today.