As we age, our body’s hormone production can decrease, leading to various uncomfortable symptoms. Many men and women opt for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to reduce these effects and restore their energy.
You can replace your body’s hormones in two ways一with systemic products that circulate through the bloodstream or products that affect only certain localized areas.
The type of hormones and dosages a patient will receive can vary. There is no one-size-fits-all hormone therapy appropriate for everyone. In order to get the greatest benefit from hormone replacement therapy, schedule a consultation with the skilled professionals at Agents of Healing.
What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) describes the process of replacing or supplementing the body’s natural hormones with hormones created from chemically similar sources. Usually, these sources are derived from plants.
Do You Need Hormone Therapy?
As women age, they enter menopause and experience many symptoms, including hot flashes, osteoporosis, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. Lower hormone levels in the body often cause these menopausal side effects. Doctors typically prescribe progesterone, estrogen, or combination therapy to control symptoms.
Similarly, as men age, testosterone levels can decrease. While men usually don’t suffer from a complete lack of testosterone, men who have abnormally low testosterone levels can experience reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, moodiness and irritability, and loss of muscular strength. Hormone replacement therapy can help to address many of these concerns.
BHRT may prove beneficial for men and women experiencing low levels of naturally occurring hormones and suffering from the associated effects.
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Clinical studies have provided strong evidence showing hormone therapy’s benefits. The top five benefits include:
- Fewer and less intense night sweats and hot flashes
- Increased energy levels
- Bone loss prevention
- Improved sleep
- Enhanced intimacy
Each of these benefits of hormone replacement therapy contributes to overall improved quality of life for the patient.
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Fewer (and Less Intense) Night Sweats and Hot Flashes
As men and women age, the gradual decrease in certain hormones can cause issues with body temperature regulation. For women, the decline in estrogen production is primarily what causes night sweats and hot flashes. For men, low testosterone levels can be the culprit.
Changes in testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen affect how other hormones can regulate body temperature. Hormone therapy can help these chemicals get back into balance, reducing the intensity and frequency of night sweats and hot flashes.
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Increased Energy Levels
BHRT can help reduce fatigue and increase energy levels for men and women. In fact, this is one of the most commonly reported benefits of hormone therapy. When hormone levels are corrected with therapy, the body is fueled properly, which can correct the way a person’s metabolic system operates.
Replacing those lost hormones with bioidentical ones can help to regulate energy production. In turn, this can bring weight back under control.
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Bone Loss Prevention
One of the benefits of hormone therapy is the normalization of osteoblast turnover. Hormone levels regulate the activity of osteoblasts, which are the cells in the body that create bone. When hormone levels drop, these cells can no longer effectively do their jobs.
BHRT can preserve bone mineral density in all body areas, leading to a significant reduction in the amount of bone worn down over time. Since a person’s bones can retain a healthy density level with BHRT, the risk of fractures from trips, falls, and other accidents decreases significantly.
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Improved Sleep
When hormone levels decrease with age, night sweats can interrupt sleep multiple times throughout the night. As a result, the quantity and quality of sleep suffer.
Sleep is vital for good health. Without enough high-quality sleep, a person’s overall mental and physical health may decline. Moodiness and fatigue can also arise from a lack of sleep.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help the body restore its natural rhythms, making it easier to fall asleep, decrease restlessness, and enjoy a deeper, more restful sleep. Some evidence even suggests that hormone therapy can help counter some of the effects of sleep apnea.
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Enhanced Intimacy
Due to the decreased production of hormones in the body over time, both men and women can suffer from low libido and a decreased desire for intimacy.
As vaginal walls become thinner, drier, and more inflamed, intimacy can become uncomfortable and painful for women. Men with low testosterone may have difficulty maintaining an erection. Some men lose muscle mass and even suffer from a decrease in their sex drive.
One of the benefits that many BHRT patients report is a heightened satisfaction with intimacy. Hormone therapy can rejuvenate sexual drive and interest, restore natural vaginal lubrication for women, and reduce pain associated with sexual intercourse.
For men, BHRT can improve the quality of erections, restore overall energy, increase muscle mass, and heighten sex drive.
Find Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Perrysburg, OH
Every person has unique needs and goals for their health, so it’s essential to consult with anti-aging specialists before seeking bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. What is best for one person may not always be best for another, and we take the time to assess your current condition, goals, and health before prescribing any treatments.
A person’s chronic health conditions, overall health status, diet and nutrition, activity level, and more can play a role in how hormone replacement therapy can improve their health.
Are you ready to see an improvement in your life? Contact the anti-aging specialists at Agents of Healing today to learn more about BHRT and experience the benefits of hormone replacement therapy.