Imbalanced hormones can throw the body completely out of balance and may cause mood swings, weight gain, memory loss, and even acne. Most commonly, this happens to many women when they transition to the menopausal stage. As most of them are looking to sleep better, reduce hot flashes, and improve their sex life, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) might be the key to solving the hormone imbalance they experience.
What Are Symptoms of Imbalanced Hormone Levels?
In women, hormonal imbalance typically starts during perimenopause (between 30-50 years old) and can last throughout their lives. In fact, approximately 80% of women experience symptoms related to hormone imbalance and menopause. On the other hand, men’s hormone imbalance can start as early as their 20s and continue to last their lifetime.
Below are symptoms of imbalanced hormone levels:
- Trouble sleeping
- Decreased sex drive
- Vaginal dryness
- Trouble losing weight
- Mood swings
- Hot flashes
- Memory loss
- Depressed or anxious
What Benefits Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Provide?
When hormones are balanced, and when hormone replacement therapy is effective, the following benefits are something to look forward to:
Increased Sex Drive
Since imbalanced hormone affects both men and women, many think they simply lose interest in physical touch when they age, which is not always the case. If a person suffers from low or imbalanced hormones, the sex drive will also be low. By taking hormone therapy, there will be an increase in libido and an enhanced sex life.
Better Sleep
Hormones affect in so many ways, and one is the inability to get a good night’s rest. When estrogen and progesterone level are low or falling, this affects the ability to become sleepy. These hormones aid in falling asleep, and the imbalance can also lead to needing night sweats and add to the lack of energy and sleepiness.
Put An End To Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are a nightmare for women undergoing perimenopause or menopause and can be experienced even up to 10 years after menopause. HRT stops them in their tracks and reduces the hot flashes by putting the hormone levels back in place.
Decrease The Chance Of A Broken Bone
With age, the bone density also decreases, on which hormones play a role in weak bones. In fact, HRT is the first-line treatment for preventing and managing osteoporosis in women with menopausal symptoms under the age of 50 years.
Kickstart The Weight Loss Journey
Some may experience unexplained weight gain, which imbalanced hormones may be the root cause. The hormones and an underactive thyroid gland are most likely to blame for those struggling to lose weight. Balanced hormones alongside proper exercise and nutrition can help lose weight and stay healthy.
Anti-Aging
The hormone replacement therapy positively affects the skin’s anti-aging by increasing skin collagen content, thickness, elasticity, and moisture levels, which reduces common skin changes associated with aging, such as wrinkles or sagging.
Who Can Benefit From Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy offers benefits that outweigh the risks for those who are healthy and:
- Those who have moderate to severe hot flashes
- Those who have other symptoms of menopause
- People who need to prevent bone loss or fractures
- People who experience early menopause or have estrogen deficiency
What To Expect Throughout The Hormone Replacement Therapy?
HRT’s first step is coming in for an initial evaluation. During this first assessment, the trained medical professional will discuss all of the patient’s problems lately, including their severity. If they sound like the symptoms of sex hormone imbalance, they will draw a little blood to determine if the sex hormones are imbalanced.
Also, the doctor may discuss the preferred bioidentical hormone replacement therapy method during the initial consultation. A blood test will determine whether the sex hormone levels are imbalanced because it is the most accurate diagnostic testing method by far. Once the sex hormones are identified and are insufficient in the blood, as well as if the patient is deficient, a treatment plan will be tailored to fit the patient’s needs.
Are There Risks In Receiving The Hormone Replacement Therapy?
According to some studies, hormone replacement therapy may slightly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and stroke in postmenopausal women taking estrogen and progestin (a form of progesterone).
However, the majority of subjects are over 60 years old, which may reduce the validity of the study results. As indicated, the benefits may outweigh the risks, but hormone replacement therapy can still increase the risk of these conditions:
- Pregnant
- High blood pressure problems that aren’t being treated
- Have had ovarian, breast, or womb cancer
- Have liver disease
- Prone to blood clots
- Heart disease and strokes
How Quick Is The Result After The Treatment?
The results of the HRT will be noticeable within a few short weeks of treatment. However, it can take a few months to feel the full effects of the therapy. The delivery system chosen plays a role in how quickly the results will become apparent. The lifestyle will also affect how quickly a person can enjoy all of the therapy’s benefits.
Here are some of the best things to do to get the most out of the treatment.
- Manage stress. The better a person manages the stress, the more they get out of the therapy. When mentally stressed, the body responds by producing cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. This hormone affects the body in many ways, including increasing the appetite, encouraging the body to store visceral fat and subcutaneous fat in the abdominal region, and impeding the body’s ability to produce sex hormones.
- Exercise. It is a great way to boost neurotransmitters and relieve stress. Also, it is a great way to improve the strength of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, and pulmonary system. Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily five times per week will help get the most out of the HRT.
The Bottom Line
As more people experience hormonal imbalance and menopause, the so-called HRT becomes more popular among women who want to relieve the symptoms and effects of menopause. Waco Center for Functional Medicine, PLLC offers Hormone Replacement Therapy designed to replace the imbalanced hormones while in the grips of menopause. They utilize advanced testing to identify hormonal imbalance and personalize the treatment with bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and/or herbs to get back on track and feel your best.
