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Do you know the role of hormones in your body? Hormones are the messengers that tell your body what to do and how to work, affecting your body’s functioning. Therefore, a slight hormonal imbalance may cause symptoms that interfere with daily life. Plano The Riegel Center offers customized bioidentical hormone prescriptions to help relieve hormonal imbalance symptoms. Bioidentical hormones originate from plant extracts and mimic natural hormones, so your body will accept them naturally. Read the following article to learn what you should know about bioidentical hormones.
Why Would Your Doctor Recommend Bioidentical Hormones?
Aging leads to fluctuations in hormone levels in your body, and when the levels drop, you may begin experiencing uncomfortable symptoms. Low progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone levels may lead to hot flashes, night sweating, low libido, fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, sleeping problems, and vaginal dryness. Your doctor will likely recommend bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to help increase your hormone levels and thus improve your symptoms.
Can Anyone Use Bioidentical Hormones?
The decision to take bioidentical hormones will be between you and your doctor after you weigh the benefits and risks of the procedure. You can benefit from bioidentical hormones if you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance. However, using bioidentical hormones may not be safe if you have a high risk for conditions like blood clotting disorders and stroke. Cardiovascular diseases and breast cancer may also not make hormone therapy safe.
Are There Forms Of Bioidentical Hormones?
Your doctor may recommend different bioidentical hormones, including pills, creams, patches, and gels. You can also receive shots and get implanted pellets into your body. Your doctor will help you decide which method will work well for you. You may have to try different forms of the hormone before finding which one works for you.
How Does Treatment with Bioidentical Hormones Work?
Your doctor will give you the smallest dose of the form of the hormone while watching you closely to ensure you find relief from your symptoms. Since bioidentical hormones come from plant extracts, they will mimic your natural body’s hormones. You may need routine checks, including blood, urine, and saliva tests, to check your hormone levels and adjust them according to your needs. Generally, treatment with bioidentical hormones has passed FDA approval and is, therefore, safe for you.
Are There Side Effects of Bioidentical Hormones?
Though treatment is generally safe, using the bioidentical hormone may increase the risk of stroke, blood clots, and gallbladder disease. You may also experience side effects as your body adjusts to the new hormonal levels and, in other cases, require a change in dosage. Common side effects include weight gain, blurred vision, fatigue, acne, increased facial hair, and mood swings. You may also develop itchiness and redness in the area where you use cream.
Hormones, including progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone, tend to decline with age. When they do, you will begin to develop uncomfortable symptoms. Menopause may also cause hormone level fluctuation, which may lead to hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sweating at night, weight gain, low libido, and weight gain. Replacing low hormonal levels with bioidentical hormones will help reduce these uncomfortable symptoms. You may begin experiencing relief within a few weeks, but the full effect may take up to three months. You can talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of bioidentical hormones if you are considering the treatment.
