Women’s Hormones

With 50 hormones in our bodies, it’s easy for some of them to get out of sync. In fact, statistics show that 80 percent of women suffer from hormonal imbalance, many living with these imbalances without even realizing it. At Revity Medical, our physicians expertly identify and address the underlying causes of hormone imbalance and can help women improve their health and lives through hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

What Causes Hormonal Imbalances in Women?

Many causes of hormonal imbalance in women are related to reproductive hormones. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that are produced by a woman’s ovaries. As you begin to transition into menopause, your ovaries no longer produce high levels of estrogen and progesterone. The natural changes that occur during menopause are the most common causes of hormonal imbalance.

Other common causes of hormonal imbalance include:

  • Menopause
  • Hysterectomy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Pregnancy
  • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  • Hormone drugs such as birth control pills

Health Benefits of HRT

Women taking estrogen alone or estrogen plus Progesterone tended to have a lower risk of hip and vertebral fractures. Other benefits of HRT include:

  • Relief of hot flashes
  • Relief of night sweats
  • Relief from insomnia
  • Relief from vaginal dryness
  • Relief from vaginal itching
  • Can make sex less painful
  • Can lower the risk of heart disease among some women
  • Can lower the risk of dementia
  • Can decrease anxiety
  • Can improve mood swings

Signs & Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women

Women might have low estradiol if their menstrual cycle has stopped before menopause, or if they are experiencing these symptoms or any other symptom of menopause. Women will also want to watch for an increase in ITUs, an onset of depression, or painful intercourse. There are a variety of symptoms of hormone imbalance in women. Symptoms of hormone imbalance may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Night Sweats
  • Hot Flashes
  • Decreased Sex Drive
  • Weight Gain
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Cold Hands and Feet

When is Female HRT Most Beneficial?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women can help any woman whose hormones are out of balance. However, the most common time individuals seek out bioidentical hormone replacement for women is when they’re experiencing menopause. There are three stages of menopause — perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. There are also rare instances regarding women who have never had balanced hormones, as evidenced by excessively painful menstrual cycles and extreme mood swings. Hormone replacement therapy for women can help treat the cause of these issues and get you back to leading a normal life.

What are bioidentical hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are chemically and functionally identical to human hormones.
These bioidentical hormones are designed to produce the same responses in the body as hormones made by the human body.
Restoring and balancing hormones with bioidentical hormones is an individualized approach to hormone replacement.

What are the differences between bioidentical and synthetic hormones?

The difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones is dual fold. Unlike bioidentical hormones, synthetic, or conventional, hormones may be patented by pharmaceutical companies; therefore dosage varies only by milligrams dictated by your provider, while the molecular structure of the prescribed hormone is the same for every single person on that drug. Additionally, synthetic hormones are not created structurally the same as human endogenous hormones, which often leads to uncomfortable side effects. While synthetic hormones can mimic the effects of endogenous hormones on certain biological pathways, they rarely offer the same effectiveness at a deeper, molecular level.

Bioidentical hormones mimic the affinity of human endogenous hormones; therefore they are effective on more biological pathways, at all levels. Because bioidentical hormones are an exact structural replica of endogenous hormones, side effects are rarely observed, and in the event you do experience side effects, talk with your provider—the dosage may simply need to be adjusted. The added benefit of bioidentical hormones is that each dose is tailored specifically for your needs, not simply what doses the pharmaceutical company offers (as is the case with synthetic hormones.)

HOW IS A HORMONE IMBALANCE DIAGNOSED?

Step 1 — Consultation with Our Providers

We will discuss your health history, symptoms, do a physical examination, and perform a blood test.

Step 2 — Follow Up Appointment

This appointment takes place 1 week after your initial consultation where we will review, in detail, the results of your blood work and how they might relate to any symptoms you may be experiencing.

Step 3 — Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

Based on the combination of your physical exam, bloodwork, and review of symptoms, our providers will identify and diagnose any deficiencies that may be present. Based on this information, they may suggest a treatment plan to counterbalance any deficiencies and restore optimal hormone function.

Step 4 — Cost and Insurance

When a treatment plan is recommended by one of our providers, they will discuss any questions you may have, explain what your individual health insurance covers, what your out of pocket costs may be, and outline a comprehensive breakdown of what you can expect both financially and your treatment plan.