Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy involves using hormones that are molecularly identical to those produced naturally in the human body to treat hormone imbalances that lead to deficiencies and unpleasant symptoms.
Some key things to know about bioidentical hormones:
The potential benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy include:
When hormone levels decline naturally with age or due to medical conditions, patients can experience profound deficiency symptoms that disrupt quality of life. Receiving customized bioidentical hormone treatments under a trained hormone specialist's care can provide lasting relief.
There are several potential reasons why patients experience a hormone imbalance leading to unpleasant symptoms:
Hormone production fluctuates across major life stages:
Even subtle individual hormonal differences among people of the same age and gender can cause symptoms in some but not others.
Certain diseases directly interfere with endocrine function:
Changes like blood pressure drops, extreme fatigue, mood shifts, or sexual dysfunction can signal it’s time to check a hormone panel.
Daily habits also take a toll on the intricate hormonal balance needed for wellbeing:
Aging is inevitable. But with bioidentical hormone therapy customized to an individual’s needs and progesterone ratios, the process can slow while enjoying sustained energy, sharper thinking, balanced moods, healthier hearts and bones, robust immunity, enhanced skin, sexuality and relationships with partners into later years when these joys matter most.
Detecting hormone deficiencies requires diagnostic blood, urine, or saliva analyses measuring circulating free and total hormone levels plus metabolites:
Key feminizing sex hormones checked include:
Also screen:
The major androgen is:
Also evaluate:
Getting accurate baseline lab work is crucial before developing a customized bioidentical hormone therapy regimen to target deficient hormones for stabilization, symptom relief, and protection against diseases related to those deficiencies.
Scheduling testing at consistent yearly or semiannual intervals then allows for monitoring patient progress adjusting dosages to keep hormones optimized as aging progresses and bodies change.
The caring medical providers at Renew Medical HRT Clinic have over 25 years combined experience specializing in precision balancing of hormones for women and men struggling with suboptimal energy, sleep disturbances, low libido, hot flashes, night sweats, mood instability, mental fogginess, aches and pains, weight gain, or other unresolved issues undermining quality of life.
We provide comprehensive services including:
"Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for menopausal symptoms. In fact, the evidence on risks and benefits is mixed - some studies show equal effects while others show slight advantages for one or the other. More research is still needed to fully understand how the body processes and responds to different hormone formulations over the long term."
Declining or fluctuating estrogen and progesterone are defining features of perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. They contribute heavily to uncomfortable vasomotor, neuromuscular, urinary, sexual, cognitive, bone, heart and skin symptoms plaguing up to 80% of women.
Restoring balance via bioidentical hormone therapy provides lasting relief.
Symptoms: Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, irregular periods, mood swings
Treatment: Mimicking the monthly cycling by giving combination estradiol and micronized progesterone in a sequential fashion helps regulate menstrual flow while alleviating other issues.
Symptoms: More intense hot flashes, vaginal dryness, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs), poor concentration and recall, joint aches.
Treatment: Continuous combined low-dose estradiol plus progesterone which no longer stimulates the uterine lining stops periods while increasing comfort.
Symptoms: Higher risks for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, fractures, dementia, Parkinson’s disease later in life.
Treatment: Research now supports starting hormone therapy in newly postmenopausal women for bone, brain, and heart protection. Adding testosterone provides additional benefits regarding muscle performance, insulin sensitivity, and sexual interest.
Testosterone powers male sexuality, fertility, lean muscle mass, bone density and mental sharpness. But as early as age 30, testosterone starts slowly declining about 1% yearly. Lower-than-optimal testosterone, clinically termed hypogonadism, contributes to unwanted weight gain, low energy, depleted muscle tone, emotional numbness, cloudy thinking and reduced sexual enjoyment.
Symptom checklists plus bloodwork aid diagnosis. If low testosterone is detected, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) restores levels spurring dramatic improvements in most men.
Symptoms: Loss of muscle definition, feeling tired despite adequate sleep, erectile dysfunction, decreased motivation and self-confidence. May include hot flashes.
Treatment: Topical gels, injectables, or pellet implants replenishing testosterone to healthy ranges leading to renewed energy, fat loss and toned muscles, sharper cognition, balanced mood and enhanced libido.
Symptoms: Being hospitalized for surgeries, ICU stays or serious infections can suddenly plummet testosterone. This delays healing.
Treatment: Short term testosterone normalization via injections or gels aids recuperating strength and resilience.
Symptoms: Sarcopenia - debilitating loss of muscle mass raising risks for frailty, falls and fractures; progression of chronic low energy and clouded thinking.
Treatment: Closely monitored testosterone pellets or injectables sustain vitality, independence, sharpness and quality aging.
Bioidentical hormones cannot fully compensate for inadequate sleep, poor nutrition, high stress and lack of movement which all disturb endocrine health.
Patients feel best when also adopting lifestyle upgrades like:
Implementing even a few positive changes multiplies patients’ wellness exponentially. Our clinic offers personalized guidance to realistically meet patients where they’re at to incrementally build life-enhancing habits promoting hormone health.
Seeking care promptly after bothersome symptoms surface allows for addressing reversible causes and realigning hormones before permanent repercussions set in.
Benefits of early detection and correction include:
Furthermore, multiple large studies following women given hormone therapy starting before age 60, right after ovaries stop making normal estrogen/progesterone amounts, show significant long term protection against heart attacks, strokes and death. Findings demonstrated a “critical window” for improving women’s cardiovascular health, bone density and reducing inflammation.
So we encourage women noticing perimenopause signals like hot flashes or period changes and men seeing any signs of declining testosterone like low energy or sex drive to promptly schedule testing and not delay. There is too much to lose by waiting years before addressing correctable hormone loss. And much to gain by tackling it early.
Locally Supporting Your Hormone Therapy Journey
Below are establishments and activities in the lovely, lively community of Minnetonka for nourishing mind, body and spirit while undergoing hormone balancing care through Renew Medical HRT Clinic over the unfolding seasons.
Convenient, quality testing services recommended nearby include:
Scenic local spots for forest bathing, relaxing and reflecting may inspire insights supporting your wellness include:
Minnetonka offers scrumptious eateries for healing "food as medicine" meals like:
Several local gyms welcome mature clients needing modified programs respecting hormone therapy patients’ needs:
We warmly encourage you to savor nutritious foods, mentally peaceful environments and consistent moderate activity supporting your renewed hormone health and improved is dedicated to optimizing patients’ longevity through collaborative, integrative care fine-tuned as your needs change. Please call today to begin your transformative journey.
