In women, our natural production of hormones begin to decline around age 35. This isn't always problematic, as hormones will reach their steady state after menopause, however, many women experience bothersome effects of hormone decline and imbalance.
Common symptoms of hormone imbalance for pre-menopausal women include menstrual cycle changes, irritability, PMS, sleep disturbances, anxiety and difficulty losing weight. For menopausal and postmenopausal women, this can look like hot flashes, insomnia, mood changes, depression, anxiety, loss of stamina, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, low libido, and vaginal dryness.
If hormones are naturally supposed to decline, then you might find yourself asking why we bother to treat it? A simple analogy is this: why do we get glasses or contact lenses, or cataract surgery when our vision starts to decline with age? because it improves our quality of life! You may be experiencing symptoms or medical problems related to hormone imbalance without even realizing it, or you may even have seen your doctor or OB/Gyn about these issues without getting answers or an effective treatment plan. Its simple: when its bothersome to the patient, and they are seeking treatment, we treat.
Treating hormone imbalance is so much more beneficial than just helping us FEEL better. Bioidentical hormones have been extensively studied and proven to protect our cardiovascular system, preserve bone density, improve immune function, decrease breast cancer risk, and even prevent neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.
Not all hormones are created equal. Let's discuss.
Non-bioidentical hormones are derived from animal estrogens and progestins such as Premarin from horse urine, and Provera or oral birth control pills. These hormones do not have the same molecular shape as human estradiol, therefore they do not fit into the human receptor sites perfectly. They mimic the natural form of the hormone, but can trigger abnormal physiologic responses and adverse effects. When taken orally, these hormones break down into metabolites, which can pose health risks.
Bioidentical means the chemical structure is exactly the same as the hormones produced by our bodies - which means they act in the exact same way.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a personalized approach to balancing your hormones. They are compounded by specialty pharmacies in exact dosages and can be combined to meet each individual patient's needs.
TRIO makes it easy to get your hormones tested and discuss your options with a healthcare professional. We use convenient at-home test kits using your saliva, blood, or urine. Kits are shipped directly to your door, so there's no need to visit your primary care doctor, or make a lab appointment.
Request an appointment or get your free 5-minute consult to see if you'd benefit from BHRT!