Hormone replacement therapy
Hormone imbalances can dramatically impact your mood, energy level, body composition and even your ability to maintain a healthy weight. Changes in hormone balance can happen for a number of reasons such as menopause, illness, aging, stressful events, poor sleep and more. Identifying and resolving hormone imbalance supports optimal metabolism, strong bones, clear thinking, balanced mood and deep sleep. At BioLounge, we offer a variety of hormone replacement options including compounded, bioidentical hormones, injectables and pellet implants to effectively control hormone levels in both men and women struggling with hormone imbalance. Our providers work to educate each patient about their hormone replacement options so they can decide which option is right for them.
Hormone replacement therapy restores optimal hormone balance with tailored hormones that are chemically identical to the hormones in your body. Both men and women suffer from suboptimal hormone levels and can benefit from hormone replacement therapy.
Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are commonly offered together for female hormone replacement to eliminate symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause such as hot flashes, weight gain, reduced bone density and night sweats. During menopause, women naturally experience a reduction in their reproductive hormones, which ultimately stops menstruation. This turning point in a woman’s life can lead to a number of changes and uncomfortable side effects such as night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain, mood changes, vaginal dryness, low libido, insomnia, dry skin and hair loss. Menopause also raises your risk of osteoporosis which leads to weak, brittle bones at risk of fracture. By optimizing hormone levels, hormone replacement therapy helps relieve menopause symptoms while protecting bones against osteoporosis.
Men may benefit from testosterone therapy when their production of testosterone slows. Testosterone is a hormone that the testicles produce to maintain your sexual function, bone density, sperm production and more. It plays a crucial role in male reproductive development and health throughout growth and aging. Although testosterone production naturally slows by about 1% every year after the age of 30, having abnormally low testosterone levels is called hypogonadism. Hypogonadism is common and is successfully resolved with testosterone replacement therapy treatment.
After age 30, men naturally face a gradual decline in the production of testosterone. To replace lost testosterone, the skilled team at BioLounge offers testosterone therapy to improve symptoms such as erectile dysfunction, weight gain and fatigue. Low testosterone can significantly impact the way you look and feel. Although low levels of testosterone affect every man differently, some of the most common signs and symptoms of this hormonal imbalance are low libido, erectile dysfunction, increased abdominal fat, loss of body hair, thinning hair, trouble concentrating, depression, reduced muscle mass, hot flashes and infertility (lowered sperm count). In some cases, low levels of testosterone can even lead to shrinkage in your testicles.
There are many different types of testosterone replacement therapy, including creams, oral lozenges and tablets, injections and pellets. The BioLounge team can help you decide which form is right for you.
Bioidentical hormones have the same chemical structure as the hormones your body naturally produces. Conversely, synthetic hormones aren’t chemically the same as your body’s natural hormones, leading to a heightened risk of side effects, most notably an increased risk of breast cancer in women. When delivered via pellets, bioidentical hormones are the most efficient way to regulate hormone imbalances in both men and women.
A clinician inserts rice-sized pellets underneath the skin in your buttocks to gradually release predetermined hormones into your system. Unlike alternative options, pellets begin to absorb directly into your bloodstream for the quickest relief possible as soon as they are placed. Over a 4–6 month period, the pellet gradually dissolves. Not only is pellet therapy effective, but the team can also tailor your treatment to target your unique needs. After four to six months, you and the provider will make any adjustments needed to customize your dose. Hormone replacement therapy with pellets takes about 7–10 days to take effect, and most patients experience noticeable results 2–4 weeks after pellet placement. Results are most significant after 6 months of pellet therapy.
Pellet therapy treats hormone imbalances in men and women. Two of the most common imbalances that pellet therapy treats are low estrogen and low testosterone. Low estrogen: Your ovaries make the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Although these hormones play a crucial role in reproductive development, ovaries reduce hormone production as women reach menopause. Menopause is a natural stage in life that happens to every woman, but some women experience the symptoms of this decline in hormones more than others. Many women suffer from night sweats, hot flashes, irritability, mood changes, low libido and vaginal dryness. Pellet therapy can help reduce many of these symptoms. Low testosterone: primarily affects men as they naturally produce less testosterone after the age of 30. Some men experience many of the same changes that women do during menopause, including low libido. Many men also struggle with erectile dysfunction, fatigue, weight gain and decreased bone mass. Pellet therapy helps replace lost testosterone to improve hormone imbalance symptoms.