Low energy. Low Sex Drive. Mild depression and/or irritability. Weight Gain. Trouble Sleeping. All of these symptoms affecting your quality of life may indicate a hormone imbalance. Hormone imbalance can be caused by many factors including inflammation, aging, poor intestinal health, and other underlying health complications. At Belcara Health, we utilize a food-first approach to healing, as we uncover the root of your hormonal imbalances in order to treat the cause (not just the symptom). Among the many tools in our arsenal to optimize your hormonal health, we utilize bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). As local, Baltimore-area “BHRT” specialists, our practitioners can evaluate and determine whether or not BHRT is the appropriate tool to elevate your health and significantly improve your overall well-being.
Hormones play a significant role in how our bodies function. Fluctuations in our hormones can negatively impact how we look, feel and perform. There are a variety of factors that can create hormone imbalance, including:
The hormone system in our bodies is delicate and must remain in a state of balance for you to feel your best.
If just one hormone is out of “whack,” there can be a downstream effect that causes your other hormones to become imbalanced as well. This can cause a variety of symptoms that can range from unpleasant to debilitating, including:
Treatment begins with a thorough evaluation and analysis of your current hormone levels (derived from extensive blood work), your symptoms, and your overall health condition. From this analysis, we will be able to determine the cause and devise a treatment for hormone imbalance. BHRT is a tool our functional medicine practitioner may recommend in order to assist in the healing process. Throughout your treatment, we will carefully monitor your progress and make adjustments to your therapy as needed.
If our medical team determines that hormonal therapy is the right treatment for you, we may use a variety of methods to administer the hormones, including pellets, pills, topicals, and injections. Your delivery method will depend upon the type of therapy you need and your preference. As an example, if you are given pellet treatment, your protocol may be as follows: pellets, about the size of a grain of rice, are implanted under the skin in the fatty tissue, to release small doses of hormones, mimicking the body’s natural hormone production. Pellets can last between 3 to 6 months and are completely dissolved before the next pellet is inserted. Insertions are virtually painless.
Men hit their peak testosterone levels in their late 20’s, with testosterone production slowly declining after that. The result is andropause, or male menopause. Low testosterone levels can result in depression, fatigue, irritability, frailty, sleep problems and decreased sexual drive. Hormone therapy for men – which can include testosterone replacement therapy – can balance your testosterone levels, significantly reduce these symptoms, and greatly improve your quality of life. Common outcomes are:
In women, hormone imbalances are common during monthly menstruation, perimenopause (which can occur in the 30’s), and menopause. In addition to reproductive-related changes, hormone imbalances can also be caused by thyroid disease, adrenal issues, stress, metabolic syndromes, environmental toxins, and smoking.
When estrogen, progesterone and testosterone production fluctuates, women may experience weight gain, mood changes, low energy, slower metabolism, hot flashes, insomnia, and decreased sex drive. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women can reverse these symptoms and greatly improve quality of life in many ways, including:
This “hormone makeover” treatment can also decrease a woman’s risk for osteoporosis, dementia and heart disease, as estrogen contributes to maintaining bone mineral density. After menopause, women are at higher risk for bone density loss, partially because of the loss of estrogen levels.
If you are ready to improve your health, performance, and quality of life, we can help. Our Baltimore-based bioidentical hormone therapy doctors are renowned for providing results that significantly improve our patients’ quality of life. We will listen carefully to your concerns and goals, answer all your questions and help you make informed choices.
Exceptional patient care is the core of our philosophy at Belcara Health. Our goal is for you to feel as if you just received the best care possible and love your results. Located in a welcoming, sophisticated, luxurious facility, our 5-star services and staff provide an unparalleled experience. At each stage, we make every effort to surpass all your expectations. We are constantly upgrading our knowledge, technology, and services – and it shows. Our strong reputation and the trust of the community validates this commitment.
Contact us today to learn more about how our BHRT doctors in Maryland can help you achieve optimal health, performance, and overall wellness.
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