Q: I’m having terrible hot flashes and night sweats and some days I can’t remember my own name. I’d like to try hormones, but I’m getting mixed messages from my doctor. What type is best for me?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what’s happening in your body. Women have three primary hormones: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone; most is manufactured by our ovaries. These hormones naturally decline as we age and our ovaries start shutting down. We gain weight, especially around our middle, lose our memory (“Where did I leave my keys; wait, what am I looking for?”), experience insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes and a host of other unpleasant symptoms – all due to falling hormone levels.
Given the wide range of misinformation out there about HRT, choosing the right doctor is also very important. Every day I hear from women who have been fed a line of bull about the dangers of HRT, and instead are handed multiple prescriptions to mask the symptoms of hormone deficiencies, all to the detriment of their health and quality of life.
Choosing a method of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) depends on a variety of factors including your age, family and personal health history, risk factors, lifestyle and even your budget. Replacing hormones can help ease symptoms, improve overall health and wellness and reduce risk for developing chronic health issues like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers and other health conditions. However, choosing the right form of hormone replacement therapy is crucial – bio-identical hormones are a better choice than synthetics. Bio-identical hormones, AKA bio-mimetic, have the same structure as the hormones your body once made, so they are recognized and metabolized safely. Synthetic hormones are usually taken orally, so they process through the liver and increase risk for adverse side effects.
There are many forms of bio-identical hormones including pills, creams, gels, troches (dissolved under the tongue) and subcutaneous pellets. Most often, bio-identical pellets will be the most effective and convenient, delivering a constant, steady dosage that eliminates the peaks and valleys that occur with other delivery methods. After discussing your health background, and your lifestyle needs, your doctor can help you decide what form of replacement will be best suited for you and your lifestyle.
Suffering from these or other symptoms of hormone deficiencies? We can help you get balanced and back on track. Call 480.619.4097.