HRT is a therapy option used to resolve or minimize symptoms caused by imbalanced hormone levels, diminished or excessive hormone levels, or absent hormone levels. It’s no secret that as we age, hormone levels decline. Both men and women consistently report their 20s and 30s as the time in life when “at their prime” or feeling best. This makes sense because in your 20s-30s hormone levels are usually optimal and balanced. If determined medically appropriate, HRT may be an appropriate treatment option to help improve symptoms and improve overall daily quality of life. The most common hormones treated are testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and DHEA.
Common symptoms improved or resolved with hormone replacement, balance, and/or optimization include:
- Classic menopausal symptoms - hot flashes, night sweats, poor quality of sleep
- Low energy or fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Low mood, mood swings, or increased irritability
- Increased stress and anxiety
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Prolonged and heavy menstrual cycles
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Vaginal dryness or pain with intercourse
- Unexplained weight gain or fat
- Difficulty or inability to lose weight or excess fat
- Thinning hair, hair loss, increased hair growth
- Increased acne production
BHRT is a treatment option with the goal to improve/minimize or resolve symptoms caused by diminished hormone levels and/or hormone dysfunction. BHRT are prescribed medications that are molecularly identical to endogenous hormones.
Endogenous hormones are the hormones your body produces naturally. Traditional HRT is associated with lab manufactured synthetic hormone use. BHRT can allow for a more patient specific treatment plan, tailored to symptoms and goals. BHRT may be a more appropriate choice for some patients when traditional HRT is not.
Hormone Imbalance is a result of too much or too little hormone levels. Hormones are essential and have specific roles and functions. Hormones are also finicky and the slightest imbalance can cause symptoms and issues. Hormones travel throughout the body directing and telling systems and organs how to properly function. Hormones facilitate and regulate growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, fertility, sexual function, our mood, sleep, and energy levels. Both men and women can experience hormone imbalances involving testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, insulin, and adrenal hormones Hormone imbalance can be improved or symptoms resolved through hormone replacement therapy and/or restorative therapy.
Common symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance include:
- Low energy, fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Low mood, mood swings, or irritability
- Increased stress and anxiety
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Prolonged and heavy menstrual cycles
- Decreased sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Unexplained weight gain or fat
- Difficulty or inability to lose weight or excess fat
- Thinning hair, hair loss, increased hair growth
- Increased acne production
Common conditions, health problems, and/or disease processes we treat and manage related to Hormones:
- Perimenopause and/or Menopause
- Surgically induced menopause (hysterectomy)
- Hormonal Imbalances
- PMS Symptoms
- PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)
- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Prolonged or heavy menstrual cycles
- Estrogen Dominance
- PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome
For both men and women, testosterone is very important and plays a critical role in many of our body’s functions and daily life. Testosterone affects energy levels, our motivation, overall mood, libido, lean muscle, and body composition. As we age (men and women) testosterone levels decline. More important is the age and how rapid hormone levels decline. If medically appropriate, restoring or optimizing testosterone levels can improve and likely resolve symptoms associated with low testosterone.
Symptoms associated with low testosterone in both men and women include:
- Low energy levels
- Fatigue
- Low mood, irritability, or increased anxiety and stress
- Decreased motivation and drive
- Decreased sex drive
- Decreased lean muscle or inability to gain muscle
- Increased fat or inability to lose weight or adipose fat
- Unexplained body composition changes or weight gain
Common conditions, health problems, and/or disease processes we treat and manage related to Testosterone:
- Low Testosterone, Hypogonadism, Testicular Disyfunction
- Andropause
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Low libido in men and women
- Low testosterone in females related to peri-menopause and/or menopause
- Estrogen Dominance
- PMDD
For both men and women growth hormone is made and regulated in a very small area of the brain called the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland and growth hormone are responsible for regulating our growth and development, height, weight, body composition, and muscle. Throughout our daily lives and as we age, growth hormone levels fluctuate and decline. Growth hormone also plays a vital role in our metabolism, specifically influencing insulin and blood sugar levels. If medically appropriate, elective growth hormone supplementation and/or peptide therapy can improve or optimize the body’s ability to naturally increase our growth hormone levels. Not only could this resolve symptoms related to low growth hormone levels, but can improve sleep, joint aches/pains and improve muscle recovery.
Dow Medical prescribes and manages peptides to facilitate our bodies ability to naturally increase growth hormone levels. This treatment option is very different from synthetic growth hormone therapy, which requires specialized training and usually involves an endocrinology expert. Synthetic growth hormone therapy is also with increased risks and possible adverse events/complications.
Symptoms associated with low growth hormone levels in men/women include:
- Increased body fat, especially around the mid section or waist
- Difficulty or inability to successfully lose weight or body fat
- Decreased lean muscle
- Increased anxiety, stress, and/or low mood
- Low energy levels or fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to heat and cold