Hormone Replacement Therapy

Our HRT Programs

A bioidentical hormone is simply a hormone that is atom for atom – the same hormone that is endogenously produced in the human body. It is produced in a lab from the active ingredients of the wild yam and it looks and acts just like our natural hormones.

The goals of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy include:

• Alleviating the symptoms of hormone depletion caused by aging, stress and/or environmental factors.
• Giving back the protective benefits that were originally provided with balanced hormone levels in your 20’s and 30’s.
• Eliminating imbalanced hormones and re-establishing proper hormone balance.
• Maintaining the quality of your life, not just the quantity.

These are some of our most popular Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy programs at 417 Health and Wellness:

ESTROGEN

Estrogen is an essential sex hormone that declines abruptly in women during their menopause. When women do not initiate a prompt estrogen replacement program at the time of menopause, they undergo accelerated aging manifested by: osteoporosis, senility, heart disease, loss of muscle mass, loss of skin elasticity and thickness, atrophy of the female genitalia, and depression.
Estrogen replacement therapy significantly delays or prevents this accelerated aging process seen in women following menopause. In fact, women who take estrogen replacement have half the degenerative diseases of women who do not take estrogen replacement and live an average of 3.5 years longer. We use natural estrogen replacement. We measure estradiol levels and adjust dosages to pre-menopausal levels.

The confusion about estrogen comes from the Women’s Health Initiative Study which evaluated horse derived estrogen (Premarin) and a synthetic progestin (Medroxyacetate Progesterone or Provera). These results do not apply to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy which has proven to be safe.

Symptoms of Imbalanced Estrogen

• Fatigue
• Hot flashes and/or night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Joint aches
• Low libido
• Stress incontinence or recurrent UTIs (urinary tract infections)

Estrogen Replacement

• Relieves menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness)
• Increases female life expectancy
• Protects against coronary artery disease
• Boosts brain function
• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Protects against Alzheimer’s disease
• Improves skin and muscle quality

PROGESTERONE

Progesterone is also a sex hormone that keeps estrogen in balance and necessary in the female hormone replacement program, even for women who have had a hysterectomy. Some men require progesterone to balance their hormones. Progesterone increases bone mass, reverses osteoporosis, and burns fat. We use natural Progesterone replacement in our female Bioidentical HRT program as indicated by the individual’s blood levels.

Symptoms of Imbalanced Progesterone

• Insomnia or poor sleep
• Itchy or restless legs
• Anxiety, nervousness, irritability, depression
• Heavy periods for women
• Bloating esp. in the belly and ankles
• Fatigue

Progesterone Replacement

• Natural antidepressant and tranquilizer
• Improves female libido
• Protects against cancer
• Boosts thyroid action
• Helps the body use fat rather than store it

TESTOSTERONE

Both men and women need testosterone for optimal health. Testosterone is needed for libido, muscle strength, leanness, and sense of well-being.

Menopausal women have low to non-detectable testosterone levels which results in loss of libido and increased body fat. Return of libido and improved mood return within days of testosterone replacement by transdermal cream. Regrowth of muscle and bone occurs within months and is facilitated by a weight resistance training program.

The testosterone level in males peaks at age 17 and declines 1% per year thereafter. A middle-aged male can therefore have a testosterone level 40% below his peak in young adulthood. This problem can be compounded by the increased production of sex binding globulins, which make the lowered testosterone that is present even less effective. Loss of testosterone in males leads to atherosclerosis and heart attacks, obesity, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. These symptoms come on long before the male loses his sex drive or becomes impotent. There is no evidence that testosterone replacement therapy in males causes prostate cancer or prostate enlargement. In fact, some Urologist-Oncologists say that testosterone may decrease the incidence of prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer. We use testosterone replacement as an essential part of Hormone Replacement Theory (HRT) program for both men and women based on the patient’s total and free testosterone levels and their levels of sex binding globulins.

Symptoms of Imbalanced Testosterone

• Erectile Dysfunction
• Decreased Libido
• Fatigue
• Loss of muscle definition, mass & strength
• Increased need for sleep
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Weight gain & increased abdominal fat

Testosterone Replacement

• Increases longevity
• Boosts male and female libido
• Facilitates a healthy heart
• Helps prevent osteoporosis
• Increases muscle strength and improves appearance
• Improves bone density
• Protects against obesity and diabetes
• Improves mood, memory and reduces anxiety

THYROID

The thyroid hormone is essential for life. Proper thyroid levels are needed for optimal functioning. Conventional medicine replaces thyroid only when indirect laboratory measurements indicate that it is low. We perform more in-depth thyroid testing including measuring the free thyroid hormone and thyroid antibodies.

Symptoms of Imbalanced Thyroid

• Weight gain and slow metabolism
• Fatigue
• Cold hands and feet
• Chronic constipation
• Muscle weakness
• Depression
• Elevated cholesterol and risk of heart disease

Thyroid Replacement

• Controls metabolic rate
• Helps with weight maintenance
• Improves heart and vascular health
• Renews energy
• Improves concentration
• Regulates body temperature

VITAMIN D3

All cells are receptors for Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). It controls phosphorus, calcium, bone metabolism and neuromuscular function. Vitamin D3 is the only vitamin the body can manufacture from sunlight (UVB). Yet, with today’s indoor living and the extensive use of sunscreens due to concern about skin cancer, we are deficient in life-sustaining, bone building and immune modulating Vitamin D3.

Symptoms of Imbalanced Vitamin D3

• Prone to colds and flu
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Psoriasis
• Osteopenia and osteoporosis

Vitamin D3 Optimization

• Improves mood
• Improves bone density
• Decreases inflammation
• Improves immune response
• Decreases cancer risks
• Decreases autoimmune response
• Improves muscle strength and function
• Decreases heart disease risk

DHEA

DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It begins to drop when we are thirty years old and declines linearly until we die. In fact, death ensues as soon as the DHEA levels hit zero. Some people, therefore, use DHEA levels as a biomarker for aging. DHEA plays a critical role in lowering our cholesterol, keeping our hearts healthy, minimizing fat deposition, preventing the development of diabetes, arthritis, and senility. We use DHEA as an essential part of our treatment program and monitors DHEA sulfate levels to assure optimal blood DHEA levels.

Symptoms of Imbalanced DHEA

• Loss of stamina
• Fatigue
• Apathy, mental fog or memory loss
• Loss of lean muscles around the middle
• High blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol

DHEA Replacement

• Improves Heart Health
• Slows onset or progression of diabetes
• Decreases Inflammation
• Favorably impacts arthritis
• Reverses declining mental acuity