Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Specialist

What are hormones?

Simply put, hormones are chemical messengers in the body. A hormone is secreted in one tissue and then travels through your bodily fluids to other tissues. They can affect growth, behavior, reproduction, and more.

Women have both testosterone and estrogen. Testosterone is associated with libido, reproduction, and the production of new blood cells.

Estrogen isn’t a single hormone, but an entire class of hormones including estriol, estradiol, and estrone. Estradiol is an essential hormone for women. Not only is it responsible for sexual function, reproductive development, and bone health, it’s tied to gynecological conditions like fibroids, endometriosis, and some cancers unique to women.

Your hormone levels fluctuate every day, but when they change significantly, they can lead to negative physical symptoms.

What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance?

Hormone deficiency affecting testosterone and estrogen -- especially estradiol -- causes numerous symptoms, including:

• Decreased mental clarity
• Mood swings and irritability
• Memory loss
• Fatigue
• Weight gain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Reduced sex drive

Many women also experience difficulty sleeping, dry eyes, and migraine headaches. Researchers have even linked hormone deficiency to osteoporosis and central obesity.

When ignored, hormone imbalances can cause severe degeneration of general health and overall quality of life. However, Dr. Gorens can correct estradiol and testosterone imbalances using bioidentical hormone therapy.

What are the benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy?

Bioidentical hormone replacement is far safer than traditional synthetic hormone treatment. While there are situations where the use of synthetic hormones is appropriate, they carry risks which may outweigh their benefits.

Unlike bioidentical hormones, which match the chemical structure of your natural hormones, synthetic hormones are chemically altered. That makes it difficult for your body to assimilate them. Synthetic hormones have been linked to increased risk of:

• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Breast cancer
• Cardiovascular disease

Synthetic hormone treatments can also cause your body to have higher hormone levels than average. That leads to unwanted androgenic side effects like acne, hair loss, deepening of the voice, and the growth of facial hair.

Properly designed, monitored, and administered bioidentical hormone replacement therapy maintains hormone levels so that they approximate the optimal levels produced naturally by the body.

How does bioidentical hormone therapy work?

Dr. Gorens delivers bioidentical hormone therapy to replace testosterone or estradiol through pellets implanted under your skin. That allows for the hormones to be released based on your activity levels, in a process similar to the normal release by glands in your body that produce hormones.

Effective treatments begin with accurate testing of your hormones. After Dr. Gorens has tested your hormone levels and devised a treatment plan, she inserts a pellet under the skin of your upper hip. She numbs the area with a small dose of lidocaine before the procedure for your comfort.

Following the pellet implant, Dr. Gorens monitors your hormone levels for four to six weeks to see how your body is responding to the hormones. During this time, she may adjust the dosage to reach optimal balance.

If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with hormone imbalance, call Marsha E. Gorens, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.