Did you know that up to 80 percent of women have imbalanced hormones? Although it is not discussed a lot, hormones are a vital part of women’s health overall, and hormonal problems can cause many different medical conditions.
Have you ever wondered if you need hormone therapy? What is hormone therapy? Here is a brief guide to hormone therapy and how you can get started today.
What is Hormone Therapy?
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Hormone therapy is using the right hormones to correct a hormonal imbalance in your body. The entire process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months or years, depending on what type of hormones that you need.
Hormone therapy is highly individualized, so it is best to work with a medical team who knows about your situation and your specific needs before you get started.
Usually, the most common hormone lacking in your body is estrogen. Women who go through menopause often need hormone therapy because their body stops producing estrogen, which leads to many symptoms and general discomfort.
Signs of a Hormonal Imbalance
If you suspect you have a hormone imbalance, here are a few key things to look for:
- infertility
- weight gain
- night sweats
- irregular periods
- pelvic pain
- fatigue
- breast discharge
- hot flashes
Carefully monitor your body to see if you experience any changes. For instance, if you have a regular menstrual cycle and suddenly you start having periods at a different time, it is a good indicator of a hormonal imbalance.
Types of Hormone Therapy
When you talk to your doctor about your hormone imbalance, they may recommend a certain type of hormone therapy that will work best for you. This depends on the amount of hormones that you need, as well as what your body can tolerate at a given time.
Systemic hormone therapy involves a higher dose of estrogen and comes in many different forms, such as a patch, a pill, or a cream. This way, the body directly absorbs the estrogen so it can start treating most of the common symptoms of menopause.
One of the newer innovations in hormone therapy is pellet therapy, where a small pellet of hormones is inserted under the skin to give you hormone dosages for several months at a time. Go here to learn more about hormone pellet therapy.
If you need a lower dose of estrogen for only vaginal symptoms of menopause, then you can get a different type of hormone therapy that is specifically for vaginal preparation, such as a ring or a cream.
Decide if Hormone Therapy is Right for You
If you are experiencing symptoms that you cannot fix with conventional medicine, it may be in your best interest to seek hormone therapy. With this guide, you can talk to your doctor and be informed of any hormones that go into your body.
Would you like to learn more about taking care of your body? Take a look around our site for more tips and tricks to keep yourself healthy and fit at any age.
