HRT for Women - Hormone Treatment
You don’t have to navigate the challenges of hormonal changes alone. Our dedicated team specializes in hormone health and has extensive experience in providing personalized hormone replacement treatment. We can thoroughly assess your individual situation and develop an HRT treatment plan designed to gently and effectively restore your hormonal balance. Schedule an assessment now to find out how we can help you regain your confidence and energy.
What Causes a Hormonal Imbalance in Women?
One of the biggest causes of hormonal imbalance in women is the natural decline of hormones produced by the ovaries during perimenopause or menopause. Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. For many women, this phase starts in their 40s, though it can begin as early as their mid-30s. During this stage, estrogen and progesterone production becomes unpredictable. The ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone, but not in a steady way. Levels can go up and down like a rollercoaster. Menopause is when a woman has gone 12 months in a row without a period. At this point, the body’s level of estrogen and progesterone is very low, as the ovaries are only producing a very small amount of these key hormones.
HRT Treatment for Hormone Replacement
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) works by replenishing the hormones that your body no longer produces adequately. This is primarily estrogen and sometimes progesterone, depending on your body’s needs.
Because hormonal imbalance symptoms like hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes can have such a huge impact on your daily life, HRT remains the most effective way to help alleviate these bothersome symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.
Estrogen
Progesterone/Progestin
If a woman still has her uterus, estrogen is typically given in combination with progesterone or a progestin. This is because estrogen alone can stimulate the lining of the uterus to grow, which can increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Progesterone/progestin helps to counteract this effect by keeping the uterine lining thin and preventing abnormal cell growth.
Pellets or Injections for HRT
Both pellets and injections are effective methods for HRT. We offer both in our clinic, depending on your individual preferences and lifestyle.
Pellets involve a minor in-office procedure to implant small cylinders under the skin, typically in the hip area, which then release a steady, consistent dose of estrogen over the next 4 to 6 months. This offers the convenience of less frequent appointments while still improving your hormone levels. However, if the hormone dose is either too high or too low for you, it can’t be adjusted until the pellets dissolve and you come for your next appointment.
Injections require more frequent administrations, typically weekly. This allows for more precise control over the estrogen dosage and the ability to adjust it based on your body’s response. While injections might be less convenient due to their frequency, they offer greater flexibility compared to pellets.
The Importance of Balancing Your Hormones
Hormones are the chemical messengers that regulate many of your body’s key functions, including metabolism, mood, sleep, and reproduction. When they are out of balance, it can lead to a wide range of frustrating symptoms and even serious health issues. Even slight hormonal imbalances can significantly impact your energy levels, weight, emotional stability, and increase the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.
Low Estrogen Symptoms in Women
Low estrogen in women can trigger a variety of noticeable and sometimes disruptive symptoms because it plays such an important role in your body. If these symptoms sound familiar, you may want to consider talking to a healthcare professional at our clinic about your options for hormone replacement.
Mood Swings
You might experience increased irritability, anxiety, or sadness.
Difficulty Concentrating
Some women report trouble focusing or remembering things.
Hot Flashes
Sudden feelings of intense warmth that can spread over your body, often accompanied by sweating and redness of the skin.
Night Sweats
Hot flashes that occur during sleep, often waking you up feeling damp or overheated.
Sleep Disturbances
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. Night sweats can contribute to this.
Fatigue
Feeling unusually tired or lacking energy, even after adequate rest.
Headaches
Some women experience more frequent or intense headaches with low estrogen.
Breast Tenderness or Changes
Your breasts might feel less full or tender.
Urinary Problems
You might experience more frequent urination, urgency, or an increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Irregular Periods
Your periods might become less frequent, more frequent, or completely stop. The length or heaviness of your flow can also change.
Lighter Periods
You might notice significantly less bleeding during your periods.
Vaginal Dryness
This is a very common symptom. Lower estrogen reduces vaginal lubrication, leading to discomfort, itching, and pain during intercourse.
Thinning of Vaginal Tissues (Vaginal Atrophy)
Over time, the lack of estrogen can cause the vaginal walls to become thinner, less elastic, and more fragile.
Decreased Libido (Sex Drive)
Lower estrogen levels can reduce your interest in sex.
Bone Loss (Osteoporosis)
Estrogen plays a crucial role in maintaining bone density, and low levels can lead to weakened bones and an increased risk of fractures.
Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Estrogen has a protective effect on the heart. Lower levels can contribute to changes in cholesterol levels and an increased risk of heart disease.
Lifestyle-Related Hormonal Imbalances
Women can experience a hormonal imbalance at any age due to many other factors, too. The symptoms of these imbalances can be confused with other health or environmental causes, which is why it’s essential to get your hormone levels checked if you suspect there is an issue.
Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can disrupt the balance of estrogen and progesterone. This can show up as irregular periods or missed cycles. Inadequate or poor-quality sleep can also interfere with your body’s ability to regulate hormone levels properly.
A diet lacking essential nutrients, high in processed foods, unhealthy fats, and excessive sugar can negatively impact your hormone production and regulation. For instance, inadequate healthy fats (such as fish, nuts, or avocados) can hinder the production of crucial hormones.
Significant weight gain or loss can affect your hormone levels. Excess body fat, especially around the abdomen, can cause estrogen to spike and create a chain reaction in related hormones. Extreme weight loss or being underweight can disrupt menstruation and cause estrogen levels to drop.
Relief from Menopausal Symptoms - HRT at Titan T-Center
At Titan T-Center, we offer personalized HRT treatment plans to help you find relief from the symptoms of low estrogen. Schedule a consultation with our helpful team now.