Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone Therapy
Menopause and perimenopause occur as a woman ages and sex hormone levels decline. Symptoms of declining estrogen and progesterone may include all or some of the following : Thinning hair on the scalp, Night sweats, Hot flashes, Vaginal dryness, Painful intercourse, Urinary incontinence, Facial hair growth, Mood swings, Irritability, Osteoporosis, Muscle wasting (sarcopenia), Weight gain, Fatigue, Difficulty concentrating, Lack of interest in sex and possibly many others. The goal of hormone therapy is to reduce or alleviate the symptoms associated with aging related hormone loss.
It is important to understand that regardless of the symptoms women experience with declining hormonal levels there are also other more subtle changes in the body that we may be less aware of such as certain personality changes, sagging breasts, changes in blood vessels and internal organs, overall sense of health etc. With low sex hormones all of the above will continue even if you don’t feel any menopausal symptoms anymore. Estrogen keeps the uterus, vagina and bladder moist hence the dryness when levels go down. There are also many parts of the brain where estrogen receptors are found which may explain forgetfulness, memory loss, and other symptoms related to perimenopause and menopause. Many of the above changes will be improved with sex hormone replacement treatment. However, it is important to understand that each woman is different and the approach and therapy should be individualized after a thorough evaluation, which is what we do at CH Medical.
When we evaluate patients with signs of abnormal estrogen levels our first goal is to establish the reason why the hormone levels are abnormal. The hormones in our body work together and influence each other and are normally in a state of balance. This balance may be disrupted by multiple conditions such as menopause and perimenopause, diabetes, PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), stress (stress causes increase in cortisol which among other effects may lead to lower levels of progesterone, estrogen, testosterone etc) and many other conditions. Clinically hormonal imbalances can manifest as hot flashes & night sweats, PMS, weight gain, mood swings, insomnia, depression, fatigue, low libido, vaginal dryness, foggy memory and many other symptoms.
At CH Medical we use a combination of advanced therapies in order to achieve balanced hormone function. The methods we use include but are not limited to estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy, nutrition, stress management, and sleep that work together to promote optimal health.
Who shouldn't take estrogen hormone therapy (EHT) ?
Have or had breast cancer or endometrial cancer.
Have abnormal vaginal bleeding.
Have had blood clots or are at high risk for them.
Have a history of stroke, heart attack or increased risk for vascular disease.
Know or suspect you’re pregnant.
Have liver disease.
Book an appointment for a free of charge consultation.
Hormone therapy and heart health