From emotional stability to physical well-being, your hormones play an integral role in many facets of your life. As we age, the body’s natural hormone production begins to decrease. Hormone optimization therapy (or HOT) is a proven treatment for alleviating the symptoms of hormonal decline or imbalance. At ProMD Health in Baltimore, MD, we are proud to offer bio-identical hormone treatments to help you maintain balance and a sense of well-being as you age.
How Does Hormone Optimization Work?
Hormone optimization therapy (HOT) uses bio-identical hormones to restore your hormone levels to a youthful state of balance. We use plant-derived hormones for our treatments; these bio-identical hormones are identical, both structurally and functionally, to the hormones your body naturally produces and are 100% safe for use. By re-stabilizing the hormone levels in the body, we can reduce many of these unpleasant side effects of the aging process. Some of the benefits of HOT include:
- Weight management
- Emotional stability
- Mental acuity, including sharper memory and greater focus
- Restored sex drive and stamina
- Restored energy levels
What Does Treatment Look Like?
Receiving hormone therapy is safe, comfortable, and can greatly improve your quality of life as you age. When you book your initial consultation for hormone treatments, we’ll discuss your individual symptoms, concerns, lifestyle, medical history and goals. We’ll also take blood tests to determine which hormones are imbalanced. With this information, we’ll be able to create a customized treatment plan, after which, we’ll be able to start your hormone treatments.
Dr. Gavrila will prescribe a precise dosage to address your hormonal imbalances and improve your specific symptoms and concerns; this includes choosing an appropriate HOT format to satisfy your lifestyle and needs. Ideally, we’ll be able to relieve your symptoms with the lowest possible dosage. In the initial stages of treatment, we will need to perform frequent blood testing to monitor your hormone levels. Once we’ve successfully reached hormonal balance, we’ll be able to reduce the amount of blood testing required to around once per year to ensure your hormones remain balanced.
Types of HOT
Depending on your sex and symptoms, you may require your DHEA, thyroid hormone, melatonin, testosterone, estrogen, and/or progesterone levels to be balanced. We have several options available for how to receive your bio-identical hormones, including topicals, injectables, capsules, and pellets. When creating your personal therapy plan, we’ll consider the ease of administration, frequency of dosing, and your personal preference in choosing a suitable format.
Pellets
This treatment involves the insertion of bio-identical hormones in the form of pellets beneath the skin. These pellets will slowly release a regulated dose of hormones to the body over time. This treatment option will require reinsertion every three to four months to sustain hormonal balance.
Injectables
Injectables are able to deliver bio-identical hormones to the body safely, quickly, and effectively with no downtime necessary. They are administered on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to maintain optimal hormonal balance. Though you’ll need to receive injections more frequently, your appointments will be quick and can be easily fitted into your busy schedule.
Capsules
This form of hormone optimization therapy is taken orally, usually once a day. We recommend taking capsules around the same time every day to maximize the efficacy of this form of therapy.
Topicals
Gels, creams, and sprays are another way we can administer hormones to your system. This treatment is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the skin. Typically, topicals are applied on a daily basis.
When Will I See Results?
When your hormones are declining and out of balance, life can feel frustrating or challenging. If you’re struggling with a hormonal imbalance, HOT is a great way to relieve your symptoms quickly. Hormone optimization works effectively and efficiently, with most recipients reporting a noticeable difference within just a few weeks of beginning treatments. For best results, we recommend combining HOT with regular exercise, a balanced diet, and healthy lifestyle choices to improve your overall well-being.
What Symptoms Can Be Treated by HOT?
Hormonal decline and imbalance, whether due to aging, hyper- or hypothyroidism, diabetes, or other health conditions, can cause a number of symptoms and side effects. Many of these symptoms can be reduced or eliminated with HOT. Here are just some of the symptoms related to hormonal imbalances that can be effectively treated using bio-identical hormones.
Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of hormonal decline and experiencing chronic fatigue can significantly impact your quality of life. Using bio-identical hormones can help alleviate fatigue and restore your energy levels.
Difficulty Sleeping
Experiencing issues with sleeping, including having difficulty falling or staying asleep, is another common side effect of a hormonal imbalance. If you’re experiencing insomnia, interrupted sleep, or other sleep issues, and another health condition, medication, or lifestyle choice is not the cause, then addressing your hormonal balance may help to correct your sleep difficulties.
Low Libido
As you age, a decline in sex hormones can lower your libido. This can result in less desire to have sex and impact sexual performance, which can have a negative effect on your intimate relationships. Luckily, with the use of bio-identical hormones, your libido can be restored and you can continue experiencing a healthy and fulfilling sex life.
Weight Fluctuations
Drastic weight changes in a short period of time are a major sign of a hormonal imbalance. Whether you’ve gained or lost a significant amount of weight, bio-identical hormones can help you to stabilize your weight.
Difficulty Concentrating
An imbalance or decline in your hormones can lead to a loss of concentration, inability to focus, or “brain fog”. Experiencing brain fog can be extremely frustrating for your work life, relationships, and daily activities. If you’ve been struggling to concentrate or retain information, HOT can help you to regain your mental acuity.
Emotional Imbalance
If you’re struggling with a hormonal balance, you may experience mood swings, including drastic upswings or unexpected downturns in your mood within short periods of time. If you’re experiencing mood swings, this can make navigating relationships and daily life difficult. HOT can help to balance your emotions and create greater emotional stability in your life.
Hot Flashes
When you are menopausal or peri-menopausal, estrogen decline in the body can cause hot flashes. These disruptive bursts of full-body heat can cause redness in the face and sweating. Introducing bio-identical hormones to the body can help alleviate hot flashes for menopausal and peri-menopausal women.
Depression
When emotional imbalances become chronic, this can lead to depression. Depression is a very serious mental health issue that can leave you feeling numb, unable to experience joy, or disinterested in your daily activities. Left untreated, depression can have dangerous consequences. Hormonal treatments can help alleviate the symptoms of depression and bring balance back to your emotional life.
Anxiety
When your hormones are imbalanced, it can be common to experience increased feelings of anxiety. When these feelings become chronic, they can severely impact your quality of life. By rebalancing your hormones using HOT, you can reduce anxiety and experience greater peace of mind.
If you are experiencing depression or anxiety, it’s important that you speak with a mental health professional immediately.
Who Should Consider Hormone Optimization Therapy?
Women
Women typically begin menopause around the age of 50; however, peri-menopausal women will begin to feel the effects of hormonal decline years before hitting menopause. Whether you’re going through menopause or in the period before, you can alleviate your symptoms with HOT.
Men
Men will typically start to feel the effects of aging around 45. Hormonal imbalances in a man’s body tend to have a domino effect. For example, a decreased libido caused by testosterone decline can increase stress and cortisol levels. Treating hormonal decline promptly can prevent vicious cycles of imbalance.
Anyone (45+)
People of all genders who are 45 years old or older may be at risk for experiencing hormonal decline and imbalances. This is typically the age when the effects of the aging process become apparent in the body. However, if you’re under 45 and struggling with any of the symptoms listed above, please don’t hesitate to book a consultation with us. You may still be eligible to receive HOT.
Start Your Hormone Treatments Today
If you’re looking to feel more like yourself again and improve your quality of life as you age, hormone optimization may be the solution you’re looking for. At ProMD Health, we’d be happy to help you restore your body’s hormonal balance with bio-identical hormones. To book your initial consultation, contact our team at ProMD Health in Baltimore, MD today.