Whether you’re struggling with infertility or facing the daily challenges of menopause, new developments in hormone therapy may be beneficial to you. Following bioidentical hormone therapy, some women see tremendous improvements in their health. Most notably, according to WebMD, Oprah Winfrey said her menopausal symptoms were virtually eliminated thanks to bioidentical hormone therapy. Winfrey had reportedly suffered through menopause for two years before trying bioidentical hormone therapy at the age of 55.
What Challenges Do Women Face?
Throughout their entire adult lives, women face a series of hormonal changes that have a tremendous impact on their personal health. Women who are coping with hormonal changes often experience such symptoms as:
Irritability and mood swings
Hot flashes
Insomnia
Migraines and headaches
Lifestyle Changes Are Important
When it comes to menopause, it’s important for women to first do all that they can to treat their symptoms through lifestyle changes. Women who are experiencing the symptoms of menopause may want to:
Practice relaxation techniques.
Get enough sleep by limiting caffeine and alcoholic beverages.
Eat a balanced diet.
Don’t smoke.
Exercise regularly.
Similarly, women who are having difficulty achieving pregnancy may also want to improve the quality of their diets and get more exercise. These women might also find success if they:
Avoid tobacco and marijuana.
Limit their intake of alcoholic beverages.
Maintain a healthy body weight.
After you’ve made these lifestyle changes, it may be time to turn to the experts at Health For Life Naturopathic Medicine.
What Are Bioidentical Hormones?
According to Mayo Clinic, bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones that are produced by your body. Using this type of therapy instead of standard hormone therapy comes with several advantages.
First, bioidentical hormones are not synthesized in a laboratory. Instead, they’re derived from plant chemicals, and many standard medications are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Second, instead of a one-size-fits-all treatment, bioidentical hormones can be custom-made for the patient based on a saliva or blood test. However, some of these custom-made doses aren’t approved by the FDA.
Also, patients who use bioidentical hormone therapy report fewer negative side effects that patients who use standard hormone replacement therapy treatments, which are synthetically made.
Bioidentical hormone therapy may be especially beneficial for women who underwent a hysterectomy before menopause, which typically increases the severity of menopausal symptoms. For these women, the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone suddenly stopped when the surgery was performed, so they may be in need of a natural way to replace these vital hormones.
Bioidentical Hormones and Pregnancy
Without hormonal balance, it is impossible for women to achieve pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby. That’s why fertility problems are often connected to some sort of hormonal imbalance. Fortunately, the FDA has approved estrone, estradiol and progesterone treatments for women who are struggling with infertility due to a hormonal imbalance, and all of these can be produced naturally thanks to bioidentical hormone therapy.
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
Women who have a hormonal imbalance may exhibit the following symptoms:
Breast tenderness
Unexplained or sudden weight gain
Migraines or headaches
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings
Thinning hair
Irregular periods
Decreased sex drive
Men may also suffer from a hormonal imbalance that leads to fertility problems. In these cases, bioidentical hormone therapy can also be used to restore the hormones they need to help a woman conceive.
How We Can Help Women with Premature Ovarian Failure
Some women under the age of 40 who are unable to conceive may have premature ovarian failure. Because the ovaries aren’t functioning, these women are unable to produce the hormones they need to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Women who suffer from this condition also experience symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings.
Unfortunately, women in the United States who have premature ovarian failure are often prescribed birth control pills or standard hormone replacement drugs.
In a small study conducted in Scotland, however, women with premature ovarian failure were given natural bioidentical hormones to treat their infertility, and their symptoms were reduced.
Limitations of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
It’s important to remember that every woman’s body is different, and bioidentical hormone therapy may not be effective for everyone. Although not all insurance companies cover the cost of bioidentical hormone therapy to treat the symptoms of menopause and to achieve pregnancy, more insurance providers are beginning to offer this type of coverage.
Seek Treatment Today
If you are struggling with menopause or infertility, it may be helpful to contact Health For Life Naturopathic Medicine as soon as possible. We can help you determine whether bioidentical hormone use is the best option for you. Give us a a call at (602) 368-9211 or email us at info@DrKrystalTellier.com so that we can start the process.