Hormonal Therapy for Women

Weight gain because of hormonal changes can manifest in a variety of ways. Hormone changes may lead to the following:

• Fatigue

• Loss or increase of appetite

• Inability to lose weight despite exercise

• Changes in body composition.  Specifically abdominal weight.  

• Cravings

• Bored eating

Perimenopause refers to the time during which your body naturally transitions to menopause. Common signs of perimenopause include:

• Mood changes.

• Changes in sexual desire.

• Trouble concentrating.

• Headaches.

• Night sweats.

• Hot flashes.

• Vaginal dryness.

• Trouble with sleep.

With perimenopause deciding what to do and when can be a complicated decision. At Restorative Health we practice the best and safest medical treatments and take the time to educate our patients so they can understand how to advocate for their own health.

Low sex drive can be affected by a variety of complicated, interconnected issues. The following issues may lead to a decreased sex drive:

• Actively taking antidepressants

• Actively taking birth control

• Mental health issues

• Depression and anxiety amplified by social media

• Romantic attachment dysfunction

For patients that are able to rule out most of the non-hormonal related issues, our experienced staff will individually determine the most appropriate course of action. 

If a patient's saliva test shows high cortisol, phosphatidylserine capsules are often recommended to help with stress and mental acuity in addition to Adrenotone capsules taken three times a day to support the adrenal glands with high or low cortisol for people dealing with stress over long periods of time, which often results in adrenal exhaustion.

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a collection of physical and emotional symptoms related to a woman's menstrual cycle (e.g. bloating, breast tenderness). PMS is defined as a consistent pattern of emotional and physical symptoms that are of "sufficient severity to interfere with some aspects of life," occurring during the ten days prior to menses and vanishes either shortly before or shortly after the start of menstrual flow. A common treatment for PMS is progesterone taken in the last two weeks of the cycle, along with a good vitamin supplement.

Menopause is defined as one year without menstruation. Onset generally occurs in the late 40s to early 50s. At this stage, women's hormones are often unbalanced and women commonly experience hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, and decreased libido (sex drive). Menopausal symptoms should first be documented by either saliva or blood testing. In most cases, women with symptoms will show signs of progesterone deficiency and often low estradiol (a form of estrogen). Less commonly, they will show signs of low testosterone or DHEA.

What does progesterone do? Progesterone plays a role in many body functions, including:

• Helping prepare the uterus for the implantation of a fertilized egg and maintaining your pregnancy.

• Regulates blood pressure.

• Improves mood and sleep.

Low progesterone levels in females can lead to abnormal uterine bleeding, irregular or missed periods, and frequent miscarriages. For those who have had frequent miscarriages, and have what is called "Lu teal Phase Deficiency" supplementing progesterone from the time of ovulation to the 13th week of pregnancy is often prescribed to increase progesterone levels.

Blood tests may be required to check the levels of certain types of hormones in your body to determine the best hormone treatment for you. These tests can be helpful in determining if your symptoms are caused by menopause and hormonal changes or if they are being caused by other medical issues such as hypothyroidism which causes similar symptoms to those of menopause.

If a saliva test shows high cortisol, phosphatidylserine capsules are often recommended to help with stress and mental acuity. For patients dealing with stress for long periods of time, capsules may be recommended during hormonal therapy to help control cortisol levels.

Do I need testosterone as a woman?  

Testosterone in women can provide mental clarity, increase libido, and tone muscles. Low testosterone levels can lead to decreased focus, increased body fat around the waist and hips, and difficulty gaining muscle mass despite regular exercise. Hormonal therapy for women with low levels of testosterone has been found to provide the following benefits:

• Recovery or increase of libido.

• Increased lean body mass and decreased fat.

• Increased ability to get in shape.

• Reduced fatigue and increased energy levels.

• Reduction of anger, nervousness, and irritability.

• Relief of anxiety and depression.

• Increased focus and mental clarity, as well as concentration.

• Improved memory.

As part of your hormonal therapy, our experienced staff may recommend certain lifestyle changes that can have an effect on your hormone levels. Our staff may recommend changes to your diet, sleep schedule, and exercise in order to restore hormone levels to their correct level.