Hormones in our bodies regulate multitude of functions. From thee start in pre-natal life till death hormones play a vital role in our lives. This role becomes visible when lack of hormones causes problematic symptoms.

Hormone deficiency happens as a cause of failure of any organ or gland producing specific hormones, this is incidental. In normal lives aging is the main cause of decrease in hormone production.

Main function of human bodies is reproduction, in relation to that main hormones in men and women are produced by reproductive organs. In women hormone levels fluctuate based on monthly reproductive cycle.

Around the age of 40 women’s ovaries cease to work an hormone production is limited. Every lady will go through three main stages: pre(peri)-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. Women will experience an array of symptoms related to drop in hormone levels.

Men have it a bit easier as men’s testicles can keep producing testosterone through entire men’s life. The drop in production is not as sudden but when it happens the symptoms can be as severe as those experienced by women.

The main cure in fighting the cause of hormonal imbalance is the hormone replacement therapy. It fights the cause not the symptoms by restoring correct levels of hormones.

Medicine has created bioidentical hormones  from natural sources like yams and soy. The chemical structure of bioidentical hormones is the same as in natural hormones found in the body. This, in theory, helps the body to assimilate them with greater efficiency and he body metabolizes them correctly.

Main hormones used by bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are the most important hormones. For women it would be estradiol, estrone, progesteron. For men, mainly testosteron is used during treatment.

Many studies confirm effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy, but every patient is approached as a separate case. Medical history as well as current hormone levels are important base for treatment plan.

Hormone doctor will decide on the best course of action and will prescribe specific drugs. In many cases prescribed hormone cocktail is tailored (compounded) for specific patient by specialising pharmacy. Also doses may change to reflect naturally occurring hormone peak cycles in women.

Whatever the course of treatment is, it is also necessary to adjust individual lifestyle to support therapy. Removing unhealthy habits and replacing them with new, healthy diet and exercise regimes, will help ease symptoms and support drug effectiveness.

 Many people undergoing hormone therapy improve beyond expectations. Women who used to experience severe symptoms say they have claimed their lives back. There is also a number of related health benefits as a ‘side effect’ of hormone therapy. Risk of certain age related diseases gets lowered.

the best advice before starting any treatment is to find a certified doctor who specialises in hormone therapy and is up to date with the latest developments in this field. Studies have shown that certain old methods can carry a risk especially in prolonged treatment.

The main risk comes from incorrect dose, hence a patients needs to be supervised and doses adjusted to eliminate risk of complications. Finding the right doctor is the most important step to assure the success with any form of hormonal therapy.