Hormones Defficiency and Hormone Replacement Therapy
Many people experience discomfort related to ageing as this is the time when hormones get released in lesser quantities or their production is stopped altogether. Many therapies work with the effects of ageing leaving the real cause to be fixed by other treatments.
Hormone replacement therapy works with the cause of ageing symptoms by restoring the amount of hormones to ease the negative effects of hormonal deficiency.
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is addressed mostly to menopausal women although some patients need this therapy pre and post menopause. Also patients surgically and prematurely menopausal qualify for the treatment. Besides treating typical menopausal symptoms, hormone therapy reduces dementia, prevents osteoporosis, and generally prolongs life.
The main cause of problems is based on imbalance of progesteron and estrogen. Two types of estrogen are present in woman’s body. Estradiol comes mainly from ovaries, and is a domainating hormone in premenstrual phase. Later in life the estrone hormone is domainating, this one comes from fat cells.
We know that the body can convert one type of estrogen into another but only to a certain level, beyond which any missing one has to be supplemented. Another important hormones related to menopausal problems are progesteron and testosteron.
Hormone replacement therapy either supplements the missing natural hormones or substitutes deficient hormones with synthetic ones.
To correctly work out the treatment plan for any individual, a patient needs to go through a series of tests which determine current levels of hormones. An insight into patient’s medical history can provide vital clues to current symptoms. Very often lifestyle choices and diet play important role in relation to existing problems.
Testing involves mostly taking blood and saliva, but due to rhythmic release, depending on time of a day or a day in monthly reproductive cycle, the levels may change frequently.
After the tests a qualified physician will prescribe a correct dose. It can be one hormone or a compound or various hormones put together. An important role plays the way the hormones are administered. Oral intake can release the dose slower and less efficiently as it goes through digestive system before it reaches the bloodstream.
Certain hormones need to be converted by the digestive system for best effect. Other uptake methods include direct injection, dermal patch, dermal creams or gels, vaginal creams.
One of the types of hormone therapy is BHRT (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy). BHRT aims at replacing hormones with ones which are as close on molecular level as possible to naturally occurring hormones. Additionally certain hormones are micronized to ensure better absorption.
The doctor will decide on the course of treatment. It is important to find qualified HRT practitioner as certain types of therapies focus on alleviating symptoms rather than on restoring the balance. However in certain cases every type of relief from menopausal symptoms is welcomed, but it is still important to remember that HRT should be a temporary treatment restoring the balance.
Patients praise Hormone Replacement Therapy as life changing and restoring the quality of life. Women tend to feel alive again with most of depressive symptoms gone. If you feel like you may benefit from HRT find a specialist and create appointment.
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