BHRT; SO MANY QUESTIONS
WHAT IS BHRT?
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. An acronym for energy, fitness and overall good health. You probably get the “replacement” and “therapy” part, but the” bioidentical “and “hormone” …mmm, probably not entirely. So before we get any deeper into BHRT, let’s start at the beginning; hormones.
WHAT ARE HORMONES?
Hormones are fluctuating chemical messengers that circulate in the bloodstream and affect the function of every cell and organ in our body. They coordinate everything from digestion and growth to your appetite, immune function, brain function, and libido. We couldn’t live without them. There is a progressive drop in hormone levels as both men and women age. As the levels decline, health quickly follows.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED BHRT?
80% of all adults over 40 are hormonally imbalanced. Two of the most important hormones which are often treated with BHRT are estrogen and testosterone. Spoiler alert; both men and women, have both. While most men don’t have a lot of estrogen, it plays a part in their heart, bone and brain health. Testosterone plays a role in the growth and maintenance of red cells, female reproductive tissue and bone mass.
Symptoms of hormone imbalance in men include:
- Erectile dysfunction (Yikes.)
- Hair loss (Yikes.)
- Fatigue or loss of energy (Not good.)
- Increased body fat (Really not good.)
- Heart palpitations (Scary.)
- Depression or anxiety (Depressing.)
- Man boobs (No. No. Please, no.)
Symptoms of hormone imbalance in women include:
- Heavy, irregular or painful periods (Ouch.)
- Osteoporosis (Break more than a leg.)
- Weight gain (Toss the scale.)
- Thinning hair (Not exactly sexy.)
- Increased hair growth on face, neck, chest or back (Gotta be kidding me.)
- Insomnia (A million sheep and counting.)
- Acne (Pimple time.)
