Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves supplementing hormones that decline naturally with age. It can provide enormous benefits for both men and women dealing with hormone imbalance. HRT helps restore optimal hormone levels, relieving troublesome symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, and weight gain. It can also protect long-term health.
At Balance Hormone Center in Melbourne, our practitioners have extensive training and experience in HRT. We provide customized treatment plans to restore hormonal balance and vitality using bioidentical hormones - hormones that are molecularly identical to those produced by the body. Read on to learn more about HRT and why it may be right for you.
Hormone levels start to decline in both men and women from the mid-20s onwards. However, most people do not experience bothersome symptoms until perimenopause and menopause for women, and andropause for men. Common signs indicating hormone imbalance include:
HRT can eliminate these symptoms by restoring optimal hormone levels. It also has long-term protective benefits against heart disease, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative diseases like dementia.
At Balance Hormone Center, we use bioidentical hormones sourced from plants to create treatments tailored to each patient's needs. The key benefits of bioidentical HRT include:
Bioidentical hormones are the gold standard for HRT. Our practitioners will help determine the ideal bioidentical hormones and delivery methods to restore your vitality.
There are a few key steps involved in HRT:
Comprehensive blood testing of hormone levels is essential to evaluate what hormones need support. Testing may be done for:
Testing paints a picture of your current hormone balance and what needs optimization.
After testing, your practitioner will recommend a customized program using bioidentical hormones like:
The delivery method - oral, creams, gels, pellets, patches, or injections - will depend on your needs and preferences. The doses are carefully calibrated and can be adjusted based on follow-up blood tests and symptom monitoring.
This comprehensive approach ensures your HRT plan is honed to give you the best results.
Hormone replacement therapy was first developed in the 1930s, but did not become widely used until the 1960s. Though often prescribed for menopausal symptoms, it has also been shown to have benefits like maintaining bone density, reducing fracture risk, and improving skin elasticity in both postmenopausal women and transgender patients.
At Balance Hormone Center, our goal is to provide fully individualized care based on your unique needs. Key aspects include:
We take the time to listen and craft therapeutic plans to help you look and feel your best long-term.
For women, HRT focuses on optimizing estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and thyroid hormones.
For men, HRT focuses on correcting testosterone and DHEA deficiency that occurs with aging.
Our practitioners have decades of combined experience providing HRT. They stay current on all the latest research and treatment approaches. Our team includes:
We also collaborate with general practitioners so your entire healthcare team is aligned. Our goal is to provide fully integrative care customized to your unique needs.
HRT can provide tremendous benefits for both women and men with low hormone levels. Symptoms like hot flashes, low libido, and loss of energy do not have to be an inevitable part of aging. However, HRT is not advisable for everyone. Your practitioner will carefully evaluate if you are a good candidate based on your health history and risk factors.
In general, HRT may be recommended if:
HRT is very safe but does require clinical monitoring, testing, and follow-up. Our experienced practitioners will guide you through the process. If you are experiencing problematic symptoms related to hormone imbalance, we encourage you to book a consult to see if HRT is appropriate for you. Relief is possible!
HRT aims to help you feel healthy, energized, and live life to the fullest. To support your HRT journey, here are some tips for living well in Melbourne:
Optimizing your hormones is just one part of living well. We're here to support you on your journey to health in body, mind and spirit!
We hope this overview has enhanced your understanding of hormone replacement therapy. If you're experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at Balance Hormone Center in Melbourne. Our experienced practitioners can determine if bioidentical HRT is right for you and craft a personalized treatment plan. We're here to listen and help you restore optimal hormone balance so you can feel your best. Please
