Another sleepless night? Hot flashes and insomnia are an evil cocktail for menopausal women with busy lives who can’t afford to toss and turn just because their hormones are going crazy. In Marietta and all over the Atlanta area, more and more women are turning to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to ease menopause symptoms so they can get a good night’s sleep and get on with their lives – making it the #1 treatment for menopause in Marietta.
When home menopause remedies aren’t enough
Some women, the really lucky (and rare) ones, can make it through menopause without hormone replacement therapy. They can rely on only home menopause remedies like cracking up the air conditioning to deal with hot flashes or avoiding caffeine to help them sleep. But those menopause remedies just aren’t enough for everyone. If menopause symptoms like these are keeping you from enjoying your life, there’s no reason to suffer!
There is hope, and countless women in Marietta have turned to bioidentical hormone therapy to finally feel like themselves again.
What in the world is going on with my hormones?
The thing that’s causing all your troublesome menopause and perimenopause symptoms is that your hormones are going wonky as you transition from the fertile phase of your life and into menopause, the non-fertile phase. (Yay to no more periods and pregnancy scares!) Bouncing levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone cause all kinds of annoying symptoms like vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood swings, and dry skin.
The hormones at play here are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone – are of which all necessary for fertility. So once the fertile phase of your life is over, your body starts making less of them. Unfortunately, fertility isn’t their only job. These hormones are also responsible for regulating libido, elasticity of the skin, sleep, and more.
Menopause would be much easier if your body gradually started making less of these hormones in an organized manner, then menopause and perimenopause wouldn’t be such a pain. But that’s not how this works. Instead of your hormone levels dropping in predictable increments, they bounce around like a pinball on their way down. That’s why one day you feel great, and the next day you’re crying because you’re out of cereal.
In Marietta, we’re not messing around with hot flashes
In Marietta, menopausal women report that hot flashes are one of the most troubling symptoms of menopause. If you’re going through menopause during the summer in Marietta, you already know that having a hot flash when it’s 90 degrees with 98% humidity is the second level of hell.
Pumping up the AC a little isn’t going to cut it. Maybe up north that works. But down here in the south, that’s not going to cut it. It’s already hot enough to fry an egg on your back patio. We don’t have the time or tolerance for hot flashes here. That’s another reason women in Marietta flock to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy when they hit menopause. There’s just no room for fooling around when it’s this hot outside.
How does bioidentical hormone replacement therapy work?
Your body is going a little nuts because your hormone levels are jumping around like a toddler at a birthday party. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy replaces your missing hormones to get you at an even level to calm your menopause symptoms. The results of starting bioidentical hormone therapy are felt almost immediately, giving menopausal women quick, dramatic relief from menopause symptoms.
Benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
Bioidentical hormone therapy can help women who are looking for natural menopause relief feel better and more like themselves by supplementing their now-low hormones levels.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help to:
- Improve Sexual Drive
- Improve Focus & Memory
- Maintain Bone Health & Strength
- Build Muscle Mass
- Relieve Anxiety & Depression Caused By Hormonal Imbalances
- Stabilize Moods
- Increase Mental Clarity
How does bioidentical hormone replacement stack up to traditional HRT?
Here in Marietta, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is especially popular because it’s a much more natural menopause remedy than its synthetic sister – traditional hormone replacement. Bioidentical hormone therapy uses hormones that are derived from natural sources like soybeans and yams, and are chemically identical (hence the name) to the hormones your body produces naturally.
Traditional HRT uses hormones that are derived from horse urine and other man-made synthetic hormones. Women who won’t like the idea of putting artificial hormones into their bodies are likely to turn to bioidentical hormones for a more natural option they can feel confident about.
More research needs to be done to know for certain if bioidentical hormones replacement therapy is safer than traditional HRT. Proponents believe that bioidentical hormones are a safer option, but more research is needed to know if that’s true.
Are there risks to bioidentical hormone therapy?
Every medical treatment comes with some risk. Both traditional HRT and bioidentical hormone replacement therapies are associated with blood clots, gallbladder issues, stroke, heart disease and breast cancer.
The risks associated with bioidentical hormone therapy are low, but you may see some side effects as your body becomes accustomed to your new level of hormones. Usually, patients who feel side effects from bioidentical hormone therapy find that they are most pronounced when treatment first starts and gradually lessen with time.
Side effects of bioidentical hormone therapy include:
- Mood Swings
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Digestive Issues
- Weight Gain
- Blurred Vision
- Headaches
- Spotting
- Breast Tenderness
- Fatigue
- Acne
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy isn’t right for everyone.
Because of the risks listed above, certain women should seek out menopause remedies other than hormone replacement. If you’ve had breast cancer, ovarian cancer, blood clots, liver disease, or have had a stroke, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is probably not right for you.
But that certainly does not mean that you have to grin and bear it with your menopause symptoms. There are lots of menopause remedies that don’t include hormones. Lifestyle changes such as limiting alcohol and caffeine can help with hot flashes. For painful intercourse and vaginal dryness, OTC lubricants can help. Our office offers a variety of different menopause treatments that can help you feel better without hormones.
In Marietta, you’ve got options for bioidentical hormones
Our office understands that hormone replacement is not a one-size-fits-all kinda deal. That’s why we offer several different options when it comes to the delivery method of the hormones you need. You can opt for hormone replacement pills, creams, patches, gels, shots, or the ever-popular implanted hormone pellets.
Hormone pellets are the most convenient menopause remedy in Marietta
We’ve found that our Marietta patients are more likely to choose hormone pellet therapy than any other type of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. With hormone pellets, it’s all about convenience.
With hormone pellets, you don’t have to worry about remembering to take a pill or slather on a cream. Once inserted, the hormone pellet releases a steady stream of hormones into your body. When you’re rushing out the door to take your kids to school or get to work, every thing you don’t have to remember is a bonus.
How it works is this – You stop by our office in Marietta once a season and have a tiny hormone pellet inserted underneath your skin, either in your hip or abdominal area. It only takes a few minutes and won’t hurt – we use local anesthetic so you won’t feel anything but a little pressure. You’ll be up and back to business in a just a couple minutes.
There’s no downtime, but you may see some slight bruising at the injection site. After your pellet is inserted, you will want to avoid baths and swimming for several days.
Questions about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?
We’re always happy to answer your questions and get you on the road to feeling like yourself again. Give us a call at 678-853-7579 today.