Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) involves using hormones that are molecularly identical to those naturally produced in the human body to treat imbalances and improve health and quality of life. This differs from synthetic hormone therapy, which uses chemically altered hormones that may not fully match natural hormones.
At Equilibrium Hormone Institute in Cookeville, we specialize in customized bioidentical hormone therapy to help patients relieve deficiency symptoms and regain optimal wellness. When hormones fall out of balance due to aging, stress, diet, or other factors, patients may experience issues like fatigue, weight gain, low libido, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances. Our expert practitioners take the time to thoroughly evaluate each patient's unique hormonal needs and create tailored treatment plans to restore balance.
Key benefits of bioidentical hormones and BHRT include:
Below we will explore basic information about bioidentical hormone therapy, who can benefit, what tests are involved, details on some of the most common imbalances we treat, and reasons why our Cookeville clinic stands out as a top choice for BHRT.
Bioidentical hormone therapy can benefit both men and women experiencing hormone-related symptoms due to natural aging or other causes of imbalance like stress, poor diet, toxins, or health conditions.
Common symptoms pointing to potential hormone deficiency include:
Patients experiencing multiple symptoms frequently find underlying hormone imbalances are a key contributor once properly tested and treated. The earlier hormone issues are identified, the more effectively BHRT can help minimize symptoms.
Age is not always the deciding factor on whether someone can benefit from hormone therapy. While peri-menopause, menopause, and andropause involve decline of key hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, imbalances can start much sooner. We have successfully treated patients in their 20s, 30s and 40s showing deficiency signs. Likewise, treatment does not have an upper age limit and can benefit seniors as well.
Lifestyle habits also play a major role. Chronic stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, obesity and toxin exposure all strain hormone pathways. By focusing on balancing hormones combined with lifestyle optimization, remarkable improvements are possible at any age.
At Equilibrium Hormone Institute, we specialize in comprehensive diagnostic testing to uncover specific hormone imbalances unique to each patient before creating customized treatment plans.
Testing is essential because:
We utilize advanced medical lab testing analyzing blood, saliva and urine samples to best assess a patient's endocrine system status. Common tests check levels of key hormones like:
Testing also evaluates hormone metabolites providing additional insight on processing pathways and allows analysis of metabolic breakdown products for toxins.
Understanding each patient's unique hormone lab results as they relate to symptom presentation is where our practitioners excel. We take the whole picture into account when designing therapy for the best possible benefits.
Now we will cover basics around some of the most common hormone imbalances we effectively treat with bioidentical therapy at Equilibrium Hormone Institute.
Falling estrogen levels represent a hallmark of perimenopause and menopause in women. Declines can start in a woman’s 40s and drop sharply in the year leading up to final menstrual period. Given estrogen’s widespread impact on female health, deficiencies bring significant symptoms.
Estrogen regulates:
With robust functions touching nearly all body systems, dropping estrogen creates troubling symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, weight gain, accelerated aging, low energy and libido, and loss of feminine vitality. Long term risks also emerge like heart disease and osteoporosis.
Benefits restoring optimal estrogen levels through bioidentical estrogens include:
Working closely with patients on follow-up, we balance estrogen with other hormones like progesterone at optimal ratios customized to relief deficiency issues without overdosing.
Testosterone acts as the primary male sex hormone responsible for masculine vitality and health. But women rely on healthy testosterone levels as well - just at lower ranges compared to men.
In both sexes, testosterone exerts wide-ranging roles:
Age-related testosterone decline progresses more gradually in women versus the steep drop seen in some men’s late 40-50s. Nonetheless, low testosterone significantly impairs health and wellbeing in both sexes.
Restoring deficient levels back to optimal ranges with bioidentical testosterone enhances:
We carefully monitor patients via testing and follow-up to properly balance testosterone with respect to other hormones for maximum benefits.
Progesterone plays a key role alongside estrogen in regulating the female menstrual cycle and reproductive system. But like most hormones, impacts are widespread.
Progesterone helps govern:
Falling progesterone going into menopause leaves many women estrogen dominant. This imbalance between these two primary female hormones causes significant issues.
Benefits restoring optimal progesterone levels include:
We carefully craft combinations of natural progesterone creams, oral tablets and capsules dosed properly for each woman’s needs. Follow-up testing tracks progress and appropriate balance with estrogen and other hormones.
Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for menopausal symptoms. Large, long-term studies comparing health outcomes of bioidenticals versus synthetics are lacking, so claims of superiority are currently unproven. More research is needed to fully understand the risks and benefits.
We hope this overview has piqued your interest in exploring bioidentical hormone therapy with Equilibrium Hormone Institute. Cookeville area residents can expect a level of personal care and clinical excellence that stands well apart from typical medical clinics.
Reasons we should be your top choice for receiving safe, effective bioidentical hormone therapy include:
Our providers have amassed over 60 years combined experience specializing exclusively in hormone-related issues and replacement therapy approaches. We stay on the leading edge of best practices through intensive continuing medical education. Equilibrium Hormone Institute earned designation as an Age Management Certified Medical Practice meeting the highest standards in our field.
Getting the right answers starts with asking the right questions. We invest extensive time listening and learning each patient’s health history and symptoms to know what to test for. Our onsite lab draws samples for targeted diagnostic panels other clinics overlook. Specialized tests plus interpreting subtle clues sets the stage for proper treatment.
A major advantage over big box retail pharmacies is our onsite pharmacy to precisely mix non-synthetic hormones like estradiol, testosterone and DHEA matching each patient’s needs. Custom formulas in creams, troches, capsules and injectables allow truly personalized care.
Compounding lets us adjust active doses more precisely while excluding unwanted fillers that can cause side effects. You benefit from potent, pure bioidentical hormones made convenient through customized delivery methods.
We recognize balancing major hormones affecting multiple body systems requires an ongoing partnership. Hormone levels fluctuate monthly, seasonally and across the years. Getting dosages, timing and delivery methods tuned to your changing needs is vital for treatment success.
We make continued collaboration simple through flexible follow-up testing, consults, adjustment of therapy based on your feedback about symptom relief versus unwanted effects, and tweaking treatment plans as needed long term.
Hormones operate holistically in tight interplay with nutrition, exercise, stress, environmental factors and overall wellbeing. While replacement therapy helps restore balance, lifestyles exert profound influence too.
We help patients implement targeted lifestyle upgrades uniquely suited to their needs and hormone issues to work synergistically with BHRT. Guidance around nutrition, supplements, fitness, stress resilience, environs and more amplify treatment benefits.
Equilibrium Hormone Institute stands ready to partner with you or a loved one to explore whether bioidentical hormone therapy makes sense. We aim for open sharing of information and guidance each step so you can make fully informed decisions about managing your health.
We offer new patient special discounted rates to make care affordable even for those paying out of pocket without relying on insurance.
