This week I wanted to take the time to answer some of the questions we get about hormonal imbalance and (HRT) Hormone Replacement Therapy for women. We're addressing the most common questions we get during our consultations in this short video! Why do my hormones get out of balance? Hormone imbalance is a growing epidemic that affects women. Hormonal imbalance can happen as a result of aging, extreme activity levels, dietary problems, gut issues¸ poor recovery, improper sleep, stress, and toxic exposures. In the past, many women were just told that hormonal imbalance was just a “normal” part of aging however modern science strongly suggests otherwise. We have discovered, for example, that elevated stress levels can lead to adrenal issues which negatively affect the thyroid. If you have low thyroid problems, it can make losing weight nearly impossible without significant intervention. Weight gain can then affect your other hormones. This is just one example of what we have learned about hormonal imbalance over the years. In general, hormone imbalance can lead to many problems including difficulty with weight loss, skin aging, poor sex drive, mood problems, decreased sleep, and low muscle tone. The best way to find out if you have a problem is to see a medical expert with knowledge about hormone deficiencies and get specific lab testing performed. How do my hormones affect my life? Hormones affect you so much in your life quite simply because hormones are the chemical messengers that control every organ system in your body. Hormones allow your body to perform so many things from allowing you to sleep, providing fertility, to affecting your mood. What would make me a good candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy? To determine if hormone replacement would be a good fit for you we would recommend that you see a doctor that knows what tests to perform and one that is extremely knowledgeable about replacement. As with all medical treatments, there are both benefits and risks with starting any treatment. We not only perform testing and replacement, but we also assess for possible lifestyle changes that can have a major impact on your quality of life. What medicine is used in Hormone Replacement Therapy treatment? The medications used for hormone replacement will vary depending on your specific needs. A few of the most common treatments include thyroid hormone, testosterone hormone, progesterone hormone, growth hormone, and of course estrogen. We also may use a nutritional protocol or even nutritional supplements from time to time. Our goal is to only use medications when absolutely necessary. If you're in our area and would like to find out if HRT can help you visit our website and click the link to schedule a consultation! https://andersonlongevityclinic.com/hormonereplacement