by Elizabeth Garcia | Sep 7, 2023 | Wellness
Prioritizing women’s hormone care can help prevent unexpected and dangerous plaque buildup in your arteries.
Most of us are familiar with what causes plaque buildup in our arteries: eating foods high in saturated fat or cholesterol, smoking, and obesity. But even if you are a healthy and active woman, you can develop plaque buildup due to an unexpected source: low estrogen. Because of this, women’s hormone care is more critical than ever.
Research shows there is a strong correlation between decreased estrogen and an increased risk of plaque buildup in your arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. This seriously raises your chances of developing arterial blockages or other heart-related health issues.
If you are struggling with the symptoms of hormone imbalance, it’s important to consider options like hormone replacement therapy to prevent low estrogen levels from leading to future health problems. Read on to learn more about how your hormones impact your cardiovascular health and how women’s hormone care can help. Protect your health now—book an appointment with our team to get your hormone levels checked.
Estrogen Does Many Important Jobs in Our Body
Estrogen is primarily associated with our reproductive health, but it actually does a lot more than just regulate our menstrual cycle. In fact, it plays a vital role in many different bodily processes for women. It is a crucial hormone for our overall health and wellbeing.
Estrogen contributes to bone health, thermoregulation, and endocrine function. It is linked to mood, memory, and even cognitive abilities, and fluctuating levels of estrogen can be associated with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Estrogen also protects overall cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation and constriction in our blood vessels.
What Happens When Plaque Builds Up in Our Arteries
An estrogen deficiency can lead to a dramatic increase in your risk of developing a serious condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a buildup of fats and cholesterol, called plaque, in and on the artery walls. If left untreated, it can have severe consequences, like a heart attack or stroke.
The buildup of fatty plaque in your arteries puts pressure on your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to flow to your organs. Reduced blood flow in the body can cause numerous health problems, including chest pain or angina. This condition occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen due to a reduced blood supply. The severity of the pain associated with angina can range from mild discomfort to a crushing pressure that feels like an enormous weight is sitting on your chest.
Plaque Buildup Can Lead to Serious Diseases
Plaque buildup in arteries is a common cause of several diseases that can impact various parts of the body, including the heart, brain, arms, legs, pelvis, and kidneys. These small, fatty deposits can build up in your arteries over time, narrowing the passage of blood to vital organs like your heart and brain. These may include:
- Coronary Artery Disease: Plaque buildup up in the arteries of your heart, causing chest pain and potentially leading to a heart attack.
- Peripheral Artery Disease: A buildup in the arteries of the legs, arms, or pelvis, leading to limb pain and decreased blood pressure in the affected area.
- Carotid Artery Disease: A buildup in your neck artery that causes reduced blood flow to your brain, which can cause a transient ischemic attack (TIA). This is signaled by sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, temporary loss of vision in one eye, or drooping muscles in your face.
- Renal Artery Stenosis: Plaque buildup in the arteries that supply blood to your kidneys, preventing them from cleaning your blood efficiently and potentially leading to kidney failure.
- Vertebral Artery Disease: A buildup in the vertebral artery that supplies blood to the back of your brain, the neural area that controls the automatic bodily functions that keep you alive.
- Mesenteric Artery Ischemia: Plaque buildup in the arteries that lead to the intestines, reducing blood flow and causing intense abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting.
When a plaque bursts, it can have devastating consequences for your health. The rupture can cause a blood clot to form that may block the artery entirely. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke, two of the leading causes of death worldwide. Ensure you seek immediate medical attention if you experience any symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.
Hormone Replacement Can Help Prevent High Risk Health Concerns
Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your heart and overall health. Women’s hormone care, such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, can help regulate fluctuating hormone levels that can impact your cardiovascular health.
Hormone imbalance can lead to numerous symptoms, including insomnia, weight gain, and mood swings. Not only can treatment relieve these uncomfortable symptoms, but it can reduce your risk of future health problems. So if you’re looking for a way to manage the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance while also taking care of your heart, consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT). When managed properly, HRT allows you to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle while minimizing the effects of hormonal changes.
Research has shown that increasing estrogen levels can have a positive effect on blood vessels, making them less reactive and more relaxed. Additionally, estrogen can help stabilize the amount of plaque being produced, which means your body can process it normally instead of allowing it to build up.
Women’s Hormone Care from HerKare
Taking proper care of your hormones helps improve your health and quality of life. We are here to provide you with care you can trust. Take charge of your well-being today—contact us now to schedule an appointment and take an important step toward protecting your heart health for years to come.
by Elizabeth Garcia | Aug 18, 2023 | Weight Loss
When we want to lose weight, our first thought is usually to try a new diet or to exercise more. Sometimes, we do all the right things yet our weight doesn’t change—or worse, it continues to climb. This makes weight loss a frustrating and challenging experience for many women. Your hormones could be the culprit.
An imbalance in your hormone levels can significantly impact how difficult it is for you to shed excess weight. For most women, our estrogen drops as we age, which causes our bodies to store more fat, especially around the waist. However, a hormonal imbalance can occur at any stage of life, leading to unexpected weight gain even in younger women.
There are several reasons why your hormones may be out of sync, including natural transitions like perimenopause and menopause, post-pregnancy hormonal changes, and external factors such as exposure to environmental toxins and stress. Understanding the root cause of hormonal imbalances is essential to finding the right treatment and getting your hormones back on track.
Today, we’ll look closely at hormonal imbalances to learn why they make weight loss for women so challenging and what steps you can take to fix them. We offer customized weight loss treatment plans for women to effectively target the cause of your weight gain. By working with a healthcare provider and following a program that supports hormone balance, you will be much better equipped to achieve your weight loss goals and feel your best. You don’t need to feel helpless about your inability to lose weight anymore—book a personal consultation with our team now to get started.
Imbalanced Hormones Can Have a Domino Effect on Your Body
Even with diet and exercise, weight loss for women can feel almost impossible if you have a hormone imbalance.
Hormones are essentially the chemical messengers of our bodies. When in balance, our hormones can effectively regulate many processes in our bodies, including:
- Metabolism
- Mood
- Reproductive cycle
- Sleep
- Stress
The intricate balance of hormones in our bodies can impact so many aspects of our health, including our weight. When our hormones become imbalanced, it can cause a domino effect. To maintain a healthy weight, a delicate balance of hormones is required.
So how do you know if you have a hormonal imbalance? Some common symptoms of an imbalance can include:
- Trouble sleeping
- Reduced interest in sexual activity
- Mood swings
- Headaches
- Hormonal acne
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Night sweats
- Difficulty concentrating
- Weight gain
- Constantly tired or fatigued
Understanding the role of hormones in your body and identifying any imbalances is the first step toward addressing them so you can feel like yourself again. This complex system can be challenging to navigate, but it’s important to pay attention to our bodies and how they respond to changes in hormone levels. By taking care of our hormonal health, we can better care for our overall well-being.
Estrogen and Other Hormones Work Together to Manage Your Weight
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall health and well-being. Hormones regulate our weight by controlling our metabolism, appetite, and fat storage. Along with diet and exercise, hormones play a significant role in regulating appetite and energy balance. As women, our bodies go through countless changes throughout our lives. One of the most notable changes is the fluctuation of hormones.
Estrogen is one of the key female hormones that can go up and down significantly over the course of our lives. Estrogen plays a crucial role in regulating the distribution and storage of fat during our reproductive years. However, once estrogen starts to drop, our body’s ability to manage fat distribution becomes compromised, resulting in the accumulation of fat around our waistline. By supplementing low levels of estrogen with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), we can help boost our natural fat-metabolizing process so our body can use and distribute it more effectively.
Other important hormones that work in conjunction with estrogen to maintain weight are insulin, leptin, and ghrelin. Insulin helps to regulate blood sugar levels and can affect hunger and cravings. Leptin is a hormone that signals to the brain when the body has had enough to eat, helping to control appetite and prevent overeating. Ghrelin, on the other hand, stimulates hunger and is responsible for those hunger pangs that we often feel.
Many women are surprised to learn that their bodies also require a base level of testosterone to maintain lean muscle mass. As levels of this hormone decrease, so too can your muscle mass, which in turn slows down your metabolism. When your metabolism slows, your body is less efficient at burning calories, which can make it more challenging to shed any extra pounds.
Our team will talk with you to discuss your health history and lifestyle, as well as conduct bloodwork, to determine the optimal treatment plan for you. We can develop strategies to support your body’s natural hormonal balance and achieve healthy weight loss for women through a combination of options such as injections, diet plan, lifestyle changes, and HRT.
Extra Weight Can Increase Your Risk of Serious Health Issues
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for your physical well-being. Extra weight, particularly around your waist, increases your risk of serious health problems. One of the most significant risks is breathing difficulties, which can lead to chronic conditions if left untreated. Heart and blood vessel disease are also potential consequences of excess weight.
Furthermore, Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with obesity, and this condition can have devastating effects on the body. Even more alarmingly, several types of cancer, including breast, colon, and endometrial cancer, are more prevalent in overweight women. That’s why our team is here to help you successfully lose weight and lower these dangerous health risks.
Balancing Your Hormones is the First Step to Weight Loss and Better Health
For women, weight gain can often be linked to hormonal imbalances. Using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help restore balanced hormonal levels, which can help you on your weight loss journey. When you combine HRT with a customized weight loss program, you are setting yourself up for success. A combination approach is the most effective for getting the best weight loss results.
For example, a healthy diet focused on nutrition can also help promote hormonal health while contributing to steady weight loss. Lifestyle changes can also support your hormonal health, such as prioritizing good sleep and finding self-care practices that reduce stress. Incorporating these key elements into your approach to weight loss can help you feel physically balanced and more confident in your body.
Weight Loss for Women — Custom Programs for You
The most effective way to regain hormonal balance is with the help of a women’s health clinic such as HerKare. Our experienced staff can provide knowledgeable care about weight loss for women in a safe setting by developing personalized treatment plans for you. Don’t wait any longer; regaining balance is only one call away. Contact us now to schedule an appointment.
by Elizabeth Garcia | Aug 4, 2023 | Hormone Replacement Therapy
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can seriously affect your hormones, requiring counteractive hormone care.
If you are one of the many women struggling with hormone imbalance, it may feel like your hormones are out of your control. But what if there was an invisible source influencing them— something in your environment? Our environment is filled with toxins that can harm our health, and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are among the most common. We come into contact with these chemicals daily, and they can have profound effects on our hormones, from increasing inflammation to negatively impacting reproductive health.
Today, we will look at several common EDCs and their toxic impact on hormonal health. By educating yourself and creating a plan to counteract these harmful effects, such as making lifestyle changes or undergoing hormone replacement therapy, you can help restore your hormonal balance and overall well-being. You can count on our team at HerKare for women’s hormone care that puts your health first. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.
You Are Surrounded by Toxins Every Day
EDCs are harmful substances that can be found in a lot of everyday products that we use such as medicines, cosmetics, and plastic food packaging. What’s frightening is that even small doses of these toxins can be extremely harmful to our bodies, often affecting us in ways that we cannot see or feel. Whether through the skin, digestive system, or respiratory system, these toxins have the ability to penetrate our bodies unnoticed. It is important to have a better understanding of the sources of toxins in our environment so you can understand what could be impacting your hormonal balance.
Many Toxins Disrupt Your Endocrine System and Hormones
We live in a world full of chemicals. Everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat is contaminated to some degree or another. While many of these substances are fairly harmless, there is a wide range of chemicals that can cause serious damage to our hormonal and endocrine systems, disrupting the way our bodies function on a fundamental level. The prevalence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in our daily lives is startling. With over 800 products classified as EDCs, it’s become increasingly difficult to avoid exposure to these toxic substances.
From pesticides to everyday household products, we need to take action to protect our health from this threat, particularly when it comes to their impact on our hormones and reproductive systems. Bisphenol A (BPA), Phthalates, and Atrazine are just some of the commonly used chemicals that fall under this category, and their effects can be devastating.
- Bisphenol A (BPA): The production of BPA has steadily grown in recent years on account of its multiple applications in the plastic and manufacturing industries, such as food packaging. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that binds to estrogen receptors.
- Phthalates: This is a large group of chemical compounds frequently used in plastic coatings and cosmetics. These chemicals are banned in the EU but are legal in the US. They alter the development and function of the hormone-dependent structures of the reproductive system.
- Atrazine: This chemical is largely used in agriculture as a herbicide to reduce the growth of leaves and weeds in wheat, soy, and sugar cane. Atrazine alters how the central nervous system produces hormones.
EDCs are increasingly pervasive and can significantly impact endocrine processes, including hormone production and balance. As part of our hormone care, we should all educate ourselves on the harmful impact of EDCs and take steps to limit our exposure to them.
Women Exposed Regularly to EDCs Have a Higher Chance of Developing PCOS or Endometriosis
Recent studies have found that women who are regularly exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemical compounds may have an increased risk of developing hormonal disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis.
PCOS is characterized by symptoms such as:
- Irregular periods
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Excess facial and body hair
- Severe acne
Endometriosis symptoms include:
- Severe cramping or lower back/abdominal pain during periods
- Heavy bleeding
- Fatigue
- Infertility
Because these conditions can be very difficult to manage, you should know about the potential risks associated with certain chemicals and take steps to minimize your exposure to them. By making informed choices about the daily products you use, you can reduce your risk of developing serious health problems.
Offsetting the Harmful Effects of Hormonal Disruption on Your Body
Women’s hormone care has become increasingly important due to the harmful effects of hormonal disruption caused by various environmental toxins. While it may seem overwhelming, there are several practical methods to offset these negative effects in your day to day life.
To start, you can restore your natural hormonal levels with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to help bring your body back into balance. Going forward, you can help support this balance in several ways. Reducing the use of plastic in your home is a simple yet effective way to limit your exposure to harmful BPA and phthalates. Choosing to purchase organic food can reduce your exposure to atrazine. You can also opt for natural personal care and cleaning products that are chemical-free. These changes will help you take control of your hormone care and promote a healthier, more balanced life.
Restore Balance with Women’s Hormone Care
If you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance, you can help protect your body with targeted women’s hormone care. Contact our team HerKare today to talk about how you can restore your natural hormone balance with HRT. When it comes to your health and well-being, there’s no substitute for feeling your best. We can help provide relief from symptoms caused by hormonal imbalances. Schedule an appointment today.
by Elizabeth Garcia | Jul 31, 2023 | Weight Loss
Everyone wants the quickest and most efficient way to reach their weight loss goals. Many supplements and diet pills claim to produce impressive weight loss results, but often at the expense of your overall health. Also, once you stop taking these pills, you tend to gain the weight back quickly.
Lipotropic and B12 injections can be a highly effective tool to help boost weight loss, helping you successfully lose weight in a healthy way. When used in combination with a healthy diet program, these injections allow your body to burn fat faster while supporting your overall health in the process.
In this article we will explore what lipotropic and B12 injections are, how they work, and why they might be worth incorporating in your overall weight loss program. Our team can create a customized weight loss program for you based on your current health and lifestyle so you can achieve your goals. If you want to boost your energy levels and lose extra weight, schedule a consultation with us today to get started on your weight loss journey!
What is the Difference Between Lipotropic and B12 Injections?
While lipotropic and B12 injections may seem similar, there are some key differences between the two. To determine which type of injection is right for you, be sure to speak with one of our providers.
Lipotropic injections contain a mixture of amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that work together to break down more fat in the body. Some evidence also shows that these injections have the added benefit of promoting healthy gallbladder and liver functions. When your liver can dispose of toxins more efficiently, it can then use more of its energy to help eliminate fat from the body. So if you are searching for a safe and effective weight loss solution that also has added health benefits, lipotropic injections might be just what you need.
Your dosage will depend on your body weight, but usually falls between 750 to 1000 micrograms. Lipotropic injections include:
- B12 vitamin: Helps with fat metabolism in the body, and supports the healthy function of your heart, blood, brain, and nervous system.
- B Complex vitamins: Increases your energy and promotes fat metabolism.
- Methionine (essential amino acid): Builds protein and muscle in the body to help improve metabolism.
- Choline (esssential nutrient): Helps regulate your liver and lower its fat content.
- Insoitol (carbocyclic sugar): Supports insulin production in the body to regulate blood sugar, keeping metabolism steady.
On the other hand, B12 injections contain only vitamin B12, which plays a crucial role in energy production and can help alleviate symptoms of fatigue. The minimum daily intake of vitamin B12 recommended for the average adult woman is around 4 micrograms. With a typical vitamin B12 injection, your body gets a powerful boost of 1,000 micrograms of the vitamin. Many women report feeling a significant energy increase from this vitamin boost. Additionally, because it is a water soluble vitamin, B12 can be tolerated at these higher doses without adverse effects.
These Injections Start Working Immediately to Boost Your Metabolism
Because these vitamin compounds are injected directly into a muscle, they aren’t diluted in any way or slowed down by inefficient absorption. There is no acid degeneration or enzyme breakdown, meaning you will benefit from the full potency of this powerful vitamin. Injections are quick and easy, so you won’t have to worry about any significant discomfort during the process. They are usually administered in areas of the body with larger muscles, such as the buttocks, abdomen, and thighs.
Not only do these injections start working right away to give you a jumpstart on weight loss, but they also continue to work for up to a week, keeping your metabolism operating at peak efficiency. By committing to regular weekly injections, you will be giving your body the support it needs to effectively burn fat and see real, sustainable results.
Injections are Not a Miracle Solution for Losing Weight
Lipotropic and B12 injections help boost metabolism and energy, helping you effectively lose weight in a healthy way.
Injections can be a very effective way to promote weight loss, but it is important to recognize they can’t get you great results on their own. They are meant to provide a supporting hand as you take on consistent and committed efforts toward weight loss through a balanced diet plan and healthy lifestyle. When combined with these other weight loss elements, injections can help you reach your goal more efficiently.
A Healthy Diet Plan is Key to Your Weight Loss Success
The ideal diet plan for your body not only helps burn more fat but ensures that you’re getting the necessary nutrients for your overall health. When you pair this diet with weekly lipotropic or B12 injections, you can help kick your weight loss into high gear.
Diet plans we support that help you lose weight and stay healthy include:
- Keto Diet: a low-carb, high-fat diet that forces the body to use stored fat instead of carbohydrates or protein.
- Mediterranean Diet: a diet that emphasizes high fiber and protein so you feel full longer and eat less overall.
- South Beach Diet: a diet high in fiber and dense nutrients lowers cholesterol and blood sugar while reducing unhealthy fats and simple carbs.
- Intermittent Fasting: an eating pattern that makes your body tap into fat for energy throughout the day.
To and feel your best, start with a solid nutrition plan and stick to it. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it can make.
We Take a Holistic Approach to Weight Loss
Weight loss is a journey unique to each woman. We have numerous methods available to women who want to lose weight, such as lipotropic and B12 injections, a healthy diet, weight loss medication, lifestyle changes, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). We consider all aspects of your current health and lifestyle when developing your treatment plan. With the right combination of treatments, you will start to see real results, and with our ongoing support and guidance, you’ll be able to maintain your progress long-term.
We know that every patient is unique and has their own story to tell, which is why we prioritize creating a safe and welcoming environment in which patients feel heard and understood. At the end of the day, our goal is to empower women to take control of their health and achieve weight loss the right way.
Personalized Weight Loss Solutions from HerKare
We understand that each woman’s healthcare needs are unique and require a personalized approach. We work with you to determine the underlying cause of your weight. Many women are surprised to find that weight gain may be caused by hormonal imbalances, which can be effectively addressed with HRT as part of your overall treatment plan.
You can feel confident that your personalized treatment plan is developed with your specific needs in mind. Get started on a successful weight loss journey today—contact our team now to schedule an appointment!
by Elizabeth Garcia | Jul 6, 2023 | Hormone Replacement Therapy
Experiencing a hormone imbalance can be difficult and frustrating. Hormone replacement therapy can help target unwanted symptoms. However, some treatment methods, like hormone pellets, may not deliver the results you need. In fact, they may even make the situation worse.
Hormone pellets are made up of a mix of hormones, which may or may not be the right dosage you need. The uncertainty of dosage could mean your symptoms don’t change, or even add new side effects to what you are already experiencing. Plus, since you only receive hormone pellets every three months, you may have to endure these symptoms for weeks before trying a new compound mix.
We can help you find a safe, effective hormone replacement therapy treatment that will give you relief from your symptoms while keeping your health a priority. Book an appointment today to talk about your options.
Hormone Pellets Pose a Greater Risk Than You Realize
A common method of HRT is hormone pellets, which are tiny, rice-sized capsules containing a mix of hormones. These capsules are inserted under the skin through a surgical incision and slowly dissolve over the next 90 days, releasing the hormones into your body.
While the method may seem straightforward, it’s important for you to be aware that hormone pellets may actually pose a greater risk to your health than other forms of HRT. A recent study published in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society observed that women who used hormone pellets were much more likely to experience side effects like mood swings, anxiety, hair pattern change, acne, and weight gain.
You should consult with an experienced healthcare provider and carefully weigh the risks of hormone pellets before deciding on the best course of treatment for you.
Pellets Contain Unregulated Compounds of Hormones
Hormone pellets are made of a mix of hormones in varying doses, which means it’s very difficult to find the right amount for your body that will actually help improve your symptoms..
Hormone pellets contain a mix, or compound, of various hormones. The risk of a compounded hormone means that there are now multiple sources for adverse drug effects, making it difficult to identify which element in the compound was responsible for the reaction.
Hormone pellets are prepared by compounding pharmacies. These types of pharmacies are not the same as a pharmacy you would find in Walgreens or CVS. All drugs sold in these pharmacies must be approved and regulated by the FDA.
However, compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality. This means that the mix of hormones you are putting in your body hasn’t had to go through a rigorous review process. Sadly, there have been hundreds of cases of infection and dozens of death caused over the years by contaminated or poorly compounded drugs.
Compound Amounts May be Based on Inaccurate Testing
The main selling point for hormone pellets is that they have a custom compound of hormones specific to your body’s individual needs. They claim that it will provide the proper amount of hormones you need to rebalance your levels. The problem is, most of these “custom formulas” are based on a saliva test that you completed.
In recent years, many clinics have begun using saliva tests to check hormone levels, as it’s an easier and less costly procedure for them. However, a saliva test can’t be trusted when it comes to accurately determining hormone levels. Experts at the North American Menopause Society say that saliva tests have not yet been proven to be accurate or reliable. A blood test is still the best option for checking your hormone levels. Blood testing is an established, reliable process for measuring the amount of hormones in your body.
Every Woman’s Body Handles Medication Differently
Determining your required hormone dosage requires a precise calculation. For hormone pellets, this includes incorporating a calculation of your absorption and titration rates.
Absorption is the way the hormones are absorbed from the pellet into your bloodstream. Many factors can affect your absorption rate, such as slow metabolism, poor sleep, high blood pressure, or stomach conditions. Titration is the process of adjusting the dose to find the ideal amount that maximizes benefits and minimizes adverse effects. Your titration starting point requires a close examination of multiple factors including your age, weight, immune system, allergies, existing health conditions, current medications, and general biochemistry.
What makes this a serious challenge is that absorption and titration are not a one-size-fits-all equation. Everyone’s body handles medication differently, making it nearly impossible to correctly calculate your dosage for each hormone. Add the concept of mixing multiple hormones into one pellet—a mix based on an unproven test—and the complexity escalates quickly.
Unfortunately, this means finding the right balance of hormones for you is almost impossible. With no way to test how individual mixes of hormones affects you, there is a high possibility that you will not receive the correct amounts of hormones. Too little, and your hormonal symptoms may remain unchanged. Too much, and you may experience new side effects on top of everything else.
One of the most significant issues with hormone pellets is their 90-day window, the length of time it takes for your body to completely absorb the pellets. If your dosage isn’t correct and you are suffering from ongoing symptoms or side effects, you have to wait three months before trying a new compound mixture. Consequently, achieving hormone balance with pellets can require months of trial and error.
Your Hormone Levels Fluctuate for Three Months After Treatment
After being treated with hormone pellets, you can expect fluctuations in your hormone levels over the next three months. Pellets release hormones gradually over time. This will cause initial spikes in hormone levels at the beginning, followed by a slow decline as the pellets are depleted. By the time you get to the end of the 90 days, your hormone levels may even drop below your baseline level.
This fluctuation can cause unpredictable symptom swings. You may find yourself feeling great one day and struggling with symptoms the next. After actively pursuing treatment to feel better, you may find yourself feeling even more frustrated than before you started.
Surgical Incisions Required for Hormone Pellets Could Develop Problems
One potential risk factor to note with hormone pellets is the surgical incision required. The incision is about 5 to 7 mm wide and 8 to 10 mm deep, and is usually made on your upper hip or lower abdomen. The provider performing the incision uses a sharp blade to cut thoroughly through your subcuticular tissue so there is no resistance for the implant device, called a trocar. The incision must reach your subcutaneous fat layer under your skin in order to deposit the pellets in the correct area. If the pellets are deposited too close to the skin, it will cause increased discomfort for you. The trocar is then inserted approximately 4 cm into the fat layer and releases the pellets. The incision is then held closed with skin tape.
After the procedure, you will have limitations on your activities in order to prevent reopening the incision or exposing it to infection. You should not immerse the incision site in water such as hot tubs, bathtubs, or swimming pools for five days. It is recommended to avoid movement such as squats, deep bending, cycling, or other heavy exercise for at least three days.
The incision site may be swollen for around three days after the procedure. It can be uncomfortable for up to ten days, and can take up to two weeks to fully heal. However, other health conditions and some types of medications, such as blood thinners and antibiotics, mean that it could take much longer to fully heal. During this time, you would need to continuously monitor and clean the incision to prevent an infection from developing, which would then require further treatment to manage before it gets worse.
Going through an invasive surgical incision procedure, healing process, and risk of infection every three months is a serious downside to hormone pellets. Fortunately, there are other hormone replacement therapy methods that are much less intimidating.
Bioidentical Hormone Injections are Safe and Effective
Hormonal imbalances can be a hindrance to living a healthy, active life. Our bioidentical hormone injections are an effective option to treat your imbalance. These hormones are natural, not synthetic. Your body adapts to them more easily because it reads them as being the same as the hormones you naturally produce.
With injections, it is easier to regulate and measure the precise amount of hormones you are receiving. And since they are injected directly into your bloodstream, your body is better able to absorb these hormones quickly and effectively. With our expertise in HRT, we can help restore balance to your body and get you back to feeling like your best self.
Hormone Replacement Solutions for You from HerKare
We take a personalized approach to treatment, ensuring that each patient receives a tailored plan that meets their unique needs. Our team recognizes the complexity of hormone imbalance and can help find the optimal treatment for you. If you have been struggling with the uncomfortable symptoms of hormonal imbalance, contact us now to schedule an appointment.
