by SXHH Marketing | Jul 20, 2020 | Uncategorized
Recent studies show that men are more likely to suffer severe symptoms of COVID-19 compared to women. They are also three times more likely to die from the disease. Some researchers are looking at estrogen to help solve this mystery.
In addition to differences between men and women with COVID-19, there are some other differences that may point toward estrogen’s role in COVID-19 protection. Menopausal women who use estrogen hormone therapy are less likely to have severe symptoms compared to women who don’t use HRT. In fact, in Stony Brook, New York, researchers noticed that they didn’t have any pre-menopausal women or women on hormone therapy in their intensive care unit. Therefore, estrogen may offer some protection against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Hormone therapy with estrogen may help make your immune system more efficient at fighting infections.
As scientists work to understand many of the different implications of COVID-19, a common theme is that men and women are different. While men and women contact the virus approximately at equal rates, women seem to be experiencing fewer complications. They’re also less likely to die of COVID-19 compared to men. Also, because women on estrogen hormone therapy are less likely to have severe symptoms, scientists suspect hormones may impact how the infection affects people.
Women on Hormone Therapy May Have Better Immune Responses to COVID-19
Researchers are now looking toward estrogen to learn if it has potential protective effects against SARS-CoV-3, the virus that causes COVID-19. Many scientists suggest this hormone may help the immune system fight the infection with less severe effects. This may be why women are experiencing fewer complications from the novel coronavirus.
During menopause, your hormone levels start to decline. However, many women turn to hormone therapy to help bring estrogen levels back into baseline ranges to help reduce menopausal symptoms. Now, some researchers suggest that HRT may also help with COVID-19 during menopause.
Estrogen’s Role in the Immune System
Why might pre-menopausal women and menopausal women on hormone therapy experience less severe symptoms of COVID-19? This may be due to estrogen’s role in the immune system, as women with low estrogen levels also tend to have more severe symptoms from COVID-19. There is still much to learn about estrogen and COVID-19. However, many studies show that estrogen may help your body respond to infections.
Those with healthy estrogen levels may experience more efficient immune responses to viruses like COVID-19. For example, pre-menopausal women and women on hormone replacement treatment. Estrogen may influence the number of immune cells your body produces, like interferons and antibodies. Interferons help turn on the immune cells that help fight infections. Antibodies attack the germs that make you sick. Therefore, estrogen may help your immune system respond to COVID-19 and other infections.
In addition, estrogen may also offer anti-inflammatory benefits. This may help with lung inflammation with COVID-19. This inflammation may cause the difficulty breathing and lung damage associated with the infection. The cells that help produce inflammatory responses are called cytokines. Estrogen has been shown to help reduce the number of cytokines in your body. Pre-menopausal women and those on estrogen hormone therapy may experience less inflammation during COVID-19 because of this.
In a recent study, researchers decided to test how estrogen affected female mice with SARS, a viral infection similar to COVID-19. The mice with lower estrogen levels had fewer inflammatory cells in their lungs. Therefore, estrogen hormone therapy may help reduce the risk of serious lung inflammation.
Common Conditions During Menopause That May Worsen the Effects of COVID-19
Also, several conditions can increase your risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. Your risk for many of these conditions increases with menopause. For example, obesity and diabetes. During menopause, declining hormone levels can affect how your body distributes fat. Many women notice that they have more belly fat, also called visceral fat, during menopause. Visceral fat increases your risk for diabetes and many other serious conditions. Diabetes and obesity are also both associated with inflammation. This may explain why these conditions are often linked with severe COVID-19 symptoms.
Hormone therapy during menopause, however, may help fight belly fat and help you maintain a healthy weight. This can help reduce your risk for the health complications often associated with severe COVID-19 symptoms. Estrogen hormone replacement treatment can help your body redistribute fat. Also, it can help reduce menopause symptoms that make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight. For example, hot flashes can make it hard to keep to an exercise regimen. Additionally, it can help improve mood changes that may affect your motivation with diet and exercise. Therefore, HRT may also help you improve your overall health. This may, in turn, help your body fight COVID-19 if you become infected.
Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
In addition, many of the symptoms of menopause may also increase your risk for complications from COVID-19. For example, you might experience higher levels of stress or sleep difficulties. These common issues can affect your life and sense of wellbeing. They can also negatively impact your immune system.
Studies show that stress and sleep deprivation can lower your immune response. They can also increase the number of cytokines your body produces, which are often responsible for lung inflammation during COVID-19. Many women experience heightened stress and anxiety during menopause, as well as difficulty sleeping.
However, hormone replacement treatment may help reduce these symptoms of menopause. For example, night sweats are a common reason women have difficulty sleeping during menopause. Estrogen hormone therapy can also help with mood changes and other factors that may affect your immune system.
Therefore, it’s important to take care of your overall health during these uncertain times, as even elevated stress levels may affect your immune system. If you have menopause symptoms like hot flashes or mood changes, our provider may recommend hormone therapy to help you feel better. Additionally, our team can help you develop healthy habits for diet and exercise to help you maintain your health during menopause.
At HerKare, we’re dedicated to helping women feel their best. Our providers listen and offer personalized solutions to help you improve your health and wellbeing. Whether you’re experiencing menopause symptoms or you need help with other conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or allergies, we are here for you. Schedule an appointment today to talk to our team about your health concerns and learn how we may be able to help. We are here for you.
by SXHH Marketing | Jul 20, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause
By Raymond Westbrook, D.O.
National Medical Director at HerKare
Hormone imbalance treatment during menopause can help relieve your symptoms and help you feel better.
Hormone imbalance treatment helps many women feel better during menopause. Menopause is a normal part of aging but can come with uncomfortable symptoms. Because of this, many women notice their quality of life decreases and their mental, emotional, physical, and sexual health may suffer. If you’re experiencing moderate to severe menopause symptoms that disrupt your life, hormone replacement may offer several benefits for your wellbeing.
What is Hormone Imbalance Treatment?
Broadly speaking, hormone imbalance treatment involves using plant-based hormones to optimize your hormones to beneficial levels. During perimenopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels steadily begin to decline. This is what leads to the cessation of your menstrual cycles. Menopause occurs once you’ve reached twelve months without a period. The average age that women experience menopause is 51 years old.
HerKare uses a comprehensive approach to optimize hormone levels to improve symptoms while causing minimal to no side effects. Our approach is based on research that increases safety, effectiveness, and looks at the overall health of your individual needs before and throughout treatment.
Relieving Menopause Symptoms
Hormones perform many important functions in your body. They are messengers that help control your cells and organs and tell them what to do. When your hormone levels are low or out of balance, this can cause many different symptoms that we often associate with menopause. For example, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and low libido. These symptoms can also cause difficulty sleeping, brain fog, mood changes, and many other symptoms that can interrupt your life and decrease your quality of life.
Hormone imbalance treatment can help reduce or eliminate these symptoms for women who experience them. Many women notice improvements in their overall sense of wellbeing, including their emotional and sexual health, after beginning a HerKare comprehensive treatment program. In addition, hormone replacement therapy may offer other health benefits.
Other Benefits of Hormone Imbalance Treatment
In addition to helping many women reduce symptoms of menopause, women’s hormone care may also offer other health benefits. After menopause, your risk for many health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, increases. Many believe this is due to declining estrogen levels. However, several studies show that hormone imbalance treatment may help reduce your risk for these conditions.
Cardiovascular Benefits
Research shows that hormone replacement therapy can help reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease in some circumstances.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S. However, hormone imbalance treatment can help lower the risk of future cardiovascular disease. Studies show that women under 60 years old with menopause symptoms who start treatment within ten years of menopause experience a lower risk for heart disease.
Women who experience vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats may be more likely to experience cardiovascular events like heart attacks, angina, and strokes. Recent research indicates that women who experience such symptoms after menopause are an estimated 70% more likely to have a cardiovascular event. There may be a link between hormone imbalance treatment, as estrogen can help reduce the number and severity of vasomotor symptoms.
Hormone Imbalance Treatment with Estrogen May Reduce Diabetes Risk
Additionally, hormone imbalance treatment may help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after menopause. Menopause is associated with an increase in waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. These factors can indicate an increase in abdominal fat. Also known as visceral fat, abdominal fat increases your risk for several serious health conditions, including diabetes. However, hormone replacement with estrogen can help your body redistribute fat away from the abdomen.
Also, studies show that many women also decrease the amount of physical activity they get within about two years before menopause. This could be due to declining energy levels and menopause symptoms that make it difficult to maintain an exercise regimen. Menopause symptom relief may help you feel better during menopause so that you can take part in healthy activities like working out, which can help reduce abdominal fat and your risk for diabetes.
Some research also suggests that estrogen may help improve several other factors that increase your risk for diabetes. For example, insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity may decrease after menopause. However, hormone imbalance treatment may help improve glycemic control and may improve insulin sensitivity.
“I’ve Heard Hormones are Dangerous”
This is a common phrase we hear when discussing options for relieving menopause symptoms. However, studies offer additional insights into the long-term effects of taking hormone replacement therapy. Researchers followed post-menopausal women for eighteen years to determine if they experienced higher rates of death if they used hormone therapy compared to a placebo. The women in the study took either hormone imbalance treatment or a placebo for five to seven years and then the researchers looked at the number of deaths from any cause to get a broad view of whether life-threatening outcomes are common. Instead, the study showed little difference between the hormone therapy group and the placebo group.
Overall mortality rates for the hormone imbalance treatment group were 27.1%, compared to 27.6% in the placebo group. The study also looked specifically at deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease and found that the differences between the two groups were also small. They found a 0.1% difference between the groups for cardiovascular disease and a 0.2% difference for cancer. This research seems to indicate that, when used correctly, hormone replacement generally doesn’t create life-threatening outcomes.
Who is a Good Candidate for Hormone Imbalance Treatment?
While hormone imbalance treatment offers many benefits, not everyone should start taking hormones. It’s important to talk to a medical provider about your symptoms and overall health. This can help you and your doctor weigh the risks and benefits and how they apply to your unique circumstances. You may be a good candidate for hormone replacement if:
- You have moderate to severe menopause symptoms
- Your symptoms affect your quality of life or interfere with your normal activities
- You’re in good health overall
If you have a history of certain health issues listed below, you will want to discuss with your medical provider if hormone therapy is right for you:
- Strokes
- Blood clots
- Liver disease
- Breast cancer
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
There are also lifestyle changes you can take to help reduce risks during hormone imbalance treatment. These changes can also help improve your overall health and quality of life. For example, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. These can help improve your wellbeing and also may reduce risks during menopausal hormone therapy.
At HerKare, our goal is to provide you with compassionate and personalized health care to help you feel your best. We understand how life-altering menopause can be. Our medical team takes the time to listen to your symptoms while considering a broad view of your health to determine the underlying causes of those symptoms. Then they will discuss a comprehensive menopause treatment plan with you which may involve lifestyle changes as well as hormone therapy. Schedule an appointment today to discuss your health status and symptoms with one of our providers. At HerKare, we’re here to help you take control of your health.
by SXHH Marketing | Jul 2, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause
Most of us have heard about hot flashes and mood changes during menopause, but what about hair thinning? Many women experience hair loss during menopause, but hormone replacement treatment may be able to help. Thinning hair during menopause can seriously affect your sense of well-being and your self-esteem. However, you’re not alone with menopausal hair loss. An estimated 21 million women in the U. S. will experience hair loss at some point in their lives, many of them during and after menopause. Our providers can help you determine underlying causes of hair thinning during menopause and help you find personalized treatment plans to help you feel better.
Summary
- Hormone changes during menopause can play a major role in hair thinning. As estrogen and progesterone levels drop, hair may spend less time in the growth phase and start shedding sooner. This can lead to overall thinning, slower regrowth, and more noticeable changes in hair texture.
- Hormone replacement treatment may help if hair loss is linked to menopause-related hormone imbalance. Estrogen and progesterone help support normal hair growth, so restoring healthier hormone balance may help reduce thinning in some women.
- Hair thinning during menopause is not always caused by hormones alone. Stress, poor sleep, and other menopause symptoms can also contribute to shedding and weaker hair over time. When those symptoms improve, hair health may improve too, especially if stress has been part of the problem.
- Hair loss can also impact confidence and quality of life. Get personalized, effective care today with HerKare.
Hormone replacement treatment can help improve your quality of life during menopause.
What Causes Hair Loss During Menopause?
During menopause, you’re likely experiencing a lot of changes, from irregular periods to night sweats and mood changes. Thinning hair can also occur in post-menopause. Many women notice that hormone replacement treatment can help reduce hot flashes and may even help their hair. However, what is it about menopause that makes your hair more vulnerable? In many cases, it’s hormones.
Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone are hormones in your body that perform a lot of functions. For example, they’re responsible for menstruation and can help keep your bones strong. These hormones also help with hair growth. Estrogen and progesterone can help keep your hair in the growing (anagen) phase. Therefore, these hormones can help your hair stay on your head longer and may even help your hair grow faster. This may be why many women notice their hair thinning starts to improve with estrogen replacement therapy.
During menopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels naturally start to decline. This is what causes your periods to become irregular and eventually stop. Low progesterone and estrogen are also often to blame for thinning hair during menopause. Hair loss from menopausal hormone deficiencies can take many forms. Most women notice thinning throughout their scalps, which may be visible when you part your hair or you might notice a thinner pony tail. You may also notice thinning along your hair line, but this is less common for women. Low levels of estrogen and progesterone means your hair may start to fall out sooner and grow more slowly. The goal of hormone replacement treatment during menopause is to help your body attain healthy, balanced hormone levels, which is why many women may notice changes in hair thinning once they start treatment.
Testosterone
Declining estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause can also lead to having higher than usual testosterone levels, as your hormones may become imbalanced. Generally, your body has more estrogen and progesterone than testosterone. Just like other hormones, your testosterone levels decline with age as well. However, in some cases, your estrogen and progesterone levels may decline so quickly that your testosterone may become more dominant in your body. Even if your testosterone levels are the same or within healthy ranges, without estrogen and progesterone to keep testosterone in check, you may experience changes related to this imbalance, including thinning, fragile hair.
Testosterone can also affect your hair, as certain forms of testosterone your body produces can shrink hair follicles. The most common culprit is dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT. When testosterone becomes out of balance with estrogen and progesterone, your body may have higher concentrations of DHT, which may affect your hair. Shrinking hair follicles can make your hair finer, or smaller in diameter, which can make it more brittle. This can make your hair weaker overall, as the individual hair strands that you grow are more delicate. You may notice your hair breaks easier than it used to, or that your pony tail is thinner. In these cases, hormone imbalance treatment for your other symptoms may also help your hair become stronger.
Stress
However, hormones aren’t all to blame for thinning hair during menopause. Other common symptoms of menopause can also lead to hair loss. For example, stress is a common cause for hair loss and thinning for women at any age. Stress can cause your hair follicles to get “stuck” in the dormant phase of hair growth. If this happens, you may notice thinning throughout your scalp.
Many women experience high levels of stress during menopause. For example, hormone imbalances can lead to anxiety and depression symptoms. Another reason many women feel more stress during menopause can be due to other symptoms like hot flashes or difficulty sleeping. Not only can this affect your overall health, it can also lead to thinning hair.
How Can Thinning Hair Affect Me?
While thinning hair itself doesn’t usually affect your physical health directly, there are many ways hair loss can negatively impact your well-being. One study showed that 55% of women who were experiencing some form of hair loss also experienced symptoms of depression. In this same study, about 89% of those women noticed improvements in their depressive symptoms after receiving treatment for hair loss. Many women notice they have lower self-esteem, confidence, and negative body image after experiencing hair loss.
The problem with hair loss during menopause is that it doesn’t just signal hormone imbalances or extra stress, it can also cause negative consequences for your mental, emotional, and social health. Many women notice that they’re less likely to engage in social activities if they experience menopausal hair loss. They may also feel anxiety and stress about their hair. Over time, this can also affect your overall well-being and quality of life. Therefore, if you’re experiencing thinning hair, it’s important to talk to your doctor. If you’re experiencing other symptoms as well, our provider may recommend hormone replacement treatment.
What Role Does Hormone Replacement Treatment Play in Hair Thinning During Menopause?
Hormone replacement treatment during menopause may help with thinning hair if it’s related to hormone changes. Our provider may prescribe estrogen replacement therapy to help bring your hormones back into balance and back up to healthy baseline levels if you have low estrogen during menopause. This may help your hair in a few ways.
First, as we learned, estrogen plays a significant role during hair growth. Increasing estrogen levels during hormone replacement treatment may help your hair stay in the growing phase for longer than it would without hormone injections. It can also help your body keep testosterone levels in balance to help reduce the shrinking effects testosterone can have on hair follicles. In addition, some studies show that if you start hormone imbalance treatment early on for menopause symptoms, it may help you maintain your current hair density. This can help you reduce how much hair you lose throughout the course of menopause.
Also, hormone replacement treatment can help with symptoms that may cause stress, which can also contribute to hair loss. Hot flashes, night sweats, sleep difficulties, and mood changes can all play a significant part in high stress levels during menopause. However, estrogen shots can help reduce these symptoms and can also help you manage them more easily. This often results in lower stress levels, which can also help with hair loss when it is stress-related. Therefore, if you notice symptoms of menopause that are affecting your quality of life, it’s important to reach out and discuss your options.
Let’s Talk About Hormone Replacement Treatment for Menopause
At HerKare, our focus is to help women feel their best with personalized health care solutions. We understand the many ways menopause can impact your life, so we work with you to find treatments that are tailored to you. Our providers take the time to listen, then we’ll work together to find ways to help you improve your physical, emotional, and sexual health. We’re here to help you enjoy life, not just push through unwanted menopause symptoms. Schedule an appointment online today!
by SXHH Marketing | Jun 19, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness
When you notice changes in your period, a hormone doctor may be able to help. Short, irregular periods may indicate hormone imbalances, like low progesterone. A simple blood test can help your hormone doctor determine if you have low progesterone levels. If this is the case, they may recommend a personalized treatment option to help you get back on track and reduce your risk for more serious complications.
Your hormone doctor listens to your concerns about short or irregular periods and helps you find personalized solutions.
What Can My Hormone Doctor Do About Irregular Cycles?
Your hormones help control your periods, which is why visiting your hormone doctor may help if you notice changes in your menstrual cycle. Progesterone plays a pretty significant role in your cycles. After ovulation, when your body releases an egg for fertilization, your body begins to produce progesterone. This helps thicken the lining of your uterus to prepare for pregnancy. However, if you don’t become pregnant, then your body decreases your progesterone levels and your period begins. This part of your cycle, between ovulation and your period is called the luteal phase. This phase typically lasts between 12 and 16 days. By contrast, anything less than 11 days is considered abnormal and could be due to low progesterone levels.
However, progesterone isn’t just for pregnancy. Research shows that progesterone helps with bone health and may help you sleep better. Also, progesterone can help keep your estrogen levels in check to prevent health complications from too much estrogen. Therefore, if you notice that your periods are shorter than normal or starting to become irregular, your hormone doctor can help determine if your hormones are the cause.
If you also notice these other symptoms, you should also mention them to your hormone doctor:
- Spotting between periods
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Low libido
- Mood changes
- Headaches
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Frequent vaginal infections
These can all be signs of low progesterone, which can contribute to short or irregular periods.
The Role of Progesterone Replacement Therapy
If you do have low progesterone levels, your doctor may recommend progesterone replacement therapy. This treatment can help get your periods back in check, reduce symptoms, and help you feel better overall. Also, if your periods become irregular during the transition to menopause, your doctor may recommend bioidentical progesterone and estrogen to help reduce symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes to help you stay comfortable and feel great.
At HerKare, we provide advanced, personalized healthcare for women at every stage of life. We are a woman owned and managed clinic where women can feel heard and empowered to improve their health. Our physicians work with you to find treatment solutions based on your needs and lifestyle, whether you need help with diabetes management or testosterone replacement therapy. Schedule an appointment online today to address your symptoms and start an individualized treatment plan.
by SXHH Marketing | Jun 5, 2020 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause
Low estrogen during menopause can cause many undesirable symptoms. For example, many women notice that sex becomes painful after menopause due to low estrogen levels. Between 17-45% of postmenopausal women say that sex is painful for them. If you’ve noticed this change in your own life, you are not alone and there are treatments available to help you feel better and enjoy intimacy again.
Low estrogen during menopause can affect your life in many ways, but treatments can help you feel your best.
How Low Estrogen Can Make Sex Painful
Low estrogen during menopause can cause many physical symptoms that can affect your sex life. For example, decreased estrogen levels can cause your vaginal tissues to become dry and thin. This may make you feel a sense of dryness, “tightness” or even unbearable pain during sex. You may also notice soreness or a burning sensation in your vagina or vulva after sex. Vaginal dryness due to low estrogen can even lead to tearing, bleeding, or inflammation.
However, painful sex during menopause isn’t all physical. Once you notice that sex can hurt, you may notice other symptoms that make it even worse. For example, fear of pain during sex can make it difficult to become aroused and create anxiety around intimacy. This can lead to even more vaginal dryness. Also, the anticipation of uncomfortable sex can sometimes make you involuntarily tighten your vaginal muscles. This is called vaginismus and can make sex hurt even more. Therefore, painful sex during menopause can become a cycle that is hard to break. However, our doctors are here to help you treat these symptoms so you can get back to feeling like yourself again. One option is hormone replacement therapy.
Hormone Replacement Therapy May Be Able to Help
If sex is painful due to low estrogen levels, hormone replacement therapy may help with your symptoms. Estrogen injections may help with vaginal dryness and help prevent thinning vaginal walls. Painful sex can affect your health in many ways. For example, you may feel generally anxious or depressed, experience low self-esteem, and you may even notice it affects your relationships. However, seeking help can help you avoid these negative consequences and help you take pleasure in your sex life again.
Hormone imbalance treatment during and after menopause can help improve your vaginal health and combat vaginal dryness, irritation, and painful sex. Hormone replacement during menopause may even increase your libido and fight off other symptoms that affect your quality of life like mood changes and anxiety. These benefits can all lead to more enjoyable sexual experiences. Therefore, if you’ve noticed that intimacy is painful, talk to your doctor about treatment plans that may be able to help.
At HerKare, we provide personalized health care for women. We understand that your sex life, physical health, and mood are all important to your wellbeing. Our providers listen to you, help you identify underlying causes of your symptoms, and then collaborate with you to find a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle. Schedule your appointment online today to take the first step toward feeling better. We are here for you.
