by Melanie Remy | Nov 20, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause
We often hear about the link between menopause and low estrogen levels. However, many HRT methods use estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy.There are many benefits to using both estrogen and progesterone in hormone replacement therapy. Yet, a lot of conversations about HRT focus on estrogen. So, what is progesterone and why would you need it during menopause?
What does Progesterone Do?
Both estrogen and progesterone are essential hormones. The levels of these hormones can affect you in many ways, like your energy and mood. One of progesterone’s jobs is to help control the lining of your uterus. Therefore, progesterone replacement therapy is often used to stop your uterus from becoming too thick when receiving estrogen injections. Low progesterone levels can also impact your quality of life in major ways. Some signs of low progesterone are:
- Migraines or headaches
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depression
Since these symptoms can negatively affect you, if you are dealing with these things, you might consider hormone replacement therapy to help you stay comfortable and happy.
Progesterone Replacement During Menopause
So, what role does progesterone play for menopause treatment? During this stage in your life, both estrogen and progesterone levels drop considerably. Progesterone is often used with estrogen to help with your symptoms and protect your uterus from thickening. Therefore, it is typically added to treatments for menopausal women who still have a uterus. Estrogen and progesterone replacement can help lessen your uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms caused by menopause.
If you are struggling with the symptoms of menopause, hormone replacement therapy may be a good option for you. Combined estrogen and progesterone replacement therapy has many benefits and can help you feel like yourself again. If you think low hormone levels are causing you to feel poorly, don’t put off getting checked out. You should never be too busy to take care of yourself.
A physician at HerKare may be able to help you relieve the effects of menopause and start feeling great. Our treatment professionals will listen to all of your concerns, help you determine if HRT is right for you, and help you develop a personalized treatment plan for you.
by Melanie Remy | Nov 5, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness
Low estrogen levels can leave you feeling poorly. Yet, before you are diagnosed, the confusion about why you’re suffering can be worse than dealing with your symptoms. Signs of low estrogen are often very similar to those of menopause. However, what many don’t realize is that you can be affected by low estrogen well before you enter perimenopause. Even women in their 20s and 30s may require hormone replacement therapy for many different reasons. If you suspect that you may have low estrogen levels, it’s important to see a doctor. A women’s health care provider can test your hormone levels and determine the best course of action to help you feel better.
What to look out for
Oftentimes, you may notice your mood changing before you have any physical symptoms. A few things to watch out for are unexplained irritability, depression, and mood swings. You might find that you just can’t seem to get out of bed, or even the smallest things get to you more easily than they used to. Feeling constantly tired and not being able to sleep are also clues that something isn’t quite right.
Some or all of these are typically paired with physical changes. Another sign that something is wrong is that your period becomes lighter or less frequent. Though your period may not be the most enjoyable experience, you should definitely question changes like lighter flow or irregular menstruation. Finally, you’re likely familiar with the next symptoms: hot flashes and night sweats.
Having even one of these symptoms can make life difficult. The bottom line is, if you are seeing sudden changes in your mood or body, you should visit your women’s health clinic. If you do have low estrogen, a doctor can help you find a solution to start feeling great again.
Causes
As we age, our estrogen production naturally slows down. However, in younger women, it is often caused by something else. Here are a few things that could cause low estrogen in younger women:
- Over-exercising
- Thyroid conditions
- Malnutrition
- Autoimmune conditions
Each of these issues is cause for concern on its own, so it is important that you visit a women’s health clinic if you think you are suffering from low estrogen. If you are, we can help you get the care you need, such as progesterone and estrogen replacement therapy. We will listen to everything you’re experiencing and take into account your symptoms, lifestyle, and goals to create a treatment plan for you. At the end of the day, both you and your doctor want you to feel your best.
If you are going through any of these symptoms, no matter what age you are, you should see a doctor. You shouldn’t have to give into your symptoms, and getting answers is a step toward feeling better. A physician at HerKare may be able to determine if you have a hormone imbalance and help you organize a treatment plan to keep you happy and healthy.
by Eric Mulder | Oct 31, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Menopause, Sleep
You might be familiar with some of the symptoms related to menopause, such as hot flashes and fatigue, but did you know that a hormone imbalance can also affect your sleep? Many women may not even realize that their fatigue is related to various types of sleep disturbances that can be treated, assuming that it must be result of menopause in general. There are a few reasons that menopause may cause women to lose sleep.
Hot Flashes
Also known as night sweats, hot flashes can disturb your sleep. During menopause, your estrogen levels drop. This can lead to sudden bouts of feeling overheated and copious sweating. Although women may perceive that they are being awakened by these night sweats, some studies show that women actually wake up just before a hot flash occurs. This indicates that there could be brain activity that causes women to wake up along with the discomfort of being too hot. Wearing loose-fitting clothing to bed and keeping a glass of water nearby to sip can help. Hormone therapy can also treat night sweats to make sleep more comfortable.
Insomnia
The hormonal imbalance that accompanies menopause can cause a number of mental and emotional changes, such as depression and anxiety. This in turn can lead to insomnia. Hormone imbalance treatment can help even out your emotions so you can get a good night’s sleep again.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition in which people stop breathing throughout the night, either because of a blocked airway or because their brain is not sending the right signals. Menopause significantly increases the likelihood of developing sleep apnea. It is unclear why this happens although in some women, it could be related to weight gain, which is also more likely when there is a hormonal imbalance. People often associate sleep apnea with snoring, but this is not always a symptom, and women in particular may have sleep apnea even if they do not snore. Furthermore, women may not remember waking up frequently throughout the night. Menopause treatment can include being treated for sleep apnea.
Menopause is a natural time of life, but it can also cause discomfort, and health problems can result from not getting enough sleep. If you are suffering from insomnia or simply feel fatigued all the time, make an appointment with us today at HerKare. We can check your hormone levels, test you for sleep apnea and help get to the bottom of what’s making you feel bad.
by Eric Mulder | Oct 11, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy
Some women may experience few menopause-related symptoms, but many others may find that it can be a challenging time both physically and emotionally. If you feel tired, are gaining weight or are suffering from hot flashes or night sweats, these might be because of menopause. Some women also report what is often called “brain fog,” which is the feeling that you just aren’t as focused or sharp as you are used to being. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help relieve all of these symptoms.
What Is a Hormone Imbalance?
Hormones are substances that move through your blood and affect many systems throughout your body. There are several different conditions that can lead to an imbalance, but in menopause, your hormone levels start to fluctuate significantly, and your estrogen and progesterone levels drop. Because hormones affect so many systems in the body, this fluctuation can lead to a number of physical, mental and psychological symptoms that may affect your health and quality of life. Fortunately, hormone imbalance treatment can significantly help treat your symptoms and get your hormones back in a healthy range.
How Does Hormone Replacement Therapy Help?
HRT, which may include progesterone and estrogen replacement therapy, can help keep your hormone levels consistent. Your body treats the hormones you receive through hormone replacement therapy the same way it would hormones that it produces on its own. Hormone replacement therapy can help improve your cognitive function, help you sleep better and can address a number of other symptoms associated with menopause, including night sweats, low libido and vaginal dryness.
Hormone replacement therapy does more than just improve your quality of life. Many women experience thinning bones as a result of menopause, which means they are more susceptible to breaks. HRT can help reduce osteoporosis and strengthen your bones.
What Can Women Expect With HRT?
Every woman’s body is different, and a medical professional will determine what kind of hormones are needed in what amount based on your needs. Estrogen replacement therapy is for women who have had a hysterectomy. For women who still have their uterus, progesterone will be prescribed along with estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy can be administered in a number of different ways, including injections, which allow greater control of dosage and ongoing monitoring of hormone levels.
If you are struggling with symptoms that may be related to menopause, contact us today at HerKare. We can test your hormone levels, check your overall health and determine what treatment is appropriate to help you start feeling like yourself again.
by admin | Jan 25, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness
How many times have you thought to yourself, “Am I normal?” This question gets asked by most people pretty often. This is especially true when it comes to our bodies and general health. Something will happen and we immediately wonder whether or not our predicament falls within the normal range or whether we are just weird! Luckily, most of the time you can rest easy knowing that your current health situation is most likely normal.
Sometimes, however, even though it might be considered normal, it still isn’t something that you should live with. A great example of this is with our hormones. To find out whether your hormonal symptoms are normal, not so normal, or something that you just shouldn’t have to live with, check out these typical signs of an imbalance.
Turn Up the Heat
When your hormones are imbalanced, a great indicator is your body temperature. Many women that have hormonal problems suffer from some sort of temperature induced symptom. Night sweats and hot flashes are two of the most common. Whether you suddenly get so hot that you can’t stand it, or you wake up drenched in sweat, hormones might be to blame.
Fluctuating Weight
Another really, really frustrating symptoms is weight problems. On one end of the spectrum (and possible good news for some women!) is the potential for weight loss. Certain hormonal imbalances may trigger weight loss or the inability to gain weight. While this can seem like a dream come true, it is not the healthiest route to weight loss. On the opposite (and more frustrating!) end of the spectrum is weight gain. Many types of hormonal imbalances cause excessive weight gain or the inability lose. If you suddenly begin to gain weight, especially around the middle, with no apparent cause, hormones may be the ultimate culprit.
Mood Swings
Of course, you can’t go through a list of hormonal symptoms without mentioning mood swings. Excessive or strong mood swings may indicate a hormonal problem. If you feel stronger or more frequent changes in general moods or disposition, and especially if it gets in the way of everyday life, it may be beneficial to see if a hormonal problem is to blame.
Though these are not the only symptoms associated with a hormonal imbalance, they are some of the most common. If you think you may have a hormonal imbalance, don’t be afraid to get checked out. A physician at HerKare may be able to do that for you. Get your hormonal levels checked, and if a problem is present, let a treatment professional help you get a treatment plan just for you. Get to HerKare and get your hormonal problems under control so that you can feel happy and healthy again.
by admin | Jan 25, 2019 | Hormone Replacement Therapy, Wellness
When you think of a hormonal imbalance and the symptoms that may come with one, you probably imagine the big ones like mood swings that make you shudder or hot flashes that stop you in your tracks. While these can certainly be a symptom of hormonal imbalance, sometimes the symptoms are so slight that they go unnoticed. Take a look at these 2 common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance that often go ignored by women everywhere.
Fatigue
Extreme fatigue is often one of the first symptoms of a hormonal imbalance. The problem is that many women feel tired all of the time. If they don’t feel tired, then they expect to feel tired in the near future. It’s almost a rite of passage into womanhood. Oh, you’re tired? Welcome to being a woman. With kids and spouses to look after, careers to build, houses to maintain, and then the endless community and other obligations, and it is no wonder that women think fatigue is normal. While a little bit of fatigue can be normal, don’t think that you have to be overly tired all of the time. You don’t. And what’s more, if you are exhausted literally all of the time, it is likely that there is more at play than a busy lifestyle.
Weight Gain
This is another thing that many women just expect. If you are gaining weight or adding just a little bit of extra padding around the middle, many women see it as a “normal” process of getting older. They believe that it is inevitable. The higher the age, the higher the number on the scale. While a little bit of muscle loss and fat gain might be relatively normal, especially if you don’t really watch your exercise habits and diet, excessive weight gain or weight that won’t budge even with maximum effort on your part may not be so normal. This might instead be an indication of hormones that are not working optimally.
If you suspect that you have a hormonal imbalance, whether from these 2 symptoms or others, get help at HerKare. A physician at HerKare may be able to diagnose whether or not you have a hormonal imbalance. If so, they can get a treatment plan just for you. With properly functioning hormones, you may find more energy and weight loss happen before you know it. Get to HerKare for the hormonal help you need.
