After the age of 25, our hormones begin to decline gradually and around the age of 35 most men and women have a deficiency in their primary hormone levels, and start to experience a range of symptoms. Symptoms commonly associated with hormone imbalance are:
- Weight gain
- Loss of skin elasticity leading to wrinkles
- Muscle loss
- Sexual dysfunction
- Bone loss
- Loss of libido
- Anxiety
- Hair loss
- Moodiness
- Sleep disorders
- Mental fogginess
- Loss of motivation
- Vaginal dryness
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, also known as BHRT, uses naturally occurring bio-identical hormones to bring hormone levels back to optimal levels relieving symptoms and restoring the quality of life we enjoyed in our younger years.
At PWC, We’re About Hormone Optimization
The Physician’s Weight Control Center approach to BHRT is to achieve hormone balance through proper testing and treatment using the lowest dose treatment needed at the appropriate frequency to relieve symptoms without side effects. We believe our techniques and methods are unique as they create “Hormone Optimization” that is effective at healing your adrenals, and is safe long term.
Bio-Identical Vs. Synthetic Hormones
As we age, women move into the menopause stage and men into andropause. These two conditions result in symptoms such as erratic sleep patterns, deterioration of functions of sexual organs, increased irritability, unpredictable mood swings, muscle wasting, and abnormal weight fluctuations. All these symptoms are an indication of hormonal imbalance and this can be treated through types of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
1. Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapies
Synthetic hormones created by pharmaceutical companies aid in restoring depleted hormones. The most common synthetic hormones used for HRT include testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and insulin.
Synthetic Hormones are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies from both man-made and animal sources. For example, synthetic estrogen is often produced from the urine of a pregnant horse and contains 40 + different estrogens. The human body contains three estrogens. Synthetic hormones are not a match to human hormones and are less effective with a high side effect profile. Synthetic hormones are prepackaged and cannot be individualized.
Synthetic hormones have been in use for several decades. Research shows they come with a host of risk factors. These include drug dependency, treating symptoms without treating underlying causes, and increase risks for adverse medical conditions such as cancer.
2. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Scientist have determined that natural approaches to hormone treatment alleviate risks associated with synthetic hormone replacement treatments. Bio-identical hormones are extracted from plants and matched to an individual’s endocrine system.
Bio-identical hormones treat symptoms and the underlying causes of hormonal imbalance in both men and women. The benefits include:
- Improved muscle mass
- Improved cognition and memory retention
- Reduced risk factors to cancer, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes
- Decreased risks for depression and bipolar by stabilizing moods.
Over the last ten years of treating patients with hormone deficiencies, we’ve come to develop basic guidelines for treating our patients:
- Prescribe hormones only when there’s a proven deficiency shown by proper testing and medical evaluation.
- Prescribe the smallest dose possible to restore healthy hormone levels without side effects.
- Only prescribe Bio-Identical hormones – never synthetic.
Bio-identical hormones have been available for over 50 years and are a natural and safe option for hormone replacement . These hormones match the same chemical structure found in human hormones. Creating the same response as hormones found naturally in the body which means an effective treatment with low side effect profile. Bio-Identical hormones are individualized and made specifically for each patient.
