Hormone Therapy in Bellevue
Are you frustrated with belly fat that does not respond to cutting back on calories and exercising more?
Are you dragging yourself out of bed in the morning? Do you have to pump yourself with caffeine or sugar in the afternoon because your energy crashes?
Are you suffering from gut-wrenching cramps, mood swings, and bloating each month that make you want to stay under the bedcovers and cry?
Are you dismayed by all the hair on the bathroom floor and hair caught in your hairbrush?
Is sex the last thing on your mind but your lack of interest is starting to cause stress in your relationship?
If you answered “YES” to any of these, then you are not alone. So many of our patients have come in with similar concerns. More likely than not, you could be struggling with a hormone imbalance and don’t even know it!
The great news is that you don’t have to live like this.
Envision having the energy to jump out of bed in the morning, ready to embrace the day!
Envision a day when you can fit into your favorite pair of jeans without a muffin top!
Envision having all the energy to play with your kids or grandkids, and energy for your husband!
Together, we can get to that day!
Understanding The Endocrine System
The endocrine system is a complex network of glands that regulate a wide range of processes in the body, including growth and development, metabolism, and reproductive function. The endocrine system works by producing hormones.
Your hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, and cortisol, are chemical messengers. They tell your cells what to do. But when your hormones are not in balance, your cells get mixed signals, making you feel not quite right.
These hormones control things like your hunger and cravings, whether you burn or store fat, your sleep, mood, memory, and even your sex drive!
It’s like a big orchestra, with each hormone playing its own special instrument.
But when one hormone is playing the wrong tune, it can throw off the whole symphony and cause problems like fatigue, slow metabolism, and low libido.
Signs & Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances
Symptoms of hormone imbalances can manifest in many ways, including:
- Fatigue and low energy levels
- Irritability and mood swings
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns
- Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Decreased sex drive or sexual dysfunction
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Depression or anxiety
- Lack of motivation or feeling flat
- Irregular periods or changes in menstrual cycle
- Thinning hair or hair loss
- Acne or skin changes
- Joint pain or stiffness
- Digestive issues, such as bloating or constipation
Symptoms of hormonal imbalances can range quite a bit depending on what role that specific hormone plays in your body.
Some common issues associated with hormonal imbalances may include:
- Estrogen Dominance (low progesterone or high estrogen): disrupted sleep, weight gain, increased stress and anxiety, increased PMS, heavier periods and shorter menstrual cycles.
- Low Estrogen: decreased libido, loss of menstrual regularity, fatigue, vaginal dryness, mood changes, memory problems.
- Low Testosterone: lack of interest in sex, vaginal dryness, loss of muscle tone, feeling “flat” or unmotivated
- Adrenal problems (low or high cortisol): fatigue, anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, brain fog, weight gain
- Hypothyroidism: slowed metabolism, fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, constipation, irregular menstrual cycles, feeling cold
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): infertility, weight gain, acne, excess hair growth in unwanted areas but loss of scalp hair.
- Graves Disease (hyperthyroidism): anxiety, hair loss, weight loss, diarrhea, irregular sleep, racing heart or palpitations.
- Pre-Diabetes: weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Potential Causes of Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances are created by a combination of factors. Some of the major causes of hormonal imbalances include:
- Age: Hormonal imbalances are common as people age, and can be related to the natural decline in hormone production that occurs with aging.
- Stress: Chronic stress can lead to imbalances in hormones such as cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands.
- Nutrition: Poor diet and nutritional deficiencies can lead to imbalances in hormones such as thyroid hormone, which is produced by the thyroid gland.
- Weight gain: Your body fat cells can create inflammation, interfere with insulin function, and also produce estrogen!
- Gut flora imbalances: It is common in our modern world to have too much of the wrong bacteria in your digestive tract (or even too much yeast, called candida), and not enough of the helpful “probiotic” bacteria. An imbalance in your gut bugs can cause imbalances in your hormones.
- Food allergies: We estimate that up to one in three people may have an immune reaction to common foods they are eating on a regular basis. This inflammation creates hormone imbalances.
- Toxin exposure: We are all exposed to thousands of man-made chemicals every day. Many of these chemicals are hormone disruptors, meaning they interfere with how your hormones work.
- Lifestyle factors: Poor sleep habits, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors can also contribute to hormonal imbalances.
- Chronic illness: Certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and autoimmune diseases, can lead to hormonal imbalances.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as birth control pills, anti-depressants, blood pressure medications, can interfere with hormone effect and lead to imbalances.
If you are suffering from hormone imbalance, it’s time to seek a solution. It’s time for a comprehensive evaluation to understand how your body is working. We will focus on finding and fixing the main causes of hormone imbalances through a personalized plan to restore your wellness. The solution will be different for everyone, because we need to address YOUR unique circumstances. Feel free to schedule a complimentary phone consultation to see what the best next steps are for you.
