Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Right For You?

Your hormones are involved in every aspect of your health. You need them in very specific amounts for your body to function optimally. Whether you are experiencing thyroid problems, sexual health issues, or a myriad of other hormone-related symptoms, the nurse practitioners at our wellness center in Land O' Lakes can help get your hormone levels back on track.

We offer a variety of gender-specific treatments that cater to your individual needs, but you may not even know how or why your hormone levels have dropped lower than they should be.

It’s not easy to tell when your hormones are off, but you can definitely feel it.

Here are five key factors that contribute to hormone dysfunction:

Age - Age plays a huge role in hormone production. As we age, our bodies experience hormonal imbalances that can negatively impact our lives in many ways. If you are experiencing sleepless nights, decreased libido, a decrease in muscle mass, cognitive impairment, or feeling irritable and depressed overall your hormones levels may be the culprit. These issues increase slowly over time and many of our patients don’t even realize they have a problem because they have become used to how they feel.

Diet and Exercise - If you are not eating enough protein or healthy fats, consuming too much sugar, or neglecting your gut health you may be causing a hormone imbalance in your body. This imbalance can lead to other complications such as Hypogonadism, which occurs when your sex glands produce little or no sex hormones. It is one of the most relevant hormonal complications of obesity in men. Exercise also plays a key role in regulating your hormone levels. Dopamine, Serotonin, Testosterone, and Estrogen are all hormones can be impacted by lack of proper exercise. This is why our nutritional counselors work so closely with our nurse practitioners that specialize in hormones.

Genetics - Unfortunately, genetics can put you at greater risk to develop certain conditions that can cause your hormones to be imbalanced. While this is a relatively rare cause for a hormone imbalance, knowing your family history and genetic predispositions can be extremely helpful for the prevention, early diagnosis, and/or treatment of potential problems.

Pharmaceutical Use - The use of birth control, which is a synthetic form of estrogen, may upset the delicate balance of your hormones, and cause other complications. Accutane is an effective treatment for hormonal acne, but it has some serious side effects, including mental health problems and organ damage which are usually caused by an imbalance in hormones. Even some pain relievers such as Tylenol can deplete your body of sex hormones. One study found that the effect of taking acetaminophen on your sex hormones was roughly equivalent to the effect of 35 years of aging. (However, the effect only lasts 2 days. Three days after you took the pain reliever you would be back to your chronological age.)

Environmental Issues - Not drinking purified water, breathing in pollution, or being exposed to certain types of mold can all impact your hormone levels for various reasons. Make sure to clean your living space regularly and try to breathe clean air.

Author

Rachel A. Life Enthusiast