By Dr. Leita Harris, MD, and Dr. Mary Martin, MD, FACOG
“Talking about things like hormones, menopause, and irregular menstrual cycles with women is not like looking into someone’s ear. It’s very intimate, and the things we discuss are very intimate, so it has not surprised me in the least that in times of uncertainty and stress that women have turned to me for things that are totally unrelated. Besides your pastor or minister, your gynecologist and your hairdresser are the people you will confide in.” says Dr. Mary Martin.
“As women go through their thirties and then into their forties and beyond–their hormones can feel like a high-speed roller coaster, full of ups and downs, twists and turns that can make you feel like you have to buckle-in for the ride every day.” quips Dr. Leita Harris.
Dr. Martin and Dr. Harris are physicians for Evolve Telemedicine and board-certified gynecologists, with over thirty years of experience in women’s hormone health. Both agree that life doesn’t have to feel like a roller coaster. “Many of us women have grown up and gone through life believing that hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, thinning hair, diminishing bone density, and loss of sexual desire and pleasure are just natural parts of aging, ” says Dr. Harris. “And, many of our colleagues haven’t focused their practice on hormone health–so they aren’t able to spot the opportunities to balance hormones through bioidentical hormone replacement and peptide therapies,” adds Dr. Martin.
Dr. Harris notes, “As younger women, we watched our moms, and women around us suffering through changes in their hormone levels, knowing that our time would come too. But guess what? Women no longer have to accept that they’ll spend 20 to 30 years of their lives feeling the effects of hormone imbalances with nowhere to turn.” Dr. Martin adds, “Now, women, starting in their twenties, are becoming more educated about their hormones and taking proactive steps to combat the effects of the aging process – and many are doing so by looking beyond traditional medicine to bioidentical hormones and peptides.”
What exactly is (Bioidentical Hormone Replacement) BHRT?
If you’re unsure what a bioidentical hormone is, you’re probably not the only one. Put simply, they are hormones derived from plant sources that have an identical chemical structure to those in the human body. They can replicate estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
What are Peptides?
Peptides naturally occur in the human body, which enhances multiple functions performed by the brain. Recent research indicates that some types of peptides could have a beneficial role in slowing down the aging process. Collagen peptides are widely known for their anti-aging and skin health properties. Often, peptides are prescribed to increase fat loss, bone density, muscle strength, endurance, sex drive, boost the immune system, and improve mental sharpness and sleep cycles.
Remaining healthy as we age depends on many factors, including lifestyle and genetics. It also means monitoring any deficiencies that may arise. In the same way that we supplement vitamins and minerals, we also use BHRT to restore internal hormone balance.
What Should You Know About Your Hormones?
- Although every woman experiences similar signs of aging, you and your hormones are unique. Have you ever gone to your primary care physician or gynecologist and told them that you don’t feel the same as you used to, only to be told that your labs are “normal” and that what you’re feeling is just part of aging? “Normal” labs do not mean optimal for you, your body, and your hormones. Optimizing your hormones to feel good every day is a unique process to you.
- Menopause is a natural part of life for women. It signifies a transition to a new stage in life and is accompanied by many internal changes that may result in physical changes and challenges. The decline of female hormone production brings on the process of going through menopause. This process can happen gently and gradually or, in some cases, rather abruptly. It’s vitally important to seek out professional help to regulate hormone levels and ensure you aren’t at risk of developing any chronic conditions.
- Long before menopause ever sets in, some women may start gradually experiencing changes in their monthly cycle. This is a phenomenon commonly referred to as perimenopause. During perimenopause, your estrogen levels rise and fall in uneven patterns throughout the month. You might start noticing that your periods are becoming shorter, or even longer, and that you start experiencing menopause-like symptoms. It’s common to stay in the perimenopause stage for years, long before menopause ever sets in. This transitional period, known as perimenopause, can mimic the symptoms of menopause. This is a perfectly natural phenomenon that every woman will experience, just in their own unique way! It’simportant to seek out professional help to regulate hormone levels and ensure you aren’t at risk of developing any chronic conditions.
- Understanding your hormones sets a new standard for your health. Your hormones play a huge role in regulating several of your body’s systems. If even one of your hormones is lacking, it can throw your body, mind, or emotions out of balance. In addition to impacting your mood and sexual desire, hormones play a role in hair loss and growth, weight, sweating, headaches, acne, bone density, and changes that happen to our body which can be attributed to age alone.
- Bioidentical hormone treatment is safe. Bioidentical hormones are associated with lower risk of disease, including the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, and are more effective than their synthetic and animal-derived counterparts. Until evidence is found to the contrary, bioidentical hormones remain the preferred method of hormone replacement therapy.
“I think every woman, starting in her 20s, and through her 60’s, should understand her hormones. They play a huge role in how you feel throughout your life. The best way to do that is to consult a physician with expertise in hormone treatment,” says Dr. Martin. Dr. Harris adds, “I tell my patients that hormone health is a journey…and I’m so happy that they decided to start now. Understanding hormones and starting BHRT early can change the whole trajectory of these women’s lives. They avoid a lot of the significant mental and physical tolls of life stages like menopause when they balance their hormones with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.”
Aging gracefully doesn’t have to be hard. Why suffer?
