If you are looking for hormone replacement therapy in OKC, or are just exploring solutions for a hormone imbalance, you’ve come to the right place! At Renew Wellness & Aesthetics we often treat hormone imbalances, and we are delighted to share our expertise on bioidentical hormone therapy replacement (BHRT) and its benefits.
Let’s delve in and explore how BHRT can bring balance back to your life and help you feel like yourself again.
Hormones: What are they?
Hormones are chemicals that occur naturally in our bodies. They are produced by several organs and glands, such as the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs. Sent through our bloodstream, hormones carry messages from one part of the body to another.
Hormones help to manage nearly every process taking place in our body, including metabolism, sexual and reproductive function, sleep cycle, and mood.
Estrogen and testosterone are 2 of the most common hormones used in hormone replacement therapy. The careful balance of these hormones, with a few others, influences the overall health of both men and women.
As we age, our levels of hormones like progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone decline. When this happens, the balance of other hormones is disrupted and our bodies do their best to maintain balance.
Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Brief Intro
What is hormone replacement therapy? First, we need to make a quick distinction between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones. We’ll also very briefly look at the different ways the treatment is administered.
Synthetic Hormone Therapy
Commonly derived from animal tissue, synthetic hormones are modified in a lab to be similar to the natural forms of hormones found in our body. Our body converts the similar synthetic hormone into a form that it can use.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
Bioidentical hormones are derived from plants, often yams or soy. They are engineered to possess the exact chemical structure as the hormones found naturally in the body. This means that your body does not see any difference between the hormones your body produces and the ones introduced during therapy.
At Renew Wellness & Aesthetics, we only use bioidentical hormones to treat hormonal imbalances. The identical nature of bioidentical hormones allows for better absorption and use by your body, which reduces the risk of side effects related to synthetic hormones.
Delivery Methods
There are multiple ways of delivering hormones to the body during hormone therapy treatment, like pills, patches, and creams. We use the EvexiPEL pellet method at Renew Wellness & Aesthetics most frequently..
We prefer this method due to its ability to provide consistent results and closely mimic the body’s natural slow, steady release of hormones. The pellets are inserted in a small incision just below the skin. It’s kind of like a “set it, and forget it” method.
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
Unfortunately, there is not a single set of symptoms that indicates an imbalance of hormones in your body. There are a number of symptoms that you can monitor to help determine if bioidentical hormone therapy in OKC is an option for you.
Symptoms of a possible hormone imbalance include:
- Unexplained weight gain
- Difficulty losing weight despite exercising
- Poor sleep
- Mood swings, irritability, or anxiety
- Long-term fatigue without reason
- Headaches
- Very dry skin or rashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Low/nonexistent libido
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Joint pain
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
If any of those ailments affect you, then you might be considering hormone replacement therapy or BHRT. And it’s right in your area; check out BHRT in Oklahoma City!
Natural Hormone Balance
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps you achieve a natural hormone balance that is optimal for your body. You can experience an improvement in your overall health and well being and , a natural regulation of your body’s function.
Increased Energy
Many people notice and complain that they feel less energetic as they age. A hormonal imbalance often causes us to feel as though we don’t have enough energy or are chronically tired. BHRT may help balance important hormones and help you feel reinvigorated.
You can feel better going to the gym or just keeping up with your growing kids. You can experience an improvement in your energy levels that allows you to perform the activities you love with the enthusiasm and endurance you once felt.
Weight Correction
Since the hormones in your body regulate your metabolism, a hormonal imbalance can really complicate things. Without changing your diet, you could suddenly start to gain weight. By correcting any imbalances, your metabolism can regulate and the changes, and it will be much easier to say goodbye to that hard-to-get-rid-of belly fat.
Improved Muscle Building
By optimizing hormone levels in your body, particularly testosterone, BHRT can aid the development of lean muscle mass and strength.
Elevated Mood Levels
Changes to your natural hormone balance contribute to mood swings, increased irritability and anxiety, and even depression. By restoring the optimal balance of hormone levels, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help to stabilize your mood and bring you out of the funk you might be feeling.
Improved Sleep
Sleep disturbances like night sweats and insomnia wreck your energy levels and overall health. Say goodbye to sleepless nights with a correction of your hormone levels with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in Oklahoma City.
Enhanced Sexual Health
Bioidentical hormone therapy offers the potential of enhanced sexual health and wellness. If you feel your libido disappearing or feel generally disinterested in your sex life, regulating your hormone levels, particularly testosterone, can significantly change how you feel.
Though testosterone is widely regarded as the male sex hormone, its influence is prominent in both men’s and women’s sexual health. For many men, a decreased testosterone level leads to erectile dysfunction and a lower libido.
For women, the internal balance of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone is complex. Decreased levels of testosterone can cause a decrease in a woman’s sex drive. Furthermore, some testosterone is converted into estrogen, which can further contribute to the imbalance occurring within your body.
By correcting these imbalances, particularly with testosterone, BHRT can stabilize your libido and bring back the interest and excitement in your sex life.
Hormone Replacement Therapy: What to Expect at Renew OKC
At Renew Wellness & Aesthetics, we provide fully customizable therapeutic hormone treatments in Oklahoma City. Many locations try to fit each person within a predefined dosage of hormones that they purchase. We treat each individual as a unique case.
Our process starts with a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Shelley. In this 45-minute appointment, we’ll discuss your symptoms and review your health history.
To collect accurate information about your current hormone levels, Dr. Shelley will collect a blood sample and discuss your goals and any concerns.
Based on your lab results, we customize the pellet dosage based on factors such as, height, weight, age, and current testosterone and estrogen levels. This individualized approach ensures results that achieve an optimal hormone balance that addresses each of your needs.
If you are able to bring current lab work with you, we can offer same-day pellet insertion. Otherwise, you will have to wait about a week while your results are processed.
The Pellet Insertion
We mentioned previously that we use the pellet method at Renew most frequently because it offers a customizable approach that closely mimics the body’s natural slow release of hormones. The pellet is inserted just below the skin. For women, we like to insert the pellet in the gluteal area. For men, we prefer the area just above the belt line.
During the procedure, Dr. Shelley will inject a small amount of lidocaine in the immediate area to ensure comfort during the process. A small incision of about 0.5 cm is made and the pellet is inserted just below the skin. In most cases, stitches are not required to close the incision.
Treatment Duration & Subsequent Visits
The duration of results from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can vary, but a duration of about 3 to 5 months is typical. This duration depends on how quickly you metabolize the hormones.
Many recipients of BHRT start to feel the effects of the hormone therapy within the first 2 weeks of treatment.
Regular monitoring of the treatment is an important part of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. We want you to return regularly to monitor progress and make sure that your hormones remain in balance. We’ll set up a follow-up appointment and check your labs about 5-6 weeks after insertion.
For men, we typically recommend a new pellet insertion every 5 months or about twice a year. For women, we recommend pellet insertion every 3 to 4 months or 3 to 4 times a year. Since this schedule lines up well with Botox treatments, we encourage patients receiving both treatments to schedule them at the same time!
Other Considerations of Hormone Replacement Therapy
It is important to note that this process can’t be reversed after we insert the pellet. This only means that current dosage will be completed, but you can stop any subsequent treatments.
This is important for men who might be trying to have children. Studies show that introducing testosterone, while beneficial for other aspects of life, can cause men to become infertile for up to 1 year after treatment.
Rediscover Balance with BHRT
Take the step toward recovering your health and wellness with benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in OKC at Renew Wellness & Aesthetics. Our priority is helping you feel like yourself again. Don’t wait; schedule your visit and unlock the benefits of BHRT today!