Hormonal imbalance may occur at any age, and it occurs in both men and women.
Young women frequently present with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, intractable fatigue, obesity, heavy periods, painful periods, severe PMS, painful or lumpy breasts, migraine headaches, infrequent periods, polycystic ovary syndrome, excessive body hair, low libido, impaired immunity, absent periods and infertility.
Mature women may present with all of the above, and at mid life many present to their health practitioner with troublesome menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, vaginal dryness and insomnia.
Both younger and older men may present with intractable fatigue, impaired immunity, low libido, sexual dysfunction, osteopenia, osteoporosis, loss of wellbeing or general malaise.
While hormonal imbalances are not the only cause for the above conditions, more and more people are experiencing resolution of their condition through the balancing of their hormones.
Fatigue is an increasing problem in Australia and part of the successful treatment plan for fatigue, involves addressing a number of hormonal derangements, including DHEA, insulin, melatonin, thyroid hormones, testosterone and Vitamin D. (which is actually a prohormone, not a vitamin).
Menopause can be a very difficult time for some women; as well as for their spouses and their families. While many women breeze through menopause, others experience significant distress and disability from a multitude of severe, hormonal deficiency symptoms. For many women, these symptoms significantly compromise their quality of life, as they may persist for more than 5 years.
As menopause generally occurs between the ages of 35- 55 years, this means that women are living for 1/3 to ½ of their lives in a state of hormonal deficiency.
Bio-identical hormone replacement BHRT involves using plant derived hormones that are biologically identical to the hormones that your body makes. ( i.e.their chemical structure is identical to your own natural hormones.)
It is important to note that your response to hormones is unique and depends on many factors, including your genetics, your overall health, your stress levels plus many other environmental and nutritional factors.
It is also essential that one considers how all of your body’s hormones interact with each other, before taking any form of hormone replacement therapy.
A thorough medical history and physical examination, along with laboratory testing to establish your hormone levels is essential.
Natural or bioidentical hormone replacement is available on prescription from a compounding pharmacy and your prescription is uniquely tailored to your requirements.