Are You Experiencing a Sex Hormone Imbalance?

Do you have a sex hormone imbalance? Sex hormones - primarily testosterone, estrogen and progesterone - are vital not just for a healthy sex life but for health in general. Imbalances can affect both sexes and produce a variety of symptoms.

The following symptoms may indicate a sex hormone imbalance: Low libido, insomnia or poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, memory problems, rapid and persistent weight gain, mood swings, fatigue and persistent headaches. In men, gynecomastia (growing breasts) is a sign of too little testosterone, too much estrogen or both. Contrary to popular belief, both sexes produce (and need) both types of sex hormone, just in different amounts. There are tests that can be done to work out whether you have an imbalance. Imbalances are more common in women over 40 and men over 50, but can happen at any age.

For women, the most common imbalance is between estrogen and progesterone. This can cause cravings (which is why pregnant women get cravings - progesterone increases during pregnancy), mood swings and weight gain. Testosterone imbalances can also affect women. Too much testosterone can cause excessive hair growth, including facial hair. Too little causes weight gain and reduced libido - so, yes, women do sometimes need HRT testosterone to fix bedroom problems.

For men, reduced testosterone levels are the most common problem. This can also result in too much estrogen, which can cause gynecomastia, as well as hair loss, weight gain and irritability. Too little testosterone lowers the sex drive, reduces performance and can cause weight loss, especially muscle loss. HRT testosterone replacement can help with both of these problems.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) should be considered for menopausal women as well as men, and for anyone experiencing sleep problems or sexual dysfunction. Women who have had their ovaries removed should consider combination therapy, whilst women who have had a hysterectomy often receive estrogen only. While low testosterone is rarely a problem for women, some women may need a very low dose to sustain sexual interest or help stave off cognitive decline.

In men, the reverse is true - the most likely hormone needed is testosterone. Testosterone replacement can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

If you think you might have a sex hormone imbalance, take our quick assessment to gauge your status and find out if HRT is right for you. It can help you deal with symptoms - even ones you might have had for years and had no idea it had anything to do with your sex hormone levels.

Options for Raising Testosterone

You’ve not been feeling like yourself for some time.  In fact, it seems as if nothing at home or work is as much fun as it was in the past.  The problem could be that your testosterone levels are lower than they should be.  Fortunately, there are ways to correct this type of hormone imbalance and help you get back in the game.  By talking with your doctor about ways to increase testosterone levels, you could be feeling better in a matter of weeks.

Changing Personal Habits

There’s a good chance that over the years you’ve picked up some habits that are not helping your body produce a sufficient amount of testosterone.  As you talk with your doctor about how to increase testosterone safely, those habits will be one of the first things the medical professional will want to address.  

If you are a smoker, you now have one more reason to quit.  In addition to increasing the risk of more than one form of cancer, smoking can inhibit the production of testosterone.  

Since you spend most of the day in front of a computer, you’ll need to start getting up and moving about more.  Talk with your boss about adding a rising desktop to your workstation.  That will allow you to stand for part of the day as you take care of your assigned tasks.  Spending part of your lunch hour taking a walk in the park isn’t a bad idea either.

Getting Enough Sleep

Not sleeping deeply or long enough does more than make you cranky in the morning.  As you seek to learn more about how to increase testosterone, rest assured that questions about your quality of sleep will come up.  Getting recuperative sleep provides your body with some of what it needs to remain healthy.  That includes ensuring more reasonable production of hormones.  

You Are What You Eat

Along with reducing foods that tend to inhibit testosterone production, it helps to consume foods that contain nitrates and stimulate the production of nitric oxide.  That’s one of the building blocks your body needs to produce testosterone.  Nitrates are found in all sorts of foods, although the amount varies.  Your doctor can provide some suggestions on how to increase testosterone by including the right foods in your daily meal plans.

Considering Hormone Replacement Therapy

When the levels are only a little low, it may be possible to raise them using strategies like lifestyle changes, exercise, and diet.  For those who are facing a more serious issue, hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is the way to go.  Designed to provide what your body is not producing, the delivery of HRT testosterone may be in the form of an injection, a patch, or a gel.  Your doctor will go over the pros and cons of each option, and provide guidelines for their use.

Keep in mind that if you do agree to trying the replacement therapy, it must be done exactly as your doctor instructs.  Don’t get the idea that if a little is good, more has to be better.  Your doctor will monitor the dosage and see what an impact it’s making.  If there is a need to adjust the dosage for any reason, the doctor is the one to make that decision, not you.

Low T is not something you have to live with the rest of your life.  Learn more about how to raise testosterone and work out a plan of action with your doctor.  It won’t be long before you notice the changes and begin to feel like your old self again.

Understanding the Role of Estrogen in Women

Estrogen can oftentimes wreak havoc in a woman’s life with everything from PMS to pre-menopause to menopause. These hormonal ups and downs can be difficult to live with, but being more informed on the role of estrogen in your body can do wonders with your ability to handle your hormones as well as use HRT’s (Hormone Replacement Therapy) when needed. Below are several things to consider when it comes to finding out if hormone replacement therapy is right for you.

What Are Symptoms of a Hormone Imbalance?

There are many women out there who suffer from a hormone imbalance, in which case hormone replacement therapy may be necessary in order to balance out those hormones. For women, symptoms of a hormone imbalance include:

• During PMS: Breast tenderness, changes in skin, craving foods, frequent colds, low stress tolerance, headaches or bad migraines, monthly weight fluctuation, and more. Although many of these symptoms can be normal, they can be considered abnormal if the symptoms are worse than average.
• During Pre-Menopause: Signs of a hormone imbalance during the pre-menopause stage include a decrease in memory and concentration, higher than average fatigue, gaining weight, anxiety, hot flashes, palpitations, insomnia, and more.
• During Post-Menopause: Several symptoms of a hormone imbalance associated with post-menopausal include things such as night sweats, hot flashes, and even dryness in the vaginal area.

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT?

HRT is used to treat the common symptoms of menopause and aging by replacing female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, as well as HRT testosterone that the body no longer makes. This is the most effective treatment when it comes to treating the symptoms of pre-menopause and post menopause.

Benefits of Receiving Therapy

There are so many benefits to receiving hormone replacement therapy that you don’t want to have to go without it. Not only does it help relieve the symptoms of pre- and post-menopause, but it can prevent so many different types of health problems. When estrogen declines in the body, it puts women more at risk for osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. However, with hormone replacement therapy, the risks of these health issues greatly decline, allowing you to lead a more normal life without the fear of a quickly depleting body.

Should You Receive Therapy?

This is a question that you should always ask yourself if you have a hormonal imbalance. Do the risks outweigh the benefits? Is hormone replacement therapy the right choice? What does estrogen do to your body when the hormone is lacking? The first step in finding out if this is the right option for you is to talk to a experienced and qualified physician. They have your best interests in mind and want you to be able to feel and look your best.

If you find yourself experiencing the hormonal imbalance symptoms that are associated with PMS, pre-menopause, or even post-menopause, then it might be time to consider receiving hormone replacement therapy. Talk to a professional to get all your questions answered such as what does estrogen do or how you can benefit from HRT.

What does estrogen do to you when it lacks in your body? If you want to be in control of your hormones rather than let them be in control of you, consider the possibility of receiving hormone replacement therapy. Find out how you can be on your way to a happier, more balanced life today. You don’t have to live with imbalanced hormones any longer!