Suffering from insomnia, hot flashes and vaginal dryness due to hormone deficiencies can take a toll on your life. If you are a woman who experiences these symptoms, you may be a good candidate for hormone replacement therapy. At Cool Springs MD Chattanooga, located in Chattanooga and serving patients in and around Cleveland, Tennessee, Dr. Jack Rowland and his capable team provide effective hormone replacement therapy to women who are frustrated by symptoms due to menopause.
The benefits of women’s hormone replacement treatments are endless. Patients often report the following positives regarding the therapy:
- Losing excess weight
- Strengthened muscle tone
- Improved sleep condition
- Increased energy and endurance
- Increased sex drive
Other benefits of hormone replacement therapy are the prevention of heart disease and osteoporosis. Women who participate in a regular exercise routine and a healthy diet are likely to benefit from this therapy.
Hormone Imbalances Even Happen to Healthy Women
Women can do all the ‘right’ things such as exercise, diet and take supplements, yet they may still struggle to feel and look healthy if they suffer from hormone imbalances.
Hormone deficiencies are an effect of the aging process. When healthy women are affected by these deficiencies, they may get confused by the physical and emotional symptoms.
In general, women tend to proactively maintain their health by scheduling annual physicals and openly sharing undesirable symptoms with their doctors. When women approach their primary care physicians or gynecologists with their concerns, they may not get the help they seek. Their doctors may not have the training to treat hormone imbalances. Unfortunately, men can sometimes be less open with their health issues.
How Women’s Hormones are Different
Although women and men both have hormones, the make-up of hormones in men and women differ greatly. Women face a more extreme set of challenges than men when it comes to hormone imbalances. Due to the unique nature of female hormones, imbalances make women more susceptible than men to conditions such as osteoporosis. Women face hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause that cause symptoms such as hair loss and gaining weight.
Many women are overwhelmed by hormonal shifts. The first step to learning how to alleviate the side effects is to understand the cause. Dr. Rowland is an expert in this area. Not only will he help you to understand the causes of your condition, but he will also provide solutions that will help to diminish the effects of aging and regain your youthful glow. Due to challenges of the aging process, the hormonal imbalances that occur because of menopause seem to be unavoidable. It is possible to minimize the effects through a carefully-designed therapy program just for you.
Symptoms of Pre-Menopause and Menopause
Hormones control the female reproductive system. If the hormones in a woman’s body drop to critically low levels, menstrual cycles will cease and menopause will begin. Menopause usually happens to women who are at least 50 years old. However, the process varies in each woman, and menopause can begin earlier. Pre-menopause usually begins when a woman is 35 years old.
The hormones responsible for the onset of pre-menopause and menopause are estrogen and progesterone. Pre-menopause and menopause happen when ovaries produce lower levels of estrogen and progesterone than normal. When there is a decrease in these hormones, symptoms occur.
Women often experience uncomfortable side effects during menopause. These symptoms are usually felt as hormone levels drop. The severity of pre-menopause and menopause symptoms can adversely affect a woman’s quality of living.
- Symptoms of menopause include:
- Excessively dry skin or skin that wrinkles
- Inability to sleep
- Mild or intense body heat
- Inability to focus
- Gaining weight and losing muscle mass
- Inconsistent moods and increased irritability
- Inadequate vaginal lubrication
- Tender or sore breasts
- Low libido and sex drive
If a doctor does not have experience or specialized knowledge about the benefits of women’s hormone replacement treatments, treatment outcomes will be limited. Many doctors only treat the symptoms with prescription drugs rather than the underlying causes. While this protocol may effectively alleviate a few of the results of imbalanced hormones, it will not remedy the whole problem. The most effective way to treat hormonal imbalance due to aging is with hormonal replacement therapy. The primary aim of this therapy is to address the source of the problem.
Synthetic Hormones vs. Bio-Identical Hormones
Naturally replacing hormones in a woman’s body is an essential element in reducing the adverse effects of aging. Bio-identical hormones are similar in make-up to the body’s natural hormones. These hormones have been receiving widespread attention in the medical community and mass media for years. Bio-identical hormones are expected to replace the use of synthetic hormones altogether. Synthetic hormones are controversial because they can result in many health risks and side effects.
Many medical professionals are well aware of the benefits of bio-identical hormones. However, some doctors continue to prescribe synthetic hormones. Synthetic hormones make the symptoms worse instead of treating the underlying conditions. Cool Springs MD Chattanooga treats women by prescribing bio-identical hormones that enable us to closely mimic the natural production of hormones that occur in our patients. Our goal is to eliminate the problems associated with hormone imbalance.
Is Hormone Replacement Treatment Safe for Women?
In the medical community, there are strong debates about the health risks associated with replacement therapy. Medical professionals who are against hormone replacement therapy believe that it increases the risk of breast cancer. These arguments have debated the safety of synthetic hormone replacement therapies not the safety of bio-identical therapies.
Many of the health concerns have decreased since bio-identical hormones have been introduced. It must be noted that synthetic hormones do pose health concerns, but bio-identical hormones are safer. However, there are still some medical professionals who disclaim the effectiveness of this therapy in spite of the testimonials of many women who have benefitted from this therapy.
At Cool Springs MD Chattanooga, our medical staff conducts a comprehensive screening process on our prospective patients. With the results of the screening, we are able to determine whether hormone replacement therapy is an appropriate course of treatment. Using our extensive knowledge of hormone replacement therapy, Cool Springs MD Chattanooga is able to diagnose and treat hormone imbalances. We are also able to develop a specialized treatment plan for each of our patients.
Building the Right Plan to Fight Aging
The battle against the effects of aging can be challenging. At Cool Springs MD Chattanooga, we encourage our patients to combine their specialized knowledge with lifestyle adjustments to maximize the results. It is important for you to maintain a proper diet and exercise program. With the right combination of treatments, the vitality and well-being of our patients will be restored.
Dr. Rowland has become an expert at prescribing hormone replacement therapy to his patients. Not only can hormone replacement in women restore a woman’s youthful looks, but it can also improve their sex drive and reduce the incidences of debilitating illnesses associated with hormone imbalances.
Since a woman’s body has many types of hormones, it is important to accurately evaluate a woman’s needs. A simple and universal treatment for hormone replacement for every woman does not exist. Dr. Rowland and his team thoroughly screen every patient. He uses his individual results to create a program that is designed specifically for them.
Women often face diminished health as a result of hormonal imbalances, but it does not have to be devastating. As you think about the benefits of hormone replacement treatments, you can count on the knowledge and skills of Dr. Jack Rowland to successfully treat your condition. Dr. Rowland’s treatment plans have improved the lives of many women in Chattanooga and the surrounding area of Tennessee, like the community of Cleveland, who have come to his office. Contact our office today at 423-401-8034 to schedule your consultation.
