Hormone therapy involves supplementing hormones that are lacking or unbalanced in the body to alleviate deficiency symptoms and improve health. As we age or due to medical conditions, our hormone levels can become imbalanced, leading to unpleasant symptoms. Re-balancing these hormones through careful hormone replacement therapy can greatly improve quality of life.
Hormone therapy involves supplementing the body with bioidentical hormones to match healthy physiology. It is customized to the individual’s needs and aims to optimize hormone levels within normal ranges. When done properly under medical supervision, hormone treatment is safe and effective.
There are several types of hormone therapy:
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) involves supplementing testosterone. In men, testosterone levels naturally decline with age, sometimes causing unpleasant effects like low energy, reduced muscle mass, weight gain, poor concentration, and reduced libido.
TRT mitigates these effects, helping men regain healthy testosterone levels and reclaim their vitality. Carefully-monitored programs allow customization of dosage to the individual’s physiology.
In women, balances of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone regulate menstrual cycles and keep the body and mind healthy. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can supplement these hormones to reduce symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disruption, and weight gain.
Estrogen and progesterone therapy provide stability as women go through major hormonal changes like perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. This hormone optimization supports physical, mental, and emotional health.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism. An underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, causes tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, and even depression. Thyroid hormone therapy treats hypothyroidism by supplementing thyroid hormones until hormone blood tests return to optimal ranges.
Levels of growth hormone naturally decrease with age. Deficiency can lead to loss of bone density, muscle mass, and energy levels. Growth hormone therapy stimulates cell growth and regeneration. It is still being researched but shows promise for anti-aging and athletic performance enhancement.
DHEA is a building block for estrogen and testosterone. As levels decline around age 30, people may experience effects like fatigue, loss of bone density, reduced libido, anxiety, and depression. DHEA therapy supplements this prohormone to mitigate negative effects.
It’s important to have hormone levels tested at the first signs of deficiency and to promptly begin treatment if needed. Untreated hormone imbalances can worsen over time, leading to significant health issues.
For example, low testosterone in men is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and premature death. Estrogen deficiency puts women at elevated risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
The good news is that careful hormone replacement to restore optimal levels can reverse adverse effects and support long-lasting good health. That’s why timely testing and treatment are so important.
The root cause and ideal treatment approach differs between individuals. That’s why Balance Health Clinic begins each patient with comprehensive lab testing to identify their specific hormone imbalances and health goals. Our clinicians then develop fully customized therapies to optimize hormones based on the individual’s physiology.
Here is an overview of our general hormone therapy protocols:
We schedule an extensive initial consultation, including analysis of diet, lifestyle, medical history, health goals, and current symptoms. We then order specialized blood tests to measure hormone levels and other relevant biomarkers to uncover the root causes of imbalance.
Our clinicians analyze the test results and compare to optimal range guidelines. We then develop a customized treatment plan that is specific to the individual’s lab results, medical history, symptoms, and goals.
The treatment plan outlines the hormones and doses to be supplemented, all balanced carefully based on physiology. Plans also include lifestyle and diet recommendations for added health support.
One month after beginning the protocol, we re-test hormone blood levels and meet to evaluate progress. We make any needed dose adjustments to ensure hormones stabilize at optimal levels.
Follow up lab testing and progress evaluations continue every 1-3 months until the patient achieves treatment goals and hormone optimization. We also provide ongoing symptom tracking questionnaires and access to clinicians between visits if needed.
Once hormones have fully stabilized, patients enter the maintenance phase with less frequent follow ups. We recommend re-testing 2-4 times per year to ensure hormone levels remain optimized.
With over 15 years serving Bloomfield, Balance Health Clinic is the leading clinic for customized bioidentical hormone replacement. Our experience, expertise, and commitment to patient care makes us the top choice for hormone treatment in the area.
Our clinicians have advanced certifications in age management medicine with specialized expertise in customized bioidentical hormone therapy, precision testing, and interpretation of lab results. We stay current on the latest medical research to incorporate cutting edge treatment plans.
We utilize advanced specialty lab testing services to uncover the root causes and customized solutions for hormone imbalance and deficiency. Our clinicians compare results to optimal range clinical guidelines when developing treatment plans.
No two patients are alike biologically, so we create treatment plans as unique as you are. After specialized testing, we craft customized therapies with bioidentical hormones dosed precisely to your physiology and health goals.
Proper nutrition and self-care practices further support hormone balance and wellbeing. Our clinicians provide personalized diet and lifestyle guidance tailored to your needs and treatment goals.
Our staff strives to provide exceptional patient care throughout treatment. We listen attentively to all your questions and concerns, with clinicians available between visits if needed. It’s our pleasure to help you look and feel your best.
While hormone therapy has been controversial, a 2010 study found that hormone therapy started in early menopause in healthy women showed beneficial effects on bone health and appeared neutral in terms of heart health, countering previous concerns. More research is exploring more tailored and lower-dose regimens.
Balance Health Clinic prescribes high quality bioidentical hormones sourced from specialized compounding pharmacies. What makes them superior for treatment?
The term “bioidentical” means the hormone molecules are structurally identical to those found naturally in the human body. This allows receptor binding and physiological effects just like our innate hormones.
These hormones are made by specialized compounding pharmacies to the exact doses prescribed by our clinicians. This allows customization of precise amounts tailored to each patient’s lab testing and needs.
Compounded bioidentical hormones come in optimized topical creams, sublingual drops, or injectables. These routes of administration improve absorption compared to traditional synthetic oral medications.
The molecularly identical bioidentical hormones have a much lower side effect profile compared to older non-bioidentical versions. This makes treatment safer and more comfortable.
For truly personalized and effective hormone therapy, bioidentical hormones combined with specialized testing and customization makes all the difference.
In addition to directly supplementing hormones, certain lifestyle measures can further support healthy hormone balance and enhance treatment effects. Our clinicians provide individualized recommendations, which may include:
Eating a nutritious whole foods diet supports the entire endocrine system and metabolism. Key aspects are getting enough healthy fats for building hormones, enough protein to support muscles and bones, and fiber to balance blood sugar. We help craft optimal nutrition plans for your needs.
Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night supports hormone and brain health. This allows proper regeneration time for the whole body. Our experts provide sleep hygiene tips to optimize your rest.
High or unrelenting stress overstimulates the “fight or flight” response, which can suppress reproductive and growth hormones. We teach methods like breathwork, meditation, massage, and nature exposure to activate the body’s relaxation response. This complements treatment by supporting a healthy hormonal milieu.
Certain vitamins, minerals, herbs, and nutraceuticals provide building blocks and cofactors that promote hormone synthesis and balance inflammation. Our clinicians may recommend useful supplements to enhance wellbeing and amplify treatment success.
Regular exercise stimulates testosterone, growth hormone, and endorphins for better hormonal balance, emotional health, and body composition. The ideal program combines aerobic activity, resistance/weight training, flexibility training, and recovery techniques tailored to your needs and abilities. Staying active also helps manage weight and cardiovascular health - important because obesity and disease exacerbate hormone imbalance.
Balance Health Clinic in Bloomfield is an ideal location for effectively administering customized bioidentical hormone therapy. The area features a mild four season climate, modern healthcare infrastructure with testing facilities, abundant natural recreation areas for relaxation and fitness, plus a variety of shops, restaurants and attractions to enjoy.
Bloomfield features warm sunny summers and moderately cold winters. This provides ideal conditions for outdoor relaxation, recreation, and soaking in some vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D helps regulate hormonal activity and immune function. The area typically sees about 115 days per year with temperatures exceeding 70°F, allowing ample opportunities to take advantage of parks, trails, golf courses and waterfront access for hormonal harmony.
During the cooler fall and spring seasons, getting outside amongst the flourishing colors and greenery does wonders for the mood as well. The area sees about 120 days annually with high temps between 50-70°F — perfect for light outdoor activity. Even on brisk days, marveling at the dynamic Lake Erie shoreline offers beauty and reflection.
Bloomfield’s winter climate is relatively mild, with just 30 days annually that fall below 20°F on average. This short winter makes it fairly easy to travel around for medical appointments while allowing enjoyment of festive indoor attractions.
In summary, Bloomfield’s four distinct but moderate seasons encourage residents to stay active while soaking in the sensory gifts Mother Nature provides – all supportive for hormone balance. The climate here fosters an environment for healing unlike most other metro locations.
Bloomfield residents have access to dozens of high quality medical labs for routine blood testing. Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, and various private labs offer a range of testing services conveniently located throughout the area. This makes frequent testing to monitor hormone therapy progress easy to accomplish.
In addition, Balance Health Clinic partners with specialized testing laboratories like ZRT Labs on the leading edge of precision hormone testing. They analyze dried blood spot samples we collect in-office, then sensitively quantify hormone metabolites and relevant sex steroids using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry technology. This advanced testing uncovers core issues for customized treatment plans. Convenient access and medically supervised sample collection takes the hassle out of high tech testing.
Bloomfield Township sits along Lake Erie, blessed with beautiful beaches, meadows, forests, and ravines. Nearby metroparks like Penitentiary Glen Reservation provide hiking trails with wondrous geologic features and calming wildlife. The Lake Erie shoreline offers relaxing vistas and refreshing negative ions.
Exposure to natural settings has been clinically demonstrated to lower stress hormones like cortisol while raising serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain for better mood regulation. Reduced stress paired with heightened relaxation and joy allows the body to respond optimally to hormone therapy support. Getting into nature is a wonderful complement to treatment.
Evidence clearly shows staying physically active improves treatment success by supporting balanced metabolism and ideal body composition. Bloomfield offers exceptional fitness resources to make healthy movement easily accessible.
The Township operates two exceptional recreation centers – the Bloomfield Recreation and Senior Center on Andover Road plus Sydenham Community Center on Crystal Parkway. These modern facilities offer strengths and cardio training zones, exercise classes, swimming pools, and indoor walking tracks to stay fit year-round.
In addition, residents enjoy over a dozen public and private golf courses, various yoga studios, martial arts dojos, and boutique pilates/barre/cycle studios scattered around town. For outdoor activities, Metroparks spans over 21,000 acres in Cuyahoga and surrounding counties, much of it accessible right from Bloomfield. Trails allow walking, running and biking with classes like paddleboarding and rock climbing available. Staying active to support hormone health is readily achievable with such exceptional local recreation access.
Beyond healthcare resources and proximity to nature, Bloomfield offers an exceptional array of shops, restaurants, arts, and entertainment for enjoying life during treatment. Quaint local coffee shops and diverse eateries provide places to catch up with friends while rewarding tastebuds. Several local wineries like Debonne Vineyards, Laurello Vineyards, and Paper Moon Vineyards offer weekend tastings and events. For arts and culture, Blossom Music Center schedules world class performances during warmer months while Playhouse Square presents Broadway plays and local theater year-round.
In summary, Bloomfield supplies all the amenities right at your doorstep for balanced living during hormone therapy - convenient healthcare access, relaxing landscapes to reduce stress, fitness options to stay active, and attractions for comfort and joy. The location and supportive community create an ideal healing environment.
Symptoms of hormone imbalance vary by which type is affected but often include persistent fatigue, trouble sleeping, mental fog, anxiety or depression, loss of muscle tone, weight gain, reduced libido, sexual dysfunction, hot flashes, night sweats, or other disruptive signs. Have an open discussion with our clinicians about your experiences. We can order blood tests to measure levels of key hormones and uncover imbalances.
Balancing hormones to youthful ranges reduces adverse symptoms associated with deficiency while enhancing overall health and vitality. Patients often report benefits like restored energy levels, improved body composition, better sleep quality, balanced mood, increased libido, heightened clarity and concentration, plus an all around greater sense of wellbeing.
There are risks with any medical treatment, however customized bioidentical hormone therapy is extremely safe when properly administered under clinician supervision. The hormones carry minimal side effects since the bioidentical molecules precisely match human hormones. Starting with comprehensive lab testing allows clinicians to prescribe exact doses needed for optimization based on your physiology, then follow up testing ensures hormones stabilize at healthy levels.
Most patients notice some initial effects within the first 1-2 weeks. However, full benefits commonly take 2-3 months to fully develop once hormones reach optimal levels. It’s important to be consistent with treatment and follow clinicians’ recommendations, as hormone balance is a journey requiring patience and partnership between doctor and patient. But the rewards are well worth it!
Coverage varies widely between policies. We advise patients to contact their individual health insurance provider for specifics on coverage details. If hormone therapy services are not covered, some expenses may still count toward your annual deductible. We also provide flexible payment options like Health Savings Account plans and cash rates to ease any financial burden. Your health comes first.______________________________We hope this informative guide empowers you to take charge of your health through precision testing and personalized optimization of your body’s innate intelligence. Please
