HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Our bodies change. Sometimes we notice.

We sleep differently. Our energy changes. Concentration gets harder. Sex feels different. We run hotter than we used to, or our mood seems to have acquired a mind of its own.

Sometimes the change is gradual enough that we work around it for years before wondering why.

Hormones can be part of the answer.

Understanding what changed gives us somewhere to start.

Hormones change as we do.

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all change over time, and those changes can affect us differently.

What we experience along the way varies considerably. Some of us barely notice. Some of us absolutely do.

When those changes begin affecting daily life, there are things we can do about them.

Perimenopause and menopause

Hot flashes and night sweats get most of the attention, but they are only part of what menopause can look like.

Sleep can change. Vaginal tissue can become dry or uncomfortable. Sex can hurt. Mood can shift. Sometimes we simply stop feeling quite like ourselves.

Hormone therapy can help with many of these changes.

Estrogen and progesterone may be part of treatment, and for some women, testosterone may be too.

The right treatment depends on what we are experiencing, our health history, where we are in the menopause transition, and what we want treatment to accomplish.

Low testosterone

Testosterone affects more than sexual function.

When levels are truly low, we may notice changes in libido, energy, concentration, mood, strength, or endurance.

But symptoms alone do not tell the whole story.

Testing helps us understand whether testosterone is actually part of what is going on and whether replacement therapy makes sense.

There is no universal version of HRT.

Our bodies are different. Our health histories are different. The symptoms bothering one person may barely register for another.

Treatment can reflect that.

Estrogen comes in different forms and doses. Progesterone may be part of treatment for some people. Testosterone can be given in several ways.

We choose an approach based on the person, then adjust it as needed.

We are still talking about regular healthcare.

As we get older, more things begin to overlap.

Hormones, blood pressure, bone health, sexual health, sleep, medications, cardiovascular health, and preventive care do not happen independently of one another.

Looking at them together usually tells us more than looking at any one number on a lab report.

We want to feel like ourselves.

Sometimes that means treatment. Sometimes it starts with finally understanding why something changed.

If you have been wondering about your hormones, come talk to us.

Same-day appointments are often available.

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