Hormonal imbalances present unique health challenges and come with a long list of life-draining symptoms including hot flashes & night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes and anxiety, as well as weight gain, slowing metabolism and irregular periods.
Many of these symptoms occur as a direct consequence of naturally declining hormone levels (such as oestrogen and progesterone) during perimenopause and menopause – but today’s busy, always-on lifestyle paired with an epidemic of chronic health issues frequently contributes to “hormonal havoc” that’s wrecking your life.
When your hormones are “out of whack”, everything is out of whack… making you think you’re going crazy.
Unfortunately, most medical schools aren't teaching a patient centered, systems biology approach to hormones that strives to provide personalised, comprehensive care, leaving GPs and gynaecologists ill-prepared to address your very valid concerns.
So if you feel discouraged, please don’t give up!
While taming these waves of hormone chaos is no small feat, it definitely isn't impossible.
Menopause often begins in a woman’s late 40s to early 50s, when her ovaries cease producing eggs and stop the subsequent release of hormones that initiate the monthly menstrual cycle. Perimenopause is the stage just before menopause when a woman’s menstrual cycles start to become irregular, triggering symptoms similar to menopause.
Hormone levels change dramatically throughout perimenopause into menopause, inducing uncomfortable symptoms commonly associated with this stage in life.
Since hormones control every aspect of the body's function – from temperature regulation to metabolism to the sleep cycle, it’s no wonder that most women experience a wide range of frustrating issues during this transition.
Yet while menopause is unavoidable, you don't have to let hormone imbalances call the shots.
Many women don’t realize that there are natural options available to help them restore optimal hormone levels, including lifestyle changes and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for women.
This type of therapy can naturally restore optimal hormone levels, leading to improved physical and mental health. Let's dive into more detail how BHRT for women works, who should get it, potential side effects, and why partnering with London Bioidentical Hormones is such a smart move.
A woman’s ovaries produce hormones including oestrogen. If her ovaries are removed, post-surgical symptoms mimic menopause, even when the patient is younger than the typical menopausal age.
Unusually low testosterone levels in women may manifest as low sex drive, fatigue, weakness and muscle mass loss, as well as bone loss, depression & mood changes, or vaginal dryness.
Counterintuitively, women can experience high testosterone, which may lead to a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is quite common in younger women. PCOS can be difficult to diagnose. High testosterone levels can present with symptoms such as acne, moodiness, and excess facial hair.
Also called underactive thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism is a common disorder. With hypothyroidism, your thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. When you do not have enough thyroid hormone, your body processes slow down, resulting in less energy and a sluggish metabolism.
PMDD is a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome. Those who suffer from PMDD may experience physical changes including tiredness, bloating, and breast tenderness, as well as irritability, sadness, and extreme moodiness and this can have a huge effect on their relationships, career and quality of life.
Before diving into bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for women, it's important to evaluate your current hormone levels to determine the best personalised treatment approach – ideally through lifestyle changes that support natural hormone balance.
The most common tests for hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones are blood tests. Urine tests are also used, and these can provide information about how we metabolise our hormones (as can genomics), but urine tests may not provide a comprehensive picture because they do not include hormones such as FSH. Depending on your unique situation, the test may vary.
In addition, we might also test for other hormones such as DHEA or cortisol to get a more complete picture of your current hormone health. It's important to note that oestrogen and progesterone tests are usually done on specific days of the menstrual cycle and should be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
Given our team's expertise in treating hormone imbalances, the best first step is to book an initial visit (£699 including comprehensive bloods) by calling the clinic on +44203 303 0237. After your initial visit, if you'd like to learn more about our three-month mastery programme, click here to BOOK YOUR DISCOVERY CALL.
BHRT is a treatment approach that uses bioidentical forms of progesterone and oestrogen (identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced by your ovaries) to optimise hormone levels so you can reclaim your vitality, energy levels and sex drive.
Because bioidentical hormones are identical in structure to your body's own, your body knows how to use and metabolise them. Synthetic progesterone and oestrogen medications often found in conventional HRT are not identical in structure to your body's own and come with unwanted side effects .
In addition, there are many studies over the last 30 years that have shown BHRT as a safe and effective strategy for treating hormone imbalances. Appropriate hormone testing shows how well your are absorbing hormones and is used to individualise your dose to your specific needs.
Women who have used BHRT have experienced the following benefits:
If you're based in the UK and are not sure whether working with our BHRT Drs is the right route for you, you can book a discovery call. Alternatively, if you're ready to get started, please call the clinic directly on +44203 303 0237 to book in for your initial visit (£699 including comprehensive blood test).
If you're not based in the UK, you won't be able to work with our BHRT Drs but you can still work with our functional medicine nutritionist and coach. Please call the clinic on +44203 303 0237 to find out more.
London Bioidentical Hormones is a Virtual Practice in the United Kingdom and serves patients throughout the United Kingdom.
