Stop Osteoporosis Naturally with Hormone Replacement Therapy

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How HRT Naturally Prevents & Reverses Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a debilitating condition that affects millions of women worldwide. It’s a disease that weakens bones and makes them more susceptible to fractures. With age, the risk of developing osteoporosis increases, making it crucial to take steps to prevent it from happening. One of the most effective treatments for osteoporosis is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

In this article, the women’s health experts at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI explore why HRT is the best treatment and preventative for osteoporosis, including what women’s health organizations have to say about it.

Osteoporosis: The Silent Killer

Osteoporosis is a serious condition that can lead to serious consequences, including broken bones. Every year, millions of people suffer from broken bones due to osteoporosis. These fractures can be debilitating and even life-threatening, especially in older adults. In fact, the injury and mortality rates from broken bones due to osteoporosis are alarmingly high.

According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture. This means that millions of people are at risk of suffering from broken bones due to osteoporosis each year. These fractures can result in severe pain, limited mobility, and even death in some cases. In fact, the mortality rate for hip fractures due to osteoporosis is alarmingly high, with as many as 20% of patients dying within one year of their fracture.

Broken bones due to osteoporosis can also have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life. For example, a broken hip can result in limited mobility, making it difficult to perform daily activities such as walking, bathing, and getting dressed. In addition, the recovery period from a broken bone can be long and difficult, with many patients requiring rehabilitation and physical therapy. Furthermore, the emotional impact of broken bones can be devastating, leading to depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life. These statistics highlight the need for effective treatments and preventatives for osteoporosis, in order to reduce the injury and mortality rates from broken bones.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Prevents Osteoporosis

Several women’s health organizations have recommended the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy to prevent osteoporosis. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), for example, has stated that HRT is the best treatment for osteoporosis. NAMS recommends HRT for women who are at high risk of osteoporosis and have a low risk of heart disease and breast cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also endorsed HRT as an effective treatment for osteoporosis.

Hormone Replacement Therapy is a treatment that replaces hormones that are lost during the menopause transition. During this time, women experience a decline in the production of hormones such as estrogen, which is responsible for maintaining strong bones. HRT works by replenishing the hormones that are lost, which helps to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. This is because estrogen plays a critical role in maintaining healthy bones. When there is a decline in estrogen levels, bones become brittle and more susceptible to fractures. HRT helps to prevent this from happening by replenishing the hormones that are lost.

Why HRT is Better Than Medications to Prevent Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis medications can be effective in preventing bone loss, but they also come with many serious risks and side effects. It’s important to be aware of these dangers and side effects in order to make an informed decision about your treatment options.

Some of the most commonly prescribed osteoporosis medications include Boniva, Fosamax, and others. One of the potential dangers of osteoporosis medications is the risk of gastrointestinal side effects. These medications can irritate the esophagus and stomach, leading to symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, these side effects can lead to ulcers, esophageal erosions, and other serious complications.

Another potential danger of osteoporosis medications is the risk of atypical femur fractures. These fractures can occur spontaneously and without a known cause, and they can be difficult to treat. In some cases, they may require surgery, which can be painful and lead to a long recovery period.

In addition to these dangers, osteoporosis medications can also cause other side effects, such as muscle, joint, and back pain. Some people may also experience headaches, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping.

However, 100% natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – now available at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI – is not known to come with any of these side effects.

HRT: The Safe Way to Prevent Osteoporosis

In addition to being an effective treatment for osteoporosis, Hormone Replacement Therapy is also extremely safe. In the past, there were concerns about the safety of HRT, but these have been largely addressed. Recent studies have shown that HRT is safe when taken at the right dose and for the right amount of time. Women who are considering HRT should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctor, and make an informed decision based on their own health and medical history.

It’s important to note that HRT is not recommended for all women. Women who have a history of breast cancer, blood clots, or stroke should not use HRT. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should also avoid HRT. Women who have a family history of breast cancer should also discuss the risks and benefits of HRT with their doctor.

Osteoporosis Prevention with HRT | Royal Oak, MI

100% natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – now available at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI – is the best treatment and preventative for osteoporosis. It’s a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and has been recommended by several women’s health organizations.

If you have had a DEXA scan showing bone loss, or you are a woman who is at high risk of osteoporosis, schedule an appointment with Dr. Fakih at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI to discuss the benefits of HRT for helping to treat, prevent or even reverse osteoporosis.

HRT is a valuable tool for maintaining strong bones and reducing the risk of osteoporosis that can help women take control of their health, to ensure that they remain strong and healthy for years to come.

HRT Osteoporosis Treatment | Royal Oak: 248.997.4242

Menopause Hair Loss? HRT Can Help!

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HRT Can Stop & Even Reverse Menopause Hair Loss

The hormonal changes during menopause can lead to many frustrating and uncomfortable side effects. However, perhaps no symptom of menopause is more frustrating than thinning hair. Decreased levels of estrogen due to menopause can impact hair growth and cause a woman’s hair to become thin and sparse.

Estrogen plays a role in maintaining the growth phase of the hair cycle, and when levels decrease, the hair growth phase is shortened, leading to thinner and weaker hair. Additionally, lower levels of estrogen can lead to an increase in the levels of androgens, such as testosterone, which can also contribute to female hair loss.

The great news is that 100% natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI can help replace missing hormones and alleviate many of the symptoms of menopause – including hair loss in many cases!

How Do I Know if My Hair Loss is Due to Menopause?

One way to determine if your hair loss is due to menopause is to track the timing of your hair loss in relation to your menstrual cycle and menopausal symptoms. If your hair loss began around the same time as your menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and irregular periods, it is more likely that it is related to hormonal changes associated with menopause.

Additionally, patterns of hair loss can also indicate the cause. Menopausal women tend to experience diffuse hair loss, which is hair thinning all over the scalp, whereas other causes of hair loss, such as androgenic alopecia (female pattern baldness), can result in a more specific pattern of hair loss, such as a receding hairline or thinning at the crown.

However, the best way to determine if your hair loss may be due to menopause is to undergo hormone level testing at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI. We offer blood testing to evaluate your hormone levels, as well as to check for any underlying medical condition and rule out other causes of hair loss.

It’s important to note that hair loss can also be caused by a combination of factors, such as genetics, age, hormonal changes, and certain medical conditions or medications. So, hormone level blood testing at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI is important to definitively diagnose insufficient hormone levels.

Can Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) help menopausal hair loss?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help menopausal hair loss by replacing the hormones that are lost during menopause. Specifically, HRT can help to raise estrogen levels, which can help to prolong the growth phase of the hair cycle and reduce hair loss.

HRT is often prescribed to women who are experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause, and it can also be used to treat other menopause-related conditions, such as osteoporosis. But HRT can also be effective at slowing, stopping, and in some cases even reversing hair loss due to menopause.

Other Symptoms of Hormone Deficiency that HRT Can Help

To determine if you have a hormone deficiency, schedule an appointment at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI where Dr. Fakih can conduct blood tests to measure the levels of hormones in your body.

In addition to hair loss, HRT can help many other signs and symptoms of menopausal hormone deficiency including:

  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Sleep problems
  • Brain Fog
  • Hot flashes or night sweats
  • Low libido
  • Bone loss
  • Decreased muscle mass

Why HRT Is Better than Other Hair Loss Treatments

If a hormone deficiency is detected, HRT naturally corrects the underlying problem itself, without the dangers and side effects of harsh synthetic medications.

Both topical and oral medicines can promote female hair growth, but they have a number of unfavorable side effects. Breast sensitivity, a decline in libido, and excessive hair growth in unwelcome areas are all potential side effects of finasteride (Propecia or Proscar). Unwanted face and/or body hair, fainting, chest discomfort, limb swelling, weight gain, exhaustion, and trouble breathing are all side effects of minoxidil (Rogaine).

In addition to HRT, Dr. Fakih at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak may be able to prescribe dietary supplements and shampoos that work with your body – naturally – to help halt hair loss and encourage hair regeneration in menopausal women.

HRT for Menopause Hair Loss | Royal Oak, MI

If you are a woman who is experiencing thinning hair, it may be due to the hormonal decline of perimenopause or menopause. The good news is that you CAN do something about this!

The hormonal changes during menopause can lead to decreased levels of estrogen, which can impact hair growth and many other aspects of health and well-being. But HRT can restore hormone balance and alleviate many of these problems – including thinning hair.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Fakih at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak for an evaluation and testing to see if HRT is right for you!

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) | Royal Oak: 248.997.4242

Mental Health Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

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Hormone Replacement Therapy Offers Benefits for Mental Health

Menopause is notorious for causing “mood swings” in women. But recent clinical research has also determined that menopause can worsen or cause a relapse of mental health problems that existed before menopause.

Fortunately, women do not have to suffer with many of the debilitating side-effects of menopause anymore, thanks to advancements in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).  Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI is proud to be a provider of 100% natural BioTe BHRT pellets that are safer, more effective, and more convenient than previous methods of hormone therapy.

One aspect of menopause that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help dramatically is women’s mental health. This is wonderful news for menopausal women for many reasons. While psychiatric medications can indeed help relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and many other mental illnesses, these strong drugs often have unpleasant, dangerous, long-term side-effects.

However, physicians are increasingly recognizing that restoring women’s hormone balance with BHRT during menopause can naturally improve mental health –   even sometimes eliminating the need for psychiatric meds – without side effects.

Menopause Mental Health & Hormone Replacement Therapy

Endocrinology is the study of hormones and how they affect all of the systems of the body. And, of course, psychiatrists and neurologists are doctors who study and treat disorders of the brain. In recent years, scientists have combined these three medical disciplines into a field called “psycho-neuroendocrinology” – which is the study of the role that hormones play in regulating mental health.

Scientists and doctors in this exciting field of medicine have discovered that by balancing certain hormones, hormone replacement therapy can offer a natural approach to improving mental health. In other words, by regulating and restoring balance to the hormones that affect the brain, HRT can assist in returning the brain and mind to optimal functioning in many cases.

Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy for Depression

Scientists have long known that there is a link between depression and menopause. And research has shown that female patients with a history of clinical depression and/or anxiety are more likely to experience a relapse or worsening of clinical depression or anxiety during menopause.

Studies show that a significant number of females – about 18% who are in early perimenopause and 38% who are in late perimenopause – will experience symptoms of depression.1 Recent medical studies have also suggested that females who had severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) when they were younger, and/or those who experienced postpartum depression, often have more severe mood swings during perimenopause.

But clinical research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Psychiatry2 found that hormone replacement therapy reduced the risk of menopause during depression by almost half. After receiving HRT for a year, 32% of the perimenopausal female patients treated with a placebo experienced clinically significant depression, while only 17% of the women in the study treated with hormone replacement therapy experienced serious symptoms of depression.

So, while menopause itself does not cause psychological disorders, the hormonal declines and imbalances of perimenopause and menopause can aggravate or put a woman at higher risk of a relapse of many mental health disorders. And research shows that rebalancing these declining hormones with HRT can help alleviate this risk of relapse.

Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (previously called manic depression) is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings, characterized by emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression, hopelessness, loss of interest in life). And menopause has also been shown in clinical studies to increase symptoms of bipolar disorder.

During menopause, women who are afflicted with bipolar disorder report significantly more depressive episodes. Researchers believe that this is probably directly attributable to the decrease in the hormone estrogen, which happens to all women during menopause as they reach the end of their reproductive years.  Research studies have revealed that women with bipolar disorder are likely more sensitive to hormonal shifts during menopause.

Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy for Schizophrenia

Psychotic disorders refer to those severe mental conditions that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions – including delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, and losing touch with reality. Medical research has also shown that a decline in estrogen levels during menopause can also trigger or exacerbate some psychotic conditions, including schizophrenia.

It is interesting to note that schizophrenia typically manifests during young adulthood, but there is also often a second surge of schizophrenia in women during menopause. And, somewhat less frequently, perimenopause (the period leading up to menopause) may also significantly increase the risk of an initial onset of schizophrenic psychosis.

Psychiatrist have long known that female patients with pre-existing chronic schizophrenia often undergo a deterioration of their mental state and frequently exhibit a greater demand for psychiatric medications during menopause.

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Reducing Alzheimer’s Risk

Recent trailblazing research has also found a link between hormone decline and Alzheimer’s disease in women (but not in men). Researchers discovered that accelerated biological aging is often associated with females who have a certain genetic Alzheimer’s risk factor – but that hormone replacement therapy, seems to slow down this aging, and in the process also decelerates the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

This groundbreaking research provides important evidence of the crucial role hormones play in mental functioning. By determining that estrogen therapy slows aging and lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s disease in women with certain genetic predispositions, physicians may be able to stave off cognitive decline with hormone replacement therapy in some patients.

Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy for Better Mental Health

Hormones help regulate every function of a woman’s body – including the functioning of the brain. And yet, the hormone decline of menopause is an unavoidable fact of life. As she reaches the end of her reproductive cycles, every woman will experience declining, imbalanced, or insufficient hormone levels.

And, in addition to the hot flashes, night sweats, and decreased libido of menopause, many female patients with preexisting mental illness may find their psychiatric symptoms worsening. But while the potential role of hormone replacement therapy in treating mental conditions during menopause still being explored, the prospects appear very promising.

In many cases, restoring balance to the body through hormone replacement therapy may prove to be more effective – with fewer side effects – than harsh psychiatric medications with dangerous or unpleasant reactions.

Hormone Replacement Therapy | Royal Oak

Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI offers BioTe® hormone replacement pellets that can help restore your body and mind to optimal balance – with NO daily pills, NO painful weekly shots, and NO messy creams. A single pellet insertion can last several months. And because BioTe utilizes bioidentical hormones it is safer, more effective, and more natural than lab-created synthetics, with fewer side-effects and risks.

If you are menopausal or perimenopausal woman in the Royal Oak are who is experiencing mood swings, “brain fog,” memory loss, trouble concentrating, or an increase in psychiatric symptoms, schedule a consultation at Prosperity Health today!

Royal Oak Hormone Replacement Therapy: 248.997.4242

1 As Menopause Nears, Be Aware It Can Trigger Depression and Anxiety, too; NPR.com. January 16, 2020.

2 Transdermal estradiol shows promise in treating and preventing perimenopausal depression; JAMA Psychiatry, online. Susan Girdler, Ph.D., Hadine Joffe, M.D., et. Al.; Jan. 10, 2018.

 

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. The benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are well documented through clinical research. However, Prosperity Health is not representing that hormone replacement therapy is a treatment or cure for any disease. Nor is HRT right for every patient. Only your physician can determine if hormone replacement therapy may be an appropriate part of your personal healthcare plan, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.

Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe?

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Recent Research Shows Hormone Replacement Therapy is Safe

Many people are afraid of hormone replacement therapy based on a wealth of bad and outdated information about HRT that they find online. But we all know that you can’t trust everything you read online, right? Most of the misinformation about hormone replacement therapy can be traced back to a single, very old, flawed report that was conducted decades ago in the early days of HRT.

Of course, the media had a field day with the data in this sensational study – as they always do – leading to an unjustified fear of hormone therapy. As result, many female patients – and even many “traditional” doctors who have not keep up with the latest research – are misinformed about the recent research on the safety of hormone replacement therapy.

So, if there is untrue info on the Internet about HRT, who does one believe? As always, patients should look at recent scientific research conducted by reputable medical organizations. In this article, the hormone replacement therapy experts at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI review this research to help set the record straight about the safety of modern HRT modalities.

How Hormone Replacement Therapy Got a Bad Reputation

An excellent article published in the National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health explains that the first clinical studies on hormone replacement therapy were conducted in America decades ago in the late 1990s. In 2002 these studies were summarized in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), which wrongly claimed that hormone replacement therapy had more detrimental effects than benefits.

Of course, the media jumped on this with wide spread negatively publicity at the time, and unfortunately the once very popular use of hormone replacement therapy dropped off significantly.

However, in subsequent years, scientists re-analyzed the clinical data and newer research was performed. And this information clearly shows that use of HRT in younger women or in early postmenopausal women has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system, reducing heart disease in addition to lowering women’s death rate from all causes.

However, the damage had already been done by the sensational media coverage – and hormone replacement therapy was saddled with a dangerous reputation that many misinformed patients and doctors still erroneously believe in the present day!

Why New Hormone Replacement Therapy is Safe

Originally, hormone replacement therapy was manufactured using synthetic hormones that were created in a lab. However, anything that is as molecularly complex as human hormones simply cannot be identically duplicated in a laboratory. In recent years, though, the use of bioidentical hormones – derived from 100% natural plant sources – have changed the HRT game completely.

While, unfortunately, some less-up-to-date physicians still prescribe synthetic hormones – modern, holistic experts, like those at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI, offer safe and natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) replicates the molecular structure of the hormones produced by the body exactly, because they are naturally derived.  This makes them much more effective than synthetics. And they are also safer than synthetics. In fact, BHRT is free of many of the dangerous side effects of lab created hormones.

Research on the Safety of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Medical research studies on the safety and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy are continually being conducted. And a continuously growing body of scientific evidence has revealed that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is safe for use to alleviate the symptoms of menopause, and to help prevent many life-threatening diseases in women and men.

Recent research has shown that BHRT not only helps improve mood, energy, sex drive and sexual enjoyment, but can also help women and men reduce the risk of osteoporosis, cardiac disease, type 2 diabetes, and death from all causes.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Safety in Women

The studies from the late 1990s reported that estrogen supplements, when used alone, were associated with a higher risk of developing endometrial cancer. However, according to the report we mentioned above (published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) research has shown that by reducing the dosage of estrogen  while combining it with progesterone can actually reduce the risk of endometrial cancer.

In a recent WebMD article, Dr. Shelley R. Salpeter, professor of medicine at Stanford School of Medicine is quoted as saying: “We have evidence that hormone replacement therapy can prevent heart disease, hip fractures, and osteoporosis, and that it cuts the risk of developing diabetes by 30% in younger women.”

That article further reports that Doctor Salpeter and her associates found that hormone replacement therapy reduced heart attacks and cardiac deaths by an astounding 32% in women who were aged 60 or younger, and/or those who had been through menopause less than 10 years ago. In older female patients, HRT showed some correlation to an increase in cardiac events in the first year, but then began to reduce the risks of heart problems again after two years.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also recommends that HRT can be used to safely treat women who have severe menopausal symptoms. And, the renowned experts at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, The North American Menopause Society, and The Endocrine Society have all unequivocally stated that most healthy, menopausal women can safely use estrogen replacement therapy for the prevention of life-threatening bone-fractures due to the bone loss of osteoporosis.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Safety in Men

While hormone replacement therapy is often associated with women because of its menopausal benefits, BHRT can significantly improve health and quality of life for men, as well. Clinical evidence delivered at the 2008 annual meeting of The Endocrine Society reported that testosterone replacement therapy can help men reduce their risks of metabolic syndrome, heart attack, cardiac disease, type 2 diabetes, and death from all causes.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of medical conditions that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the belly, and elevated cholesterol levels. It increases a person’s risk for heart attack, stroke, and developing type 2 diabetes. According to two notable medical research studies, presented by the director of scientific affairs for Bayer Schering Pharma in Berlin, “Low T” levels in male patients were found to be associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the studies revealed that male patients who were given testosterone replacement therapy significantly reduced their risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Male patients in the study who were given testosterone placement saw their “bad” cholesterol (LDL/ triglycerides) reduced by 1/3rd to 1/4th, while their “good” HDL cholesterol improved. The men treated with HRT also saw their body mass index decrease and they especially lost their belly fat, generally losing three or four inches off their waist and going down by 2 or 3 pant sizes.

According to research presented by the Institute for Community Medicine at Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University in Greifswald, Germany, replacing deficient testosterone levels in men can also reduce the overall risk of death. That impressive study followed 2,000 men (between the ages of 20 to 79 years old) for a full seven years. The resulting data revealed that the men with low testosterone had a more than twofold higher risk of death than men who achieved normal testosterone levels either naturally or through the administration of testosterone replacement therapy.

We would say that reducing the risk of death by more than half in a seven-year study, is certainly evidence that BHRT is not only safe but wise for men suffering from “Low T”!

 Hormone Replacement Therapy | Royal Oak

For the right patients, at the right age, BHRT can be a safe, effective, and natural path to improved mental, physical, and sexual health. The most important step in understanding if hormone replacement therapy is right and safe for you is to talk to a physician like Dr. Hakim in Royal Oak, who is trained and specialized in modern bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak can determine if HRT may be a safe and beneficial part of your individualized healthcare plan, based on comprehensive blood work, your age, lifestyle, overall health, and any risk factors you may have. She offers BioTe bioidentical hormone replacement pellets for the safest, most consistent, 100% natural, and easiest-to-use form of hormone replacement. There are NO daily pills, messy creams or painful shots – and a single, in-office, time-released pellet insertion provides relief from menopause symptoms and protection from disease for 3 to 6 months!

If you live in the greater Royal Oak area, schedule a hormone replacement therapy consultation at Prosperity Health to see if BioTe BHRT is right for you!

Royal Oak Hormone Replacement Therapy Consultation: 248.997.4242

 

DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. The benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are well documented through clinical research. However, Prosperity Health is not representing that hormone replacement therapy is a treatment or cure for any disease. Nor is HRT right for every patient. Only your physician can determine if hormone replacement therapy may be an appropriate part of your personal healthcare plan, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.

hormone therapy royal oak | southfield

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Safely Treats Menopause Symptoms

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Menopause Symptoms Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Help –

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her childbearing years come to an end. While the average age of menopause in the U.S. is age 51, the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause may actually start years before, as the ovaries begin to produce far fewer of the body’s “sex hormones”, including estrogen. This time period leading up to menopause is called perimenopause.

The sex hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, not only enable reproduction but also regulate almost every aspect of a woman’s body – from metabolism and weight gain to bone density and libido. Thus, the hormonal decline caused by perimenopause and menopause can cause widespread changes and unpleasant side effects in a woman’s body.

The symptoms and side effects of hormone decline due to menopause can include: hot flashes, sleep problems, decreased libido (sex drive), vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse, bladder leaks, weight gain, mood swings, fatigue, weakening bones (osteoporosis), and more.

But the good news is that replacing declining hormones with natural, FDA approved, BioTe hormone replacement therapy pellets can provide long-term relief from the painful and often troublesome symptoms of menopause. All without daily pills, messy gels and creams, unsightly patches, or painful shots!

In this article, the hormone replacement therapy specialists at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI discuss the five most common symptoms of menopause and how hormone replacement therapy can help relieve them.

 #1. Hormone Replacement Therapy Reduces Hot Flashes

No symptom is more universally associated with menopause than hot flashes. Medical experts, including those at the Mayo Clinic and Harvard, almost universally agree that the most effective treatment for hot flashes and severe night sweats associated with menopause is hormone replacement therapy.

Hot flashes, also referred to as hot flushes, are estimated to affect up to 75% of perimenopausal women. Hot flashes are a “vasomotor” reaction, meaning they are caused by a sudden dilation of the blood vessels. This increased blood flow can cause feelings of extreme heat and profuse sweating.

In a clinical trial involving 3,329 participants, hormone replacement therapy (estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin) reduced women’s hot flashes by an amazing 75%!

 #2. Hormone Replacement Therapy Combats Low Energy & Fatigue

Many women think that loss of energy is a natural part of aging – but this does not have to be the case. Testosterone, although thought of as a male hormone, plays an important role in increasing energy in both men and women. Testosterone helps the body produce proteins that help maintain muscle and energy. But low testosterone levels can cause debilitating fatigue and sometimes weakness.

Fatigue can also be attributable to deficiencies of thyroid hormones. The thyroid gland controls many aspects of metabolism and is therefore essential for maintaining energy levels. So, in addition to balancing a woman’s estrogen levels during menopause, it is also extremely important to run a complete hormone panel when doing her blood tests.

Hormone replacement therapy to restore a woman’s testosterone, estrogen, and thyroid levels can dramatically help renew energy and vitality.

 # 3. Hormone Replacement Therapy Treats Vaginal Dryness & Painful Sex

After menopause, more than 50% of women will experience vaginal symptoms such as dryness, itching, and pain during intercourse. The most common underlying cause of vaginal dryness and painful sex is the drop in estrogen levels due to menopause.

Estrogen is the female “sex hormone” responsible for maintaining the thickness and health of the tissues of the vaginal wall, and for producing moisture for vaginal lubrication. However, as estrogen production declines during menopause, the walls of the vagina become thinner, lose their elasticity, and produce less lubricant. And sex starts to become less satisfyingly and even painful.

Hormone replacement therapy can help a woman’s body naturally rebuild thick, strong, elastic, and moist vaginal tissues, making sex enjoyable again!

 #4. Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Help Reverse Weight Gain

Hormonal drops and imbalances during menopause can also lead to weight gain in many ways, especially around the waist or abdomen.

If estrogen levels are low, metabolism slows down, which increases body fat storage. In addition, low estrogen levels can cause a decrease in the body’s ability to break down fat, which can also lead to fat accumulation, weight gain, and an increase in waist circumference or “belly fat”.

And if the levels of a woman’s androgens (male hormones) increase relative to declining female hormones, it increases here risk of obesity. Compounding the problem can be a drop in levels of the hormone leptin, which tells the brain to feel “full” after eating, which also happens during menopause. This means that women are actually hungrier during menopause, which causes them to consume more calories.

Additionally, estrogen deficiency reduces skeletal muscle mass and causes a reduction in muscle force in women. However, restoring hormonal balance with hormone replacement therapy can help perimenopausal and perimenopausal women reverse weight gain, build muscle, and reverse fat stores around the abdomen.

 # 5. Hormone Replacement Therapy Prevents Osteoporosis

One of the many important functions of estrogen is to stimulate the activity of bone-producing cells. Therefore, as estrogen levels decline during menopause, bones lose density and become prone to fracture. In fact, 50% of women will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis. For women, the incidence of a broken bone due to osteoporosis is greater than that of heart attack, stroke and breast cancer combined!

However, many women do not even realize that they are suffering from osteoporosis until it is too late, and they have broken a bone.

The first FDA treatment approved to prevent osteoporosis was estrogen replacement therapy. And while there are now many new synthetic medications for osteoporosis, these drugs can come with harsh side effects. However, several recent clinical studies have demonstrated that estrogen replacement therapy is still the best, and most natural, method for preventing osteoporotic bone fractures.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy prevents osteoporosis naturally by restoring the body’s estrogen levels – rather than introducing lab-created chemicals that come with harsh side effects. Hormone replacement therapy at Prosperity Health in Royal, Oak can help ensure that you are NOT in the 50% of women who will suffer a bone fracture due to osteoporosis.

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause | Royal Oak

In addition to treating hot flashes, fatigue, painful intercourse, vaginal pain and dryness, weight gain, muscle loss, and osteoporosis hormone replacement therapy also helps prevent cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s’ disease, and many other serious illnesses associated with aging.

Dr. Nishath Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak offers BioTe bioidentical hormone replacement pellets for the safest, most consistent, 100% natural, and easiest-to-use form of hormone replacement. There are NO daily pills, messy creams or painful shots – and a single, in-office, time-released pellet insertion provides relief from menopause symptoms and protection from disease for 3 to 4 months!

If you are a woman in the Royal Oak area who is navigating the challenges of perimenopause or menopause symptoms, schedule a hormone replacement therapy consultation at Prosperity Health to see if BioTe HRT is right for you!

Menopause Hormone Replacement Therapy | Royal Oak: 248.997.4242

low testosterone hormone therapy - royal oak park

How to Know if You Have Low Testosterone

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Top 10 Signs of Low Testosterone & How to Treat It – 

Testosterone is an “androgen” (male sex hormone) that is most often associated with libido and sexual performance in men. But testosterone also affects everything from male appearance to a man’s risk of serious disease. Testosterone helps build muscle and regulate weight gain and the distribution of body fat. It also influences hair growth or loss and helps lower the risk of developing serious illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes.

Unfortunately, as men age, their bodies begin to produce less and less testosterone. Androgen production declines by about 1% per year after age 30. Statistics on low testosterone vary, but it is generally agreed that almost 40 percent of men aged 45 years and older suffer from some degree of low testosterone.

According to information published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, 12 percent of men in their 50s, 19 percent of men in their 60s, 28 percent in their 70s, and 49 of men percent in their 80s suffer from low testosterone.

Fortunately, Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI, now offers advanced, 100% natural, clinically tested and FDA approved low testosterone treatment in the form of BioTe time-released bioidentical hormone replacement pellets. In this article, we discuss 10 of the most common signs and symptoms that a man may be suffering from low testosterone.

 Low Testosterone Sign #1: Decreased Sex Drive

A man’s sex drive – or “libido” – is governed in large part by his testosterone levels. As a result, many men experience a reduced sex drive as they get older and start to lose testosterone.

The good news is that most men who suffer from low testosterone can restore their libido with safe, simple, natural, and convenient hormone replacement therapy pellets offered at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI.

Low Testosterone Sign #2:  Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Testosterone not only increases libido in men, but sufficient testosterone levels are also needed to achieve and maintain an erection. While testosterone is not the sole cause of erections, it does play an important role in activating receptors in the brain that cause arousal and facilitate erection. In fact, recent clinical research studies have shown that as many as one in three men who seek medical treatment for erectile dysfunction have low testosterone levels.

However, it is important to note that there are other medical causes that can cause erectile dysfunction, in addition to low testosterone. For this reason, men should not try to self-medicate if they have erectile dysfunction. Dr. Hakim will precisely measure patients’ testosterone levels with comprehensive blood tests to determine if low testosterone is the cause of their erectile dysfunction.

If you have been experiencing difficulties achieving or maintaining an erection – and your blood work shows a testosterone deficiency – safe, easy, natural BioTe testosterone replacement therapy can be added to your medical treatment plan to help restore your sex life.

Low Testosterone Sign #3: Low Semen Volume

If you notice that your sperm amount seems reduced when you ejaculate, this could be another sign you are suffering from low testosterone. When testosterone levels drop below normal amounts, decreased sperm production can occur. This can also directly affect fertility.

If your sperm volume has noticeably decreased and/or you are having trouble conceiving a child, Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak can conduct blood tests to evaluate your testosterone levels.

Low Testosterone Sign #4: Smaller Penis or Testicle Size

Both the penis and the testicles require testosterone to develop properly. So, men with low testosterone levels may have smaller genitalia than average. At our Royal Oak, MI area medical office, many of our patients with low testosterone levels have reported that their testicle size has appeared to decrease – and/or they think they may have smaller-than-average sized testicles.

Of course, other medical factors may also cause the testicles to shrink. For this reason, it is important to never self-medicate. Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak can conduct thorough testing to give patients an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

 Low Testosterone Sign #5: Hair Loss

Hair growth and follicle health are also affected by testosterone. Most men experience some form of scalp baldness as they get older, which is most often hereditary. However, men with low testosterone may suffer from facial and body hair loss.

Hair loss on the face, chest, or body, may be another sign of “low testosterone.” At Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI Dr. Hakim can diagnose testosterone-related hair loss and treat it with hormone replacement therapy before it gets worse.

Low Testosterone Sign #6: Fatigue & Low Energy

Low testosterone levels are also known to significantly lower a person’s energy levels. If you’re too tired to work out, engage in sports, or enjoy activities like you used to, low testosterone may be the culprit.

If you are feeling tired and lethargic despite getting regular sleep and eating well, Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak can conduct a blood test to determine if your energy deficit is due to low testosterone or some other cause.

Low Testosterone Sign #7: You Have a Dad Bod

If you’ve lost muscle mass, packed on soft fat, and have developed the dreaded “Dad Bod” it may be the result of low testosterone. Clinical studies have shown that low testosterone levels can lead to loss of muscle mass. To add insult to injury, low testosterone levels can also cause fat to be distributed around the abdomen and chest. And in some cases, imbalanced testosterone/estrogen levels can even lead to dreaded “man boobs.”

When a man comes Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, blood tests are done to determine if his testosterone levels out of balance. If so, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can often help restore a more youthful and masculine body.

 Low Testosterone Sign #8: Broken Bones (Low Bone Density)

Osteoporosis is not just a woman’s disease. More than 8 million men in the United States suffer from low bone mass. And men with low testosterone are much more likely to have osteoporosis.

If you have broken one or more bones, it may be an indication of bone loss, due to testosterone deficiency. Fortunately, for most men who are suffering from osteoporosis who are hormone deficient, testosterone therapy is a very effective treatment for naturally increasing bone density (without harsh medications).

Low Testosterone Sign #9: Mood & Memory Problems

Testosterone also affects mental functioning – including mood and memory – in men. Clinical studies show that men with low testosterone are more prone to irritability, poor concentration, memory problems, and even depression. While many men may blame mood and memory issues on “stress” or “getting older” the real cause is often a testosterone deficiency.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak, MI can often help restore a man’s mental functioning, alertness and memory. Additionally, hormone replacement therapy has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Low Testosterone Sign #10: Anemia

Male patients with low testosterone levels also have an increased risk of developing anemia. And signs of anemia may include dizziness, increased heart rate, leg cramps, shortness of breath, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and difficulty concentrating. Since many other medical conditions can cause these symptoms, many men do not realize that low testosterone is the underlying cause.

But the Journal of the American Medical Association recently reported that men suffering from low testosterone who were anemic experienced significant improvement after receiving testosterone replacement therapy!

 Low Testosterone Treatment – Top Royal Oak, MI Doctor

Testosterone impacts nearly every aspect of male well-being from libido and sexual performance to physical appearance changes and cognitive issues. But because the decline in male testosterone occurs gradually over time, unlike the dramatic hormonal changes of menopause, many men are unaware that their symptoms are due to “Low T”.

A thorough blood test by hormone replacement specialist Dr. Hakim at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak can tell you if low testosterone is at the root of your physical, mental, or sexual symptoms. If so, BioTe bioidentical hormone therapy pellets can return your testosterone to optimal levels naturally.

Results can be seen within just a few days and one single in-office treatment lasts up to 6 months – with NO pills, gels, patches or shots! Schedule a consultation today and see if natural BioTe hormone replacement therapy can help you get your life (and your sex life!) back on track!

Low Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy | Royal Oak: 248.997.4242

In a Weight Loss Rut? It Could be Your Hormones!

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How Hormone Replacement Therapy Can Help Weight Loss – 

Many men and women find that as they get older they gain weight – even though their diet or activity level hasn’t changed. For other people, their weight may stay the same but now they find fat or weight in different places – especially around the belly. One reason this happens is that a person’s hormone levels change or drop as they age.

The good news is that hormone level testing, and safe, 100% natural hormone replacement can help bring an individual’s body back in balance so that they can more easily lose those extra pounds – and even take it off from their midsection!

In this article Bloomfield Hills bioidentical hormone expert Dr. Nishath Hakim explains how hormone imbalance can cause weight gain in women and men – and how rebalancing your missing hormones may be able to help you lose weight and reduce stubborn belly fat.

Women’s Hormones & Weight Loss

As a women’s reproductive years draw to a close, she enters menopause. Her menstrual cycles stop – and her production of female hormones such as estrogen drops substantially.  This hormone decline can cause a wide variety of symptoms – from hot flashes, to mood swings, and more. But perhaps the most frustrating side-effect of menopause is weight gain.

Fortunately, the annoying hot flashes and mood swings will eventually subside. But, unfortunately, the unwanted weight gain and accompanying belly fat of menopause often last for the rest of a woman’s life – no matter how much she diets or exercises.

The reason for this is that a woman’s levels of estrogen and testosterone help determine how the body burns energy or “calories”, as well as how and where the body stores fat. So, decreased levels of estrogen slow down a woman’s “metabolism” – which is the rate at which her body burns energy (calories).

As a result, even if she eats the same amount of food – and engages in the same amount of exercise – that she did before menopause, she simply doesn’t burn as many calories as she did when she was younger. And the body then stores the unused calories as fat – and especially as belly fat.

To complicate weight loss after menopause even further, estrogen is responsible for helping the body break down fat. So, as estrogen levels decline during and after menopause, the body can’t break down fat as well – further encouraging weight gain. Additionally, if a woman’s estrogen and testosterone levels get too far out of balance and there is an excess of male hormones (“androgens”) it can also increase her risk of obesity.

Finally, to add to the problem of female weight gain as she ages, a woman’s levels of the hormone leptin also drop after menopause. And since leptin is the hormone that tells the brain to feel “full” after eating, menopausal women actually do feel hungrier, which can lead eating more calories in order to feel “full.”

Men’s Hormones & Weight Loss

Many people do not realize that men also experience a type of “male menopause” called andropause. After the age of 30 men’s hormones also decline in production. If testosterone levels drop too, much the condition is sometimes referred to as “Low T.” Many men realize that lowered testosterone levels can lead to sexual performance problems and loss of libido. But low testosterone levels also make a man’s body less effective at building muscle and burning energy (calories) – which results in weight gain.

Additionally, when a man’s estrogen and testosterone levels become out of balance, a man’s body is more likely to store unwanted fat on belly and in some cases even the breasts (so-called “man boobs”). Low T levels in men can also cause loss of energy and fatigue, which makes them less active, also contributing to weight gain.

Changes in levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol can also cause weight gain by putting the body into a “survival mode” where it slows down metabolism – and packs on fat – in order to store energy for later use. And lowered levels of the growth hormone HGH, as well as decreased levels of thyroid hormones, can also cause a man’s metabolism to slow down with age.

How Hormone Replacement Helps Weight Loss

Hormone decline is why so many men universally start to develop softer “dad bods”, and why so many women start collecting extra weight and fat around their middle, as they pass the age of 40.

And while weight gain can lower a person’s self-esteem, is not just an aesthetic issue! Increased levels of body fat – especially around the middle – can substantially increase a man or woman’s risk for almost every major chronic disease, including: high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, and even cancer.

Clearly, reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise is a healthy component of any weight loss plan. But when diet and working-out are simply not enough to lose unwanted fat, balancing and/or replacing a person’s declining or missing hormones can help provide the key to shedding pounds and inches.

Dr. Hakim is a biodentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) expert at Prosperity Health in Bloomfield Hills, MI.  She can conduct thorough and comprehensive blood testing to identify your unique hormone levels and deficiencies. Then she will prescribe individualized hormone replacement therapy that is formulated and compounded in the exact doses that are needed to restore your hormone levels to perfect balance.

At Prosperity Health in Bloomfield Hills, we offer 100% natural, safe, bioidentical hormone replacements that are safer and more effective than synthetic lab-created hormones – to rebalance hormone levels and support weight loss after menopause or andropause.

In addition to being custom formulated for each patient, BioTe® hormone replacement offers the advantage of being administered via tiny, time-released pellets that can last up to six months with a single subdermal insertion. So, there are no daily pills to remember, no painful hormone shots, no patches to fall off and replace every few days, and no messy creams to apply!

Additionally, the time-released hormone pellets deliver bioidentical estrogen and testosterone consistently and evenly 24/7 as the body needs them – so there is not the roller coaster effect of pills and injections.

Hormone Replacement for Weight Loss | Bloomfield Hills

If you are a man or women who is frustrated by your inability to lose weight as you get older, it may be time to consider that declining or imbalanced hormone levels may be part of the problem!

In many cases, bioidentical hormone replacement can help return your metabolism to what it was you were young, so you can burn calories more easily and lose weight and body fat. BHRT can also help increase your energy and reduce fatigue, so you can continue to be as active as you ever were – helping you naturally lose weight!

If you live in the Bloomfield Hills area and are discouraged by the weight gain of female or male menopause, schedule a hormone replacement therapy consultation at Prosperity Health today – and let Dr. Hakim help you get your body back!

Hormone Replacement Weight Loss Consultation | Bloomfield Hills: 248.997.4242