Bioidentical Hormones Replacement Therapy to Improve the Quality of Your Life

Are you experiencing a lot of problems because your body is not producing enough quantities of hormones? This usually happens as a result of old age or if you are a woman who has had a hysterectomy. You need to take steps to bring the hormones back to the original levels so that your body functions properly. The best way out of this problem is to opt for bioidentical hormones replacement therapy.

There are many problems that you will face unless you get started with bioidentical hormones replacement therapy. Women tend to suffer far greater discomfort than men especially if they are going through menopause. These include hot flushes, irregular menstrual periods, osteoporosis as well as thinning and drying out of the vaginal walls. There are many symptoms of hormone loss that are faced by men and women, particularly as they age. This includes increased risk of heart disease, increase in weight, reduced sex drive, insomnia, depression and reduced energy levels.

It is far better to go for bioidentical hormones replacement therapy instead of using conventional artificial hormones because this treatment is very effective. The hormones in question are made out of plant sources and are identical in molecular structure to the ones made by the body. As a result, they are very easily absorbed by the body and used without any problems.

You need to go to a really good doctor in order to get bioidentical hormones replacement therapy. The doctor will study your hormone levels after doing certain blood tests and will then determine what your exact hormonal requirements are. You will be offered specially formulated cocktails of these hormones that will help you get freedom from the above symptoms. The fact that there is reduced risk of negative side effects makes this treatment a very desirable option for you.

Natural Bioidentical Hormone – Why It Is So Powerful

It is a widely accepted fact that the imbalance of hormones in the body can lead to a variety of ailments, both physical and mental. Doctors are increasingly using hormones to treat people whose bodies are not able to produce the required quantities of these necessary substances. However, people who know a lot about this subject maintain that natural bioidentical hormone treatment is preferable to artificially created hormones.

As the name indicates, natural bioidentical hormones are indistinguishable in molecular structure to the natural hormones produced by the human body as part of its normal functioning. It goes without saying that these hormones are produced in a manufacturing unit from certain products that contain unique compounds that can easily be processed in a laboratory and made with the desired structure. However, it should be stressed that they are generally produced from plant sources, soybeans and wild yams in particular. In comparison, synthetic hormones are sourced from animal matter. In fact, they are usually made from hormones of pigs and horses.

The fact that a natural bioidentical hormone is exactly like a human hormone makes the body absorb and utilize it quickly and fully. In addition, these are a very safe alternative to artificial products because they are less likely to have negative side effects as long as you use them correctly.

The other reason that a natural bioidentical hormone treatment is so powerful is that it is customized to meet the needs of each individual patient. Doctors only ever prescribe this treatment after studying the hormonal profile of the patient that is available as a result of blood work. Patients are able to get quick and lasting relief from their hormonal problems as a result of taking the right cocktail of special hormones. The fact that the hormones are administered in customized dosages ensures fewer negative side effects.

Bioidentical Hormones Indianapolis – Locate Experienced Doctors Who Offer This Treatment

Are you looking for a dependable Indianapolis based doctor who can offer you a range of wellness programs using hormones? You will definitely need to find a doctor who has great experience offering these treatments because they are powerful and should always be used correctly. These hormones are different from conventional ones because they are synthesized from plant extracts such as soybeans and wild yams. This makes them easily absorbed by the body. Also, they do not cause any negative side effects unlike regular hormone treatments.

When it comes to bioidentical hormones Indianapolis has quite a few medical practices and wellness clinics that offer this treatment. Complementary Family MedicalCare of Indiana is one of the best places to get treatment with bioidentical hormones. This clinic is run by Dr. Linda J. Spencer who has been able to help lots of women (and men) with hormone related problems that reduce the quality of their life.

Dr. Riley Perry Lloyd also offers excellent treatments using a variety of bioidentical hormones in Indianapolis. In fact, Dr. Lloyd has built up a very successful practice in the area thanks to the customized service that he offers patients. People who have age related hormonal problems will find this a very reliable and affordable clinic. Other doctors offering treatments using bioidentical hormones in Indianapolis are Dr. Swathi Rao of Health & Wellness Of Carmel and also Dr. Roger Spahr who has made the change from practicing family medicine to focusing on anti-aging and regenerative medicine.

It is very important to find the clinic offering the best treatments using bioidentical hormones in Indianapolis because you will be coming here often for long term treatment. You will be able to lead a healthier and happier life, keeping old age at bay, once you can bring your hormones under control.

Low sex drive and hormones

Is having a low sex drive considered to be a medical disorder?

Despite what one reads and sees on the internet, not all women have high libido. A woman’s sex drive and desires fluctuate considerably throughout life and get even more unpredictable in middle age. The sex drive in a woman may be related to a personal relationship, marriage, children job, menopause, illness or there may be no obvious cause. One common cause of decreased sex drive in women is the use of certain drugs like the anti-depressants. In most of these cases, the sex drive reverses when the condition is treated or the drug is discontinued. , some women may have a persistent low sex drive or have a complete lack of interest in sex. If this low sex drive does not bother the female or causes no distress then it is not a medical disorder. The low sex drive is only considered to be a medical disorder if it causes you stress and you agonize over it.

In any cases, in many cases of low sex drive, there are simple changes in life style that can help boor libido. In rare cases, some women may need medications.

How much sex is considered to be less than normal?

There is no number that classifies low or high sex drive. If you are your partner are happy and have have a loving relationship and you have sex once a month (or more frequently), then that is ok . if the number of times you have sex does not bother you or your partner then you are normal. Many people are in a great relationship and do not have sex more than once a week and that is perfectly okay. There is such a range of sex drive that there is no such thing as normal. With the advent of the internet, it appears that having sex all the time is the norm- this is a delusion and myth propagated by people who want to sell porno. As long as you are happy and in a loving relationship, the number of times you have sex is irrelevant.

What are common causes of low sex drive in women?

There is no simple answer to this complex problem. Sex drive in women is intricately related to many factors including good health, intimacy, emotional well-being, experiences, interpersonal relationships and beliefs. Some of the causes of low sex drive include:

Medical disorders like arthritis, diabetes, cancer, having high blood pressure, stroke, muscular disorder and other bone development problems.

Some women may have a developmental abnormality that may make sex painful or make it difficult to achieve an orgasm.

There are several medications that can lower libido. These include anti-depressants and other mood altering drugs.

While a little alcohol may stimulate your libido, too much may cause you to feel sleepy and lower your sex drive. This also applies to many illicit drugs.

One temporary cause of low sex drive is surgery. Surgery especially in the pelvic area or groin usually does not help one get in the mood for sex. This applies to any surgery . the incisions can be painful and there is a chance that the wound can fall apart during sex. So common sense indicates that sex and surgery do not go well together.

Another cause of low sex drive is both physical and emotional stress. Women who are tired after a hard day’s work may not be in the mood to have sex. Looking after children all day can also be tiresome.

Is it normal to have a low sex drive during menopause?

During menopause, the levels of the female sex hormone, estrogen starts to decline. This is associated with a decrease in sex drive. The vagina and vulva also become dry and sex during this time period is uncomfortable. It is also known that during menopause the low levels of testosterone decline and this is also associated with a decrease in libido. Although sex during and after menopause is common, most women do notice a drop in libido. Many women resort to use of lubricants and topical hormones to have satisfying sex.

What type of emotional problems can lead to low sex drive?

There is a common belief that only depression causes a low sex drive. While this is true that are many other mental health issues that can lead to a low sex drive. This includes the following:

- having financial stress
- Work related problems
- Generalized anxiety
- Unrealistic expectation
- Poor body image
- Lack of self confidence
- Low self-esteem
- History of sexual abuse
- Problems in interpersonal relationships
- Unresolved conflicts with the partner
- No or little communication with the partner’
- Partner who is cheating
- In ability to connect with the partner

How is the diagnosis of low sex drive made in women?

Having low sex drive is often due to lack of interests or desire and may often be associated with stress. In many cases, the diagnosis can be made just based on the history you provide. However, in some cases, your doctor may perform a pelvic exam especially if you have pain during sexual intercourse. In other cases the pelvic exam may reveal vaginal dryness and tender spots. In middle aged and menopausal women, other routine tests may include looking at levels of blood sugars and function of the liver and kidney. Since treatment of low sex drive is not within the realm of general physicians, it is most likely you will be referred to to a therapist.

Are there any medications that can be used to treat low sex drive?

In most cases, the treatment of low sex drive is non-medical. This may include seeing a therapist for sex education and improving self-confidence. If you are already on an anti-depressant medication, your doctor may alter the dosage or change the medication. Unfortunately, every single anti-depressant available today is known to affect libido. The one antidepressant that only mildly affects libido is wellbutrin. Unfortunately, after a few months use, this medication is also known to lower libido. Some doctors do prescribe Viagra as an off label use in women with a low sex drive. You have to discuss this with your doctor.

Are there any hormonal treatments for low sex drive?

Yes they are. There are various formulation of low dose estrogen available. The low dose estrogen not only lubricates the vaginal but also improves mood and has a positive overall effect. However, there is a lot of conflicting data about estrogen and most physicians are reluctant to prescribe these hormones for long periods. There is concern that estrogen alone when taken for a long time may increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer. For the short term, the hormone is safe.

The low dose estrogen is available as a gel paste or suppository that can be placed directly inside the vagina. Over a few days, the estrogen increases blood flow and moisturizes the vagina, thus making sex pleasant. In most cases, doctors also prescribe a low dose progesterone to counter the effects of estrogen.

The role of the male sex hormone testosterone is also conflicting. Low doses are known to increase libido in the female. However, a prescription of testosterone is very controversial. At present testosterone in any form is not approved by the FDA for the treatment of low sex drive in women. Moreover testosterone also has very undesirable side effects like excess body hair, acne and changes in mood.

Are there any home remedies to boost libido?

Well one has to be realistic. There is no magic bullet but there are something you can do at home. Exercise regularly and lose excess weight, Not only will you feel more confident you will also look sexier. Moreover, a trim weight will help boost your self-esteem. Try to communicate with your partner about your desires, needs, and wants. Sex is also a lot to do with what is in between the ears and less what is in the groin. Spice up your sex life and use different positions and different locations for sex. Experiment, use sex toys, and do something spontaneous and exciting.

Hormones and headaches

While there are many benefits of female sex hormones, headaches is not one of them. The sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone play a vital role in the menstrual cycle and are also known to affect chemicals in the brain, which are responsible for headaches. Headaches tend to occur when the estrogen levels are low and disappear when estrogen levels are high. Thus, in women, headaches tend to be most common just at the end of the menstrual cycle and often last for a few days. Fortunately, these headaches can be treated by simple home remedies and pain medications. For women who feel a headache coming on just prior to the end of the menstrual cycle, it is important to apply a cold ice pack to the painful area or the neck. In most cases, 20 minutes of ice pack several times a day is soothing and often prevents the headache from getting worse. In addition, one should remain in a calm comforting environment away from the home traffic. At work one may apply a small ice pack to the back of the neck while working to prevent the ice pack from wetting the clothes, insert it inside a plastic back.

Another great way to ease the headache of menstrual ;pain is deep massage. You may get someone to massage your neck and head for you and relieve the tension in the muscles. There are many types of massage devices on the market but the majority are not recommended. These devices are difficult to use, are inflexible and often cannot masses the small areas of the body.

Unlike migraines the headaches associated with the menstrual period can be managed by non steroidal anti inflammatory medications like Aleve, Motrin or aspirin. In rare cases, a prescription strength pain pill maybe required to abort the headaches.

In most women, the above self care methods can help cure the headache associated with menstrual periods , but if the headache persist and become more frequent, it is important to see you health provider. If you menstrual cycle is regular and predicable, then one can take the medications a few days ahead and prevent the headaches. If your headaches and menstrual cycle are both irregular, then you may need to take a pain pill everyday.

Birth control pills and headaches

A number of women complain of headaches when they first start to take the birth control pill. In others, the headaches may change in intensity and/or frequency. Why this happens is not exactly known but is quite common. For women who use the birth control pill and suffer from headaches there are a few helpful hints:

- if the headaches are severe and affect lifestyle, you may need to see your health provider. Do not discontinue the pill otherwise you may get pregnant which may be a bigger headache than what you wished for. Let the doctor decide what is ideal for you and also offer you another form of birth control.

- In some cases, changing to a different brand of pills does resolve the problem. However, this is a case of trial and error and you may end up wasting a lot of money.

- One of the best ways to eliminate headaches induced by the pill is to buy a brand which has very few placebo pills. By eliminating the inactive pill, some women notice a marked improvement in their headaches.

- Another option is to apply a skin patch containing estrogen only during the last week of the cycle. So now, you will be receiving some estrogen in the body which will decrease the headaches.

- Some women may respond to a progestin only birth control pill. Unfortunately, the results with these pills are variable.

- The final option is to stop the pill and use another form of birth control.

Roles of Estrogen and Progesterone in the Body

Estrogen and progesterone are two very important sexual hormones in females and play a major role in the body. For the female body to function well both mentally and physically, the levels of estrogen and progesterone must be in proper balance. Both estrogen and progesterone have unique functions in the body. In the body, the levels of both estrogen and progesterone are well regulated by the hypothalamus. The ovary is very sensitive to information from the brain and only manufacturers these hormones when needed. For all functions in the body, it is the levels of free hormones that are most important.

The levels of estrogen and progesterone vary in the body during each menstrual cycle. However, there are certain times during the menstrual cycle when the levels of estrogen are high and progesterone levels are low. In such a case, the female will experience the following symptoms:

- increased anxiety
- feeling of sadness
- mood swings from depression to anger
- apprehension , forgetfulness
- lack of concentration
- altered sleep patterns

Progesterone helps to balance out these mood altering symptoms.

Estrogen can also cause sodium retention; this result in water retention and swelling of the body. Most females notice the water retention which is obvious in the hands and feet and around the stomach. Progesterone can help counter these effects by blocking the retention of sodium.

High levels of estrogen can also affect metabolism. This many manifest as:

- episodes of low sugar levels
- increased appetite
- headaches
- food cravings
- fatigue
- sleepiness

Again progesterone maintains the balance and prevents the increased food cravings and lowers appetite.

When estrogens are administrated to women without the balancing of progesterone, the following can occur:

- higher incidence of fibroids
- increased incidence of fibrocystic disease
- possible breast cancer
- endometrial cancer

Thus, any female who desires to take supplements of estrogen, must make sure that progesterone is added to the formulation to counter the effects of estrogen.