The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce hormones, which are necessary chemicals that regulate various bodily functions. Some key hormones include:
Testosterone - regulates sex drive, muscle mass, bone density, and red blood cell production in men. Low testosterone leads to symptoms like low libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased energy, and depressed mood.
Estrogen - involved in reproductive health in women. Low estrogen causes symptoms like vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and mood changes.
Thyroid hormones - control metabolism and brain development. An underactive thyroid leads to fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, and even depression for some.
Getting your hormone levels tested is crucial to identifying any deficiencies early on, so treatment can begin promptly to relieve symptoms and prevent long-term issues. Testing is done through simple blood tests that measure your hormone levels, which are then compared to standard reference ranges.
If hormones fall outside normal ranges, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be recommended. This can effectively treat hormone imbalance symptoms when tailored properly to one's individual needs.
Here at The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic in Buckhannon, we specialize in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). This involves using hormones that are molecularly identical to those produced naturally in the body to restore optimal balance.
Some key benefits of bioidentical hormones:
We provide cutting-edge BHRT to help both men and women suffering from age-related or other hormone declines leading to disruptive symptoms.
In men specifically, testosterone replacement aims to alleviate symptoms like:
Low libido, erectile dysfunction - Testosterone is key for sex drive and sexual functioning
Loss of muscle mass and strength - Testosterone stimulates protein synthesis needed for muscle growth
Increase in body fat, difficulty losing weight - Testosterone helps regulate fat distribution and metabolism
Fatigue, lack of motivation, depression - Testosterone boosts energy levels and mood
Reduced bone mineral density, osteoporosis risk - Testosterone supports healthy bone density
At The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic, we offer customized testosterone therapy including high quality bioidentical testosterone in various forms like gels, pellets, patches, and more to suit your lifestyle and needs.
Monitoring and follow-ups every 3-6 months ensures optimal treatment success from beginning to end. We also provide nutritional, fitness and lifestyle guidance as part of a comprehensive approach.
For women, tailoring estrogen and progesterone therapy helps alleviate problematic symptoms like:
Hot flashes, night sweats - Declining estrogen causes vasomotor issues
Vaginal dryness discomfort - Estrogen maintains thickness and elasticity
Bladder issues, frequent urination - Estrogen keeps UR tract tissues healthy
Sleep disruptions, fatigue, mood changes - Fluctuating hormones affect sleep and mood
Thinning hair, skin changes - Estrogen supports skin collagen, hair growth
We offer estrogen and progesterone medication including pills, creams, patches and suppository options to best meet your needs.
Follow-up blood tests and exams make dosage adjustments simple. We also provide nutritional guidance and fitness plans to complement hormone therapy.
While testosterone and estrogen are most common, we also offer replacement of other key hormones like:
An underactive thyroid causes symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, hair loss, and even depression for some.
We provide thyroid blood tests to check levels of thyroid hormones T3 and T4.
If low, we can prescribe natural desiccated thyroid medication or synthetic thyroid medication (levothyroxine) as necessary. Follow-ups ensure proper dosage and symptom relief.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is made in the adrenal glands and helps make other hormones like estrogen and testosterone. DHEA levels peak around age 25 then decline.
Low DHEA can cause fatigue, low libido, weakened immunity and other issues. We offer DHEA supplementation and testing to restore optimal levels.
Pregnenolone is a precursor hormone produced by the adrenals that aids formation of cortisol, DHEA, estrogen, testosterone and more. It normally declines with age.
Pregnenolone therapy can enhance mood, memory, energy levels, stress resilience and wellbeing. Testing determines dosage needs.
We provide cutting edge bioidentical hormones including testosterone, estrogen and others tailored to your individual biochemistry and lifestyle to help you feel your best regardless of age or gender.
While hormone replacement provides immense relief of deficiency symptoms, we also emphasize key lifestyle factors for best results:
Nutrition: We offer nutritional guidance like eating hormone-supporting foods high in healthy fats, antioxidants and key micronutrients. Optimal nutrition aids hormone balance and therapy efficacy.
Exercise: Regular exercise, like weight/resistance training plus cardio, helps regulate hormones and metabolism. We provide fitness plans catered to your needs and abilities.
Stress management: Chronic stress raises cortisol which can disrupt optimal hormone function. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, mindfulness meditation and nature immersion lower stress for hormone harmony. Buckhannon offers peaceful walking trails, parks, spas and more to unwind.
High quality sleep: Getting 7-9 hours night helps normalize hormone production rhythms and recharge the body. Sleep hygiene guidance can ensure sound sleep.
Community: Social connection has proven physical and mental health benefits. Local gyms, activity groups, community events and volunteer work opportunities in the thriving Buckhannon community can enhance wellness and coping abilities.
While we tailor hormone therapy itself to your body’s needs, optimizing lifestyle habits complements treatment so you can thrive. Our integrative care team considers all factors for your best health and quality of life.
Hormone therapy can help transgender individuals align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. While the emotional benefits are well-known, research also shows hormone therapy improves transgender people's economic prospects and income by an average of 14%, likely due to reduced discrimination when their appearance matches their identity.
Hormone levels can start declining in one’s 30s and 40s, often gradually over many years. Thus symptoms also manifest slowly and progressively at first.
However, the longer hormone imbalance goes undiagnosed and untreated, the higher risk for developing additional symptoms and long-term health consequences like:
Cardiovascular disease - Hormone deficiency promotes inflammation, high blood pressure, adipose fat stores around organs.
Osteoporosis - Ongoing severe estrogen or testosterone deficiency weakens bones over time
Diabetes, metabolic syndrome - Suboptimal hormone levels disrupt healthy blood sugar regulation
Loss of muscle mass, frailty - Muscle breakdown outpaces building without sufficient hormones
Neurocognitive issues - Hormones affect various brain functions; deficiency impairs cognition
Mood disorders - Hormone shifts or imbalance alters mood neurotransmitters
Therefore, experiencing potentially bothersome signs of hormone imbalance warrants having your hormone levels tested so any deficiencies or dysfunction can be caught early and treated promptly through therapy.
This avoids progression into more severe symptoms and complications down the road along with impaired quality of life. It also typically enhances responsiveness to therapy itself when introduced earlier on.
Here at The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic of Buckhannon, we make comprehensive hormone testing and replacement therapy seamless and accessible for area men and women.
With excellent insurance coverage rates for medically necessary hormone treatment, developing an individualized plan is both simple and affordable.
At The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic of Buckhannon, we pride ourselves on being your trusted hormone health experts serving the local community since 2005.
Our highly experienced medical team includes doctors, nurses, nutritionists and fitness experts uniquely specializing in hormone replacement needs for men and women.
We offer a warm, supportive environment to discuss your symptoms, health history and lifestyle to best understand the root hormonal causes of your struggles and craft an optimal treatment plan.
Cutting-edge bioidentical hormones, pharmaceutical quality medications, and modern treatment methods allow us to customize therapy to your body’s precise needs for balanced symptom relief.
With Mon-Sat availability, early morning and evening appointment slots, and24/7 on-call clinical support, accessing our caring staff for your testing, treatment, questions or concerns is readily convenient.
For those wishing to be proactive about hormonal health before deficiency develops, we also provide:
We also help guide you to the best local health resources to meet needs like:
The Balance - Hormone Medical Clinic proudly supports the health, happiness and quality of life of Buckhannon region residents through individualized care. We ease the life transition process for both women and men as hormone needs evolve across the lifespan.
Contact us today to discover how our hormone optimization services can help you live energetically and thrive!
