The Importance of Hormones

Hormones are vital chemicals in the body that regulate essential functions such as appetite, digestion, immune response, reproduction, mood, overall wellness, and even sex drive. Even slight changes in hormone levels due to age or medical conditions can significantly impact your health and sense of well-being.

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While many people recognize the hormonal shifts women face in their mid-to-late 30s during perimenopause and menopause, fewer are aware that men can experience similar effects as they age. This condition, known as andropause or male menopause, describes the gradual decline in testosterone levels over time. By age 35, men’s testosterone levels can decrease by 1–3% annually, often leading to symptoms that mirror those experienced by women during menopause.

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Age-related hormone deficiencies can result in various unwelcome physical and psychological changes for both men and women, including:

• Fatigue and reduced stamina

• Low sex drive or erectile dysfunction

• Weight gain

• Muscle loss and decreased endurance

• Depression and mood swings

• Cognitive difficulties

• Hot flashes or night sweats

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If you are dealing with any of these symptoms, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may help restore balance to your hormones, enabling you to regain your vitality and well-being.

What are BioIdentical Hormones? 

A "bioidentical" hormone refers to a compound with a chemical structure identical to that of the hormones naturally produced by the human body. For replacement hormones to effectively replicate the functions of endogenous hormones, their molecular structure must perfectly match the original. Bioidentical hormones follow normal metabolic pathways, triggering the same physiological responses as naturally occurring hormones. By choosing bioidentical hormones, you are opting to replace what the body would naturally produce on its own.

These hormones are derived from plant sources, such as soybeans or Mexican wild yam. Through a specialized process, a compound called "diosgenin" is extracted and chemically transformed in a lab to mimic the molecular structure of the desired hormone. The final product contains only the pure, bioidentical hormone, with no trace of the original plant source.

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These hormones can be customized into dosage forms tailored to the patient’s needs, including creams, gels, lotions, capsules, oils, suppositories, injections, vaginal inserts, troches, sublingual drops, tablets, and pellets, among others.

What is BHRT?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), sometimes called natural hormone therapy, uses plant-derived hormones that are chemically identical to those naturally produced by the human body. While BHRT is widely recognized for relieving symptoms of perimenopause and menopause in women, it is also effective in addressing hormone imbalances caused by andropause in men. This therapy can be administered in various forms, but at Stafford MediSpa, we utilize noninvasive, long-lasting BHRT pellets to provide patients with fast and effective symptom relief.

Unlike traditional hormone therapies that rely on synthetic or animal-derived hormones, BHRT offers a natural alternative. Research has demonstrated significant long-term health benefits with natural hormone optimization, including improved cardiovascular health, enhanced bone density, increased skin elasticity, sharper mental clarity, and relief from the uncomfortable symptoms associated with hormonal imbalances.

What Should I expect From a BHRT Pellet Insertion?