The aging process involves dramatic hormone fluctuations for both men and women. However, many people aren’t aware that once andropause and menopause are complete, a lingering hormone deficiency can cause multiple physical, mental, and emotional concerns for male and female patients. At Angelic Lift in Daytona Beach, FL, we’re proud to offer bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, which can correct hormone deficiency by balancing your hormone levels and restoring the overall health of your body. 

What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy? 

Hormone replacement therapy uses bio-identical hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone to naturally re-balance your body’s hormone levels. At our professional office, we use an innovative pellet delivery system. The hormone pellets, which are about the size of a grain of rice, are inserted under the skin with a long, hollow needle. 

Over the next 3-5 months, these pellets release hormones into the bloodstream at a steady, controlled rate. This keeps patients from experiencing mood swings caused by an influx of hormones, which was often the case with traditional hormone therapy treatments. Each treatment session takes just 15-30 minutes in total, making this treatment convenient for even the busiest schedule. The pellet insertion process is painless and requires zero downtime. 
Results can appear within 1-2 weeks of treatment and continue to develop with continuing hormone therapy. With a personalized treatment plan, you could see your physical and emotional health improve and enjoy the long-lasting effects of hormone therapy for years to come.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Hormone Therapy?

Every treatment has its pros and cons, and hormone therapy is no exception. While one of our experienced doctors will discuss the specific benefits and risks associated with this treatment during your initial consultation, here are a few of the most important pros and cons of hormone therapy:

Pros

Physical Improvements

Both men and women can experience a number of benefits while using this treatment. Physical symptoms of hormone deficiency, which include chronic fatigue, sexual performance and enjoyment issues, bone density loss, thinning hair, and dry skin, can be greatly improved with this therapy. 

Mental and Emotional Improvements

In addition, mood swings caused by unbalanced hormone levels, which may also cause anxiety and depression, can be decreased. Patients who experience brain fog, forgetfulness, or memory loss can see significant improvements in these conditions. This treatment is considered to be safe and effective for the majority of patients. 

Ease of Treatment

With no downtime required and an average of just 3-4 appointments per year to maintain results, it is convenient to fit treatment times into your daily life. Hormone therapy can be adjusted to meet the needs of each patient based on their current hormone imbalances. Best of all, treatment can increase your levels of enjoyment and satisfaction in your daily life by alleviating symptoms of hormone deficiency and helping you feel more like yourself.

Cons

Risks for Some

For some patients, hormone replacement therapy may increase their risk of developing certain medical conditions and diseases. These instances are extremely rare, but our experienced doctors will thoroughly review your medical history and evaluate your risk to ensure that this treatment is an appropriate option for you. Your treatment process will also be carefully monitored by our committed team of professionals.

Hormone Swings

In addition, some patients find that the increased levels of hormones in their body during treatment leads to symptoms typically experienced during puberty, including fatigue, mood swings, and acne. Once again, this is not the experience of most patients, and your treatment plan can be changed as needed to prevent these symptoms. 

Our doctors will work with you to ensure that you see the best results possible. According to the majority of our patients, there are no cons associated with the treatment process itself, which is painless, quick, and able to deliver excellent results for both men and women.

What Are Some Common Signs of Hormone Deficiency? 

If you have a hormone deficiency, there are a number of side effects you may experience. Most adults who experience a hormone deficiency are currently in the midst of andropause or menopause or have already gone through these aging processes. The physical symptoms of deficiency can include sleeping issues, chronic fatigue, bone density loss, skin dryness, hair thinning and loss, and unexplained weight gain.

In women, hormone deficiency can cause vaginal dryness, while men may experience erectile dysfunction. Sex drive typically decreases in both genders. In addition to physical symptoms, there are mental and emotional concerns associated with hormone imbalance.

Many patients report feeling more anxious, depressed, and prone to mood swings. They may also experience memory loss, forgetfulness, and a general feeling of confusion or brain fog, which can affect their daily responsibilities and interactions and make them feel discouraged as the aging process continues.

How Can Hormone Therapy Improve Concerns in Women? 

Hormonal imbalance in women can be caused by menopause, which includes three stages. Perimenopause is the stage directly before menopause. During this time, many of the classic symptoms of menopause appear as the body. These symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, sleeping problems, mood swings, and loss of interest in sex.

The next stage, menopause, also includes these symptoms, but they often begin to subside as the menstrual cycle ends and hormone fluctuations decrease. Postmenopause is the final stage and may include the development of hormone deficiency symptoms. Hormone therapy can help improve hormonal balance during and after menopause. The treatment process can help patients manage mood swings and decrease the frequency of hot flashes.

In addition, hormone therapy can aid in a smoother transition from perimenopause to postmenopause by regulating hormone levels. Once menopause is complete, therapy can prevent the development of hormone deficiency and its related symptoms, which can include weight gain, osteoporosis, and decreased libido.

How Can Hormone Therapy Improve Concerns in Men?  

Andropause, which is the male equivalent of menopause, usually begins around age 50. It is easier to miss signs of hormone deficiency in men, which is why this condition is not as widely discussed. However, men can experience mood swings, depression, fatigue, weight gain, and memory loss due to hormonal imbalance. They may also develop erectile dysfunction and lose confidence in their sexual performance as their testosterone levels plummet.

Hormone therapy helps boost testosterone levels during and after andropause, resulting in a healthier aging process and preventing hormone deficiency. Men who have hormone therapy can often lose weight more easily, have higher energy levels, and experience improved sex drive and performance during treatment. They may also be less likely to experience mood swings. Finally, hormone therapy can prevent some men from experiencing thinning hair and hair loss.

Am I an Ideal Candidate?

If you are an adult man or woman who is concerned about the side effects of hormonal imbalance, you may be a good candidate for hormone therapy. An ideal candidate is generally healthy and is either currently experiencing andropause or menopause or has recently completed these stages. In addition, most patients are age 40 or older. You should have realistic, informed expectations about the results you can expect from treatment. You should also be free from any medical conditions which could interact negatively with hormone therapy.

In order to ensure optimal results, one of our doctors will review your health and medical history during an initial consultation to determine whether this treatment is right for you.

What Should I Expect?

Consultation

Your first appointment will be an initial consultation with one of our doctors. Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and perform a test to determine your current hormone levels. Once they have recommended you for treatment, your doctor may give you specific instructions to follow before your first treatment.

Treatment

On the day of your appointment, your doctor will be available to answer any questions you may have before treatment. They will clean the skin on your hip or buttock, then use a local anesthetic to numb the area. Next, your doctor will use a hollow needle to deliver the hormone pellets under the skin. This process is painless and can be completed in less than 5 minutes.

Your total appointment time should be between 15-30 minutes, although the majority of this time is set aside to allow your skin to become numb after the local anesthetic is injected. Once your doctor is finished with the pellet insertions, you can return to your normal activities with zero downtime.

Recovery

In order to encourage a quick healing process, you should keep the insertion site clean and avoid any strenuous activity for the first few days. You should try to avoid sitting on or putting pressure on the insertion site during the first 24 hours. Recovery is easy for most patients, who report that their skin feels back to normal in just 24-48 hours. After this point, you should not notice the presence of the hormone pellets under your skin. Depending on your unique circumstances, your doctor may give you additional instructions to follow during your recovery.

Results

The hormone pellets will begin to slowly release hormones into your bloodstream almost immediately. You may notice some improvements during the first 1-3 days after treatment, but most patients notice their final results appear 1-2 weeks after the pellets are inserted. You should notice that your mood is noticeably improved.

Fatigue, brain fog, and forgetfulness should begin to steadily improve during this time, giving you more energy and a desire to do activities that you enjoy. In addition, both men and women should notice an increased sex drive. Women may experience more enjoyment during sex as vaginal dryness is decreased, while men may experience improved sexual performance.

Some concerns, such as weight loss, bone density loss, thinning hair, or skin dryness, may take 1-2 additional weeks to show visible change. However, you should be able to notice the effects of hormone therapy improve your physical, emotional, and mental health over time.

Maintenance 

Each hormone therapy treatment lasts 3-5 months before completely dissolving into the body. At this point, we recommend follow-up treatments to maintain the results of therapy and prevent a decrease in hormone levels. Your personalized treatment plan will depend on the nature of your hormone deficiency, your lifestyle, and your ideal results. One of our doctors will recommend a plan that’s right for you during your initial consultation. In general, our patients have 3-4 appointments per year to maintain their results.

Contact Us to Learn More! 

Long-term hormone deficiency can impact your health in a variety of ways. As you continue to age, you may wish to pursue hormone replacement therapy to minimize side effects andropause and menopause and symptoms of deficiency. We encourage you to consider letting this easy treatment restore balance to your body and deliver excellent, long-lasting results. If you’re ready to learn more about hormone therapy, contact the dedicated professionals at Angelic Lift in Daytona Beach, FL to schedule an initial consultation today! We look forward to serving you soon!