Hormones hormones hormones

BACKGROUND: 

A balanced hormonal system is a beautiful orchestra of endocrine health; an imbalanced system feels more like nails on a chalkboard.  Scrreeeech.  

This system oversees an array of functions including metabolism, temperature regulation, growth, cellular repair and regeneration, reproductive system control, sleep, mood, energy and appetite, to name a few.  No wonder an imbalanced system can create such havoc in the body!

The endocrine system is made up of 8 individual glands, including the pineal gland, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, the reproductive organs (ovaries and testes), and the pancreas. All of these glands produce and secrete hormones that send communications to other organs in the body. Hormone levels are directly affected by stress, immune system changes, and nutrient levels in the blood.

HISTORY: 

In 1900, the life expectancy for women was 48 years; in 1998 it was 80 years.  The average age for menopause has remained constant at 52 years.  At the turn of the century women died with hormones levels in full swing.  Today, women live for 30 YEARS with low hormone levels.  This is significant because hormones affect so many functions, from cardiovascular to nervous system to bone to brain health.

There is a commonly held misunderstanding that hormone changes and menopausal symptoms are “natural” – and should be left alone to resolve.  This could not be farther from the truth!  If hormone levels are imbalanced in the 30s and nothing is done about it, hormones symptoms will continue worsen over time.  A young, healthy body can make a lot of progress with natural interventions alone, but this may not be enough for all women.  Women who enter menopause with unbalanced hormones tend to have the more severe symptoms.

symptoms of Imbalance:

When your hormonal system is balanced, it runs like a well-oiled machine. You feel energetic, happy, healthy and full of life.

However, fatigue, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, weight gain, night sweats, hot flashes, low libido, thinning hair and dry skin are all signs of imbalance. In women, irregular or heavy menstrual cycles, menstrual cramping, infertility, fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and migraines are also signs of hormone imbalance.  

Sound familiar?  Read on...

THE JUICY STUFf: 

Healthy hormone levels allow you to shine.  They provide drive and feed creative juices, give you glowing skin, enable fertility, provide you with clear thinking, inspiration and a strong metabolism.

As we age, women’s hormones naturally begin to change.  If you feel exhausted, have hot flashes, wonder where your libido disapeared to or are feeling down/cranky/ impatient/irritable, you may need help with hormone balancing. Hormone therapy, or bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) may be an appropriate treatment plan.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Doctor: 

Dr. Neville serves as a staff physician at Labrix Clinical Services Laboratory, a recognized leader in hormone testing and analysis. Dr. Neville utilizes the latest methodologies in hormone testing and consults with physicians around the world on laboratory interpretation and treatment guidelines.  She utilizes comprehensive and noninvasive functional testing methodology to identify potential hormonal imbalances. This technique helps to identify the bioavailable, or freely circulating hormones, in the body. Although this is a viable testing approach that has been used extensively for several decades, showing consistent accuracy in the scientific community, it is not generally offered by most physicians or clinics.  

As one of Portland’s expert doctors in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, Dr. Neville has a deep understanding of the hormone system, creating individualized functional medicine programs that incorporate all aspects of your health. When appropriate, she incorporates bioidentical hormone replacement therapy into her treatment approach.

Please contact us with your questions about natural hormone treatment and get scheduled.