Hormone replacement therapy is usually associated with women and menopause, but it’s not limited to replacing estrogen. Men and women can both develop hormone imbalances. At Clear Choice Physicians, Krystal Cherapan, ACNP-BC, specializes in diagnosing hormone-based problems and prescribing hormone replacement therapy to restore balance and ease your symptoms. Call the office in Mesa, Arizona, or request an appointment online today to inquire about hormone replacement therapy.
Women usually start thinking about hormone replacement therapy after they reach menopause. But their symptoms can begin several years before menopause, and even at an early stage, their problems can be severe enough to need treatment.
Hormone replacement therapy can prevent and treat problems that occur when women stop producing estrogen before, during, and after menopause, including:
After menopause, the loss of estrogen also increases your risk of osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones), dry skin, and weight gain. Hormone replacement therapy also prevents those conditions.
Testosterone levels in men naturally drop by as much as 2% every year after they reach the age of 30. As you lose testosterone, you may have symptoms such as:
In addition to the age-related decline in testosterone, men have a higher risk of developing hypogonadism as they get older. This condition occurs when they don’t produce enough testosterone. In most cases, low testosterone levels are treated with hormone replacement therapy.
You may need hormone replacement therapy to treat other imbalances. Blood levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), growth hormone, cortisol, ghrelin, and melatonin decline as you get older. You may also develop endocrine conditions that require hormone replacement therapy, such as thyroid dysfunction.
At Clear Choice Physicians, Krystal is a certified BioTE provider. She can review your medical history and symptoms, complete a physical examination, and then order blood tests to determine your exact hormone levels. The dose of your hormone replacement therapy is based on the results of your lab work.
While you take hormones, Krystal schedules regular lab work and checks to see if your hormone levels have returned to normal and whether your dose needs to be adjusted.
Hormone replacement therapy comes in several forms, depending on the type of hormone and your preference. You may have pills, pellets, injections, or topical creams, to name a few of the most common forms.
To learn more about hormone replacement therapy, call Clear Choice Physicians or request an appointment online today.