Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) refers to the use of medications containing female hormones to treat common symptoms of menopause. As women get older, their bodies make less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can lead to symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep issues, and mood changes.
HRT replaces the hormones that a woman's body no longer makes after menopause. The goal is to relieve symptoms and prevent long-term issues like osteoporosis (weakening of the bones). HRT comes in different formulations but often involves taking both estrogen and progestin (synthetic progesterone).
Bioidentical hormones are made from plant sources and are identical to the hormones naturally made by the body. They are considered natural and potentially safer alternatives to conventional hormone replacement medications. Compounded bioidentical hormones are custom-made for each patient based on their needs.
Hormone optimization therapy focuses on bringing all hormones in the body into optimal balance for improved wellbeing. It may involve HRT but also looks at lifestyle, nutrition, and use of other hormones like testosterone or thyroid hormone. The goal is to maximize vitality and health.
HRT offers a number of important health benefits for women:
The key is starting HRT early in the menopause transition for maximum benefits. Vitality Balance Clinic can help determine the optimal time to initiate therapy.
While generally safe for most, HRT does come with some risks:
Proper dosage and use of bioidentical hormones can help minimize risks. Vitality Balance Clinic will carefully evaluate your health history before recommending any therapy.
The following women are often good candidates for hormone replacement therapy:
Vitality Balance Clinic conducts a thorough assessment to determine if you are a candidate for treatment.
Vitality Balance Clinic aims to customize treatment to your unique needs. We:
Additionally, we provide nutritional advice, fitness guidance, and referrals to therapists to address mindbody factors influencing hormones.
The initial steps to hormone replacement therapy involve:
1. Comprehensive Lab Testing: We run blood tests checking levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormone, nutrients impacting hormone health (zinc, magnesium, vitamin D), and markers of heart disease risk (cholesterol levels, inflammatory markers).
Saliva testing may provide additional insight into imbalances. Pelvic ultrasound sometimes used to examine uterine health.
2. Thorough Evaluation of Health and Lifestyle Factors: At your consultation following testing, our practitioners will ask detailed questions about your periods, ovulation, symptoms, medical conditions, medications, family history of cancer, lifestyle habits affecting hormones (diet, exercise, sleep) to guide treatment.
3. Personalized Bioidentical Hormone Prescription: We use lab results and your clinical profile to determine the right bioidentical hormones/routes of administration to start treatment (oral pills, patches, creams etc). Progesterone indicated if uterus intact. Testosterone considered if relevant deficiencies present.
Follow-up testing determines dosage adjustments to keep hormones optimized. Lifestyle changes enhance results.
Women experiencing three or more of the following symptoms likely have a treatable hormone deficiency:
Testing needed to identify exact imbalances guiding treatment.
Estrogen plays an vital role preserving bone mineral density. During menopause, declining estrogen accelerates bone loss contributing to osteoporosis and fracture risk.
Studies demonstrate HRT initiated within 6 years of final period reduces fractures by 50% . Vitality Balance Clinic optimizes bone health by:
Protect your bones with timely hormone therapy and lifestyle optimization!
Declining estrogen also commonly causes genitourinary syndrome marked by:
If left untreated, genitourinary syndrome can impact sexual health and even kidney health. Local vaginal estrogen is very effective treating symptoms with minimal systemic absorption.
Systemic HRT also often successfully relieves genitourinary issues when oral/transdermal options chosen. We determine optimal treatment course through testing and close monitoring, maximizing relief.
Understandably, women considering HRT often ask: Does HRT increase my risk of breast cancer?
The answer is complex:
Vitality Balance Clinic minimizes risks by:
While hormone therapy treats deficiencies, optimal nutrition and lifestyle maximizes the benefits:
1. Nutrient-Dense Diet: Build meals around veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts/seeds. These provide antioxidants, fiber, plant estrogens lowering inflammation and protecting hormone balance.
2. Stress Management: Cortisol elevations from chronic stress disrupt hormone pathways. Practice meditation, yoga, mindfulness for resilience against stressors.
3. Regular Exercise: Particularly weight-bearing with some cardio boosts energy, insulin sensitivity, estrogens, bone density to complement HRT.
4. High-Quality Sleep: Stick with consistent bedtime/wake-times optimizing sleep for 7-9 hours nightly stabilizing metabolic hormones like cortisol.
Vitality Balance Clinic provides personalized nutrition/lifestyle guidance alongside hormone therapy for best results.
Once hormone therapy initiated, we embed follow-up monitoring to ensure optimization:
Dose adjustments or medication changes made to keep hormones balanced as women age and bodies change.
The key is working closely together so you smoothly transition into the vibrant, healthy version of yourself!
As a top hormone therapy clinic in Toms River focused on optimizing wellness during menopause and beyond, Vitality Balance Clinic offers:
Our practitioners build close partnerships with patients to maximize the benefits of treatment and enjoyment of life.
We understand the profoundly personal nature of menopause and aging. You will always feel heard, supported and empowered when working with us!
Recent research has found that hormone therapy started early in menopause may provide cognitive benefits for some women. A 2021 study showed that women who began estrogen-only hormone therapy within 6 years of menopause had better verbal memory and processing speed 10 years later compared to women who did not take hormones.
If you're a woman over 45 in the Toms River area struggling with bothersome menopause symptoms or interested in improving your long-term wellbeing, don't wait to take action!
Reach out to Vitality Balance Clinic today at for a consultation to see if hormone replacement or optimization is right for you.
Our goal is helping you feel healthy, vibrant and fully alive in the second half of life without disruptive hormone-related symptoms holding you back.
With comprehensive testing, customized bioidentical hormones, complementary holistic care and ongoing monitoring, we can help guide you through the changes gracefully. Take control of your menopause transition with Vitality Balance Clinic!
