Understanding Estrogen Metabolism
As your OB/GYN, I want to make sure that you're informed about your body and how it works. One important topic that we need to talk about is estrogen metabolism.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that as you get older, your hormone production starts to slow down. If you’re a woman, your estrogen and progesterone levels decline as you make your way toward menopause. This hormonal change can lead to many unpleasant symptoms, including night sweats and mood swings. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help.
Dr. Inga Zilberstein is an expert in both obstetrics and gynecology. She specializes in many different issues that affect you as a woman, including hormonal imbalances and menopause. Dr. Zilberstein offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) as an option for these conditions.
Hormone replacement therapy is a type of treatment that’s used to restore the normal level of hormones in your body when they’ve plummeted or are out of balance. Menopause is one of the main conditions that can cause your hormone levels to change.
When your hormones aren’t at normal levels, it leads to a number of uncomfortable symptoms. This is because your hormones are what’s responsible for many of your body’s natural functions. Without the proper levels, your bones and tissues begin to break down as well, causing other problems like osteoporosis.
This is where BHRT can help. This type of therapy uses hormones from sources that are natural, such as yams or soybeans. Other types of hormone therapies use hormones from animal urine to try to balance your hormones.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has the ability to closely match the chemical makeup of your own hormones. This helps decrease side effects and allows for a seamless transition.
When you’re dealing with menopause and the uncomfortable symptoms that go along with it, hormone replacement therapy can really help. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has several benefits, including:
BHRT is as close to your natural hormones as possible. The treatment also can be compounded in a lab and customized to your specific needs.
As you get older and your estrogen levels decrease, it often leads to vaginal dryness and pain during sex. This can make you self-conscious about having sex or cause you to avoid it altogether. Hormone replacement restores estrogen levels, which promotes more vaginal lubrication for an improved sex drive.
When your hormones dip below normal levels, it can impact your hair, nails, and bones, leading to problems such as brittle nails and hair loss. Bioidentical hormones increase your body’s production of proteins like collagen, which helps you look younger and restores the strength of both your nails and your hair.
When your hormones aren’t at their normal levels, it can wreak havoc on your sleep cycles. Not getting enough sleep also affects your mood. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps stabilize your hormones, which promotes better sleep and improved mood.
Dropping levels of progesterone and estrogen lead to a lot of uncomfortable symptoms, including:
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy helps to regulate these hormones that cause uncomfortable menopause symptoms.
Dr. Zilberstein can help you determine if BHRT is right for you and your body. If you'd like to learn more about hormone replacement therapy, call us today at 646-601-6351 to schedule an appointment with Inga Zilberstein, MD. You can also book a consultation using our online tool.
