Hormones are special chemicals that play a wide variety of critical roles in our health and our lives. But as we age, levels of some key hormones — particularly estrogen and testosterone — start to decline.
Although these two hormones are commonly considered the “sex” hormones, they’re involved in a wide array of processes that help maintain health and wellness. When levels start to dip, we can wind up with a variety of symptoms that can take a big toll on our lives.
Fortunately, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help. HRT uses synthetic bioidentical hormones to supplement the hormones our bodies make, so we can continue to enjoy optimal health.
With offices in Boonton, Pompton Plains, and Jersey City, New Jersey, Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness offers hormone replacement therapy tailored to each patient’s unique needs. If you’re not sure what it can do, here are five benefits of HRT you should know about.
Since both estrogen and testosterone are deeply involved in sexuality, it’s no surprise that when their levels are low, it can cause dramatic changes in your sexual desire and even your performance. Low levels of testosterone can contribute to erectile dysfunction, while low levels of estrogen can cause vaginal dryness and pain during intercourse.
Sleep is important for both your physical and your emotional health. As it turns out, getting those healthy Zs depends on a good supply of sex hormones.
Both testosterone and estrogen support deep, restful sleep, so if your levels of either hormone are lower than normal, you could find yourself feeling tired and unrested. Low levels of these hormones can also make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Many people are surprised to learn that testosterone and estrogen affect your mood, too. Estrogen specifically affects how much serotonin your brain produces.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps stabilize your mood. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression. Low hormones can also affect your brain in other ways, making you more irritable or causing problems with memory and concentration (an effect sometimes referred to as “brain fog”).
Many people think fatigue is a normal part of aging. While you may not be able to muster up the energy you had when you were in your 20s, chronic fatigue is not normal.
If you feel plagued by fatigue and tiredness, low or unbalanced hormone levels could be to blame. Supplementing hormones through HRT can have a dramatic impact on your energy, which in turn can help your mood, your sleep, and your sex drive.
Estrogen and testosterone also play a role in your metabolism. That explains why, for many people, losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight are easier during your 20s and 30s, becoming increasingly difficult with age.
Supplementing hormones with HRT helps rebalance your metabolism, so your body uses calories more efficiently. In men, testosterone therapy may help prevent the loss of muscle mass that can happen with age, offering a further metabolic boost.
HRT can be a great choice for many men and women experiencing the effects of low hormones, but it’s not ideal for everyone. The key to reaping the benefits of HRT is to work closely with your provider so that your therapy is tuned specifically to your needs, your symptoms, and your goals.
To learn more about HRT and how it could benefit you, book an appointment online or over the phone at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness today.
