a decline in your mental or physical health as an inevitable part of growing older. When hormonal imbalance brings on these shifts, there are treatments that can restore optimal function.
Terry L. Franklin, MD, enjoys partnering with those in his care to find solutions to the full scope of health and wellness needs. This includes customized hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is among the most transformative therapies currently available in Monterey, California, and beyond.
Many people ignore changes that hormonal imbalances cause. They might attribute the issues to another condition, or they may simply think they’ve entered a phase of life when some aspects of daily life are simply going to decline.
Here are some of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance that you shouldn’t ignore.
Everyone has days when they just don’t seem to be on their best cognitive game. You might struggle to find the right word or walk into a room and forget what brought you there. This is a normal part of human existence and shouldn’t be cause for concern.
But when you begin to notice cognitive issues that grow worse or linger over time, it’s important to take action. Brain fog is a symptom of many conditions, but you might not realize that cognitive issues are a common symptom of hormonal imbalance.
If that’s the root cause, hormone replacement therapy can help correct the problem, bringing you back to your normal cognitive capabilities. And if there’s another cause, early diagnosis and intervention is an important step in preserving your abilities as you age.
Here again, putting on extra weight is something that you might expect as you move through middle age and beyond. But if your hormone production is declining, it could affect both your appetite and metabolism.
If you’ve gained weight over time with no clear cause, it might be time to come in for hormone testing. An imbalance might be to blame for midlife or later-life weight gain, and HRT can help you shed excess weight.
Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight can dramatically reduce your risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. You’ll also find it easier to stay active, which can positively affect your physical and mental health.
Sexual health is an area directly affected by declining hormone production. Both women and men can begin to lose their sex drive. Women can encounter vaginal dryness, while men can suffer from erectile dysfunction.
A healthy and satisfying sexual connection is an essential part of a healthy relationship, no matter your age. If you and your partner are simply not connecting in the same way you used to, don’t accept those changes as another part of later life.
Hormone replacement therapy can bring back your sex drive and make physical intimacy more comfortable and enjoyable for both partners. Even better, it doesn’t take long to begin enjoying the results once you start HRT.
The first step in exploring HRT is coming in for comprehensive lab testing. Dr. Franklin assesses your results, performs a physical exam, and discusses the changes you’ve been experiencing. If it appears that hormonal imbalance is the cause, you’ll discuss treatment options.
There are many different ways to receive HRT. The options include pills, injections, creams, patches, and vaginal rings (for women). You can also try pellet therapy, where we place small, rice-sized pellets just beneath the surface of your skin. The pellets release a steady stream of synthetic hormones over time to create optimal balance.
When you’re ready to learn more, reach out to our Monterey, California, office to schedule a face-to-face consultation with Dr. Franklin.
