Bioidentical hormones are substances that have a chemical structure identical to hormones produced naturally in the human body. As we age or due to medical conditions, hormone levels can become imbalanced, leading to undesirable symptoms. Replacing deficient hormones with their bioidentical versions can help restore optimal levels and improve wellbeing.
At New Beginnings HRT Clinic in McMinnville, we specialize in customized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) tailored to your unique needs. With BHRT, prescribed hormones are carefully compounded in a lab to match their natural analogs. This promotes better assimilation and activity in the body compared to synthetic hormones.
There are several key advantages to bioidentical over synthetic hormone medications:
For these reasons, many health providers view bioidentical hormones as superior for long-term hormone balance.
Some conditions that may benefit from bioidentical hormone therapy include:
Restoring youthful hormone ratios with bioidentical hormones helps alleviate difficult symptoms and supports better health.
Declining hormone production is a natural part of aging. However, modern lifestyles and environmental factors can accelerate deficiencies, causing suboptimal levels earlier in life.
Let's examine some major hormones, their roles, and what happens when levels fall too low.
Estrogen is responsible for female reproductive development and function. It:
Low estrogen often begins perimenopause, when menstrual cycles become irregular. Postmenopause, estrogen plummets further, causing uncomfortable symptoms like:
Estrogen deficiency also elevates risks for osteoporosis, heart disease and dementia later in life.
Working together with estrogen, progesterone prepares the body for pregnancy each month:
If conception doesn’t occur, progesterone levels plunge, triggering menstruation. This rollercoaster can mean wide mood swings, fluid retention, and trouble sleeping.
Testosterone, often called the “male” hormone, is important for both biological sexes. It:
Around age 30, testosterone starts gradually declining about 1% each year. Low free testosterone can lead to lack of energy, increased body fat, emotional changes, and reduced strength and endurance. Testosterone deficiency is also linked to higher obesity, diabetes and mortality rates.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a precursor that gets converted to estrogen and testosterone. DHEA:
From the early 30s onward, DHEA secretion falls progressively. Very low DHEA often corresponds to disease states, underscoring the importance of maintaining youthful levels.
The thyroid primarily secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones:
Low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) causes symptoms like unexplained weight gain, constant tiredness, feeling cold, hair thinning, sadness and brain fog. Over 10 million Americans have some form of thyroid deficiency.
Since hormone system interactions are complex, several lab tests are used to pinpoint imbalances. Testing analyzes levels of the hormones themselves along with other biomarkers.
Blood tests can precisely measure circulating free and total hormones, binding proteins, nutritional factors related to hormone health, and byproducts like estrogen metabolites. Saliva tests also provide key information on bioavailable hormone levels.
Based on test findings, our practitioners create individually-tailored hormone balancing protocols using high quality bioidentical hormones. Follow-up testing verifies treatment effectiveness.
Over time, the goal is to help patients achieve and sustain optimal hormone ratios for robust health, disease prevention and an improved sense of wellbeing.
Hormone-related symptoms like fatigue, insomnia and low libido can greatly reduce quality of life. These not only impact personal health and relationships, but can also lower work performance and engagement in healthy activities.
In addition, research clearly shows that prolonged hormone deficiencies significantly raise risks for severe diseases down the road. These include heart attack, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes and vision impairment, among others.
Therefore, identifying and addressing out-of-range hormone levels promptly - not simply waiting out symptoms - is critical for both immediate symptom relief and future healthy aging.
The goal of bioidentical hormone therapy is restoring and maintaining youthful hormone ratios tailored to your individual health needs. This is accomplished by supplementing hormones showing low lab values via customized treatment regimens.
BHRT can be extraordinarily effective at resolving uncomfortable symptoms that disrupt quality of life. Benefits are often apparent within just weeks of starting treatment. Most patients report significant improvements including better sleep, smoother moods, enhanced vitality, mental clarity, healthier skin and hair, and a more satisfying sex drive.
For optimal therapy results, have any thyroid dysfunction stabilized first since hypothyroidism can hinder assimilation of replacement hormones.
BHRT handlers multiple key hormonal systems: estrogen levels in women can be balanced using Biest (a blend of estradiol/estriol) along with progesterone. In men, restoring healthy testosterone levels relieves difficult symptoms while also providing vital disease protection. Other hormones like pregnenolone, DHEA and melatonin may also be replaced as needed based on lab findings and symptom assessment.
There are pros and cons to various types of bioidentical hormone preparations:
Our practitioners consider your lifestyle, preferences and needs when advising on suitable hormone preparations. Route(s) of administration can be combined for optimal restoration of rhythmic daily hormonal patterns.
Follow-up blood and saliva testing help gauge individual response and fine tune programs until normal target ranges are achieved and maintained long term.
Supporting a healthy lifestyle provides a critical foundation so bioidentical therapy can work optimally. Key strategies include:
Such holistic modalities help harmony hormone function, aid overall vitality, and promote healthy longevity.
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to those produced by the human body. However, the body's hormone production varies widely person-to-person, so accurately determining an individual's optimal hormone levels for replacement therapy can be quite challenging.
Founded in 1971, New Beginnings HRT Clinic has over 50 years collective experience successfully using bioidentical hormone replacement therapies to relieve symptoms and enrich patients’ lives.
Our clinic offers women and men struggling with hormonal imbalances top-quality care with an integrative approach. Benefits for patients choosing New Beginnings HRT Clinic include:
New Beginnings HRT Clinic also offers advanced hormone balancing options beyond bioidentical replacement such as peptides, glandulars, hormone precursors, and other restorative injections to amplify treatment success.
Outside of top-notch hormone therapy available through New Beginnings HRT Clinic, there are also fantastic resources right in the McMinnville area patients can take advantage of during treatment for maximum results and enjoyment.
The McMinnville Community Center not only has indoor and outdoor pools, but also offers convenient fitness classes like Zumba, yoga, indoor cycling, and stretch classes. Trained staff can provide personalized exercise guidance as well.
Columbia Sportswear on N Highway 99W sells quality gear for year-round outdoor recreation - hiking, biking, water sports and more. Getting active amid McMinnville’s spectacular landscapes promotes both physical and mental health.
Several local spas offer rejuvenating services from massage, facials and body treatments to infrared sauna sessions, providing wholesome venues to lower stress levels from life and therapy changes.
McMinnville boasts several high quality medical labs to safely have necessary blood draws and urine samples collected. No need to travel outside town for this important aspect of hormone testing! Ask our helpful staff for referrals.
The McMinnville Farmers’ Market, running Saturdays mid-April through October on NE 1st and NE Cowls Sts, offers fantastic organic produce, meat, eggs and artisanal goods - perfect for healthy eating habits to amplify vitality.
For excellent restaurants with nutritious cuisine options in charming downtown McMinnville, check out R. Stuart’s Wine Bar, Nick’s Italian Café, Golden Valley Brew Pub or Grain Craft Bar Kitchen.
The charming Hotel Oregon in the heart of wine country provides beautifully-appointed rooms and luxury suites when traveling to McMinnville for multi-day therapy intensives at New Beginnings HRT Clinic.
Nearby, McMinnville abounds with tourist attractions like the Evergreen Aviation Museum (home of Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose”!), creative wineries offering tastings and scenic tours, UFO festivities, and indigenous Linfield University’s historical campus. There are endless possibilities for enjoyable adventures just minutes away!
Conclusion
We sincerely hope this informative guide has enhanced your knowledge about bioidentical hormone therapy principles and processes as practiced at New Beginnings HRT Clinic right here in charming McMinnville. Please reach out with any other questions! Here’s to restoring your vitality and maximizing longevity!
