Hormone Balance

Hormone Balance

At Aesthetic and Wellness it is not just our goal, but our purpose that every client feel their very best. Many people associate the signs of hormone imbalance such as fatigue, tiredness, poor sleep, and excess weight with the normal signs of aging.  This doesn’t have to be the case.  Imbalances can be treated and men and women can feel great in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond.

 

Hormone balance is vital to a healthy, vibrant and cancer-free mind and body. Hormones do fluctuate naturally but unfortunately they can also become disrupted or imbalanced.  These imbalances can be caused by toxins, stress, the food we eat, the weight we carry or an unbalanced lifestyle.

Questionnaire

We invite you to take a quick questionnaire to see if you may be experiencing hormone imbalances:
  • Are you tired or lacking energy?
  • Do you have heavy, irregular or painful menstrual periods?
  • Do you suffer from irritability or anxiety?
  • Do you have any of the following just before your menstrual period: irritability, acne or breast tenderness?
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss?
  • Have you noticed an increased in hair loss or an increase in facial hair?
  • Difficulty sleeping?
  • Libido changes?
If you answered yes to any of these, schedule a customized consultation. At your visit, we will spend time understanding your needs and concerns, test for imbalances and mutually begin to put together a plan to ensure that you are feeling best very soon.
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“Balance your hormones, Balance your life”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Estrogen Dominance and how can I prevent it?

Estrogen dominance occurs when there is either too great an influence of estrogen, too little influence of progesterone, or both. Symptoms may include decreased sex drive, bloating (water retention), headaches, mood swings, weight gain, foggy thinking, fatigue, and hair loss. There are many ways to prevent estrogen dominance including avoiding xenoestrogens (estrogen-like compounds) in your environment, managing stress, monitoring your weight and supporting your endocrine system. Often this involves supplementation of bioidentical progesterone, however, proper evaluation of your hormone levels should always precede any supplementation program.

Why do women need hormones before, during and after menopause?

Hormones affect a multitude of pathways in the body. Women may experience fluctuations in their hormone levels throughout the lifespan. Imbalances can occur due lifestyle and environmental factors, as well as expected changes, such as onset of menses, pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Imbalances of hormones, including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can lead to many uncomfortable experiences, like night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. The most common decline seen in menopausal and post-menopausal women is estrogen. When estrogen levels become unbalanced, women may experience symptoms such as low libido and bone loss. The bone loss that women experience due to declining estrogen levels can lead to osteoporosis and increase the likelihood of bone fractures. Adjustments to a woman’s hormone levels through bioidentical hormone therapy and lifestyle changes can reduce or eliminate these discomforts and improve overall health and well-being.

Can Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy help with my PMS symptoms?

Yes they can. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a safe and effective way to treat hormone imbalances in adolescent women and young women. BHRT can help with symptoms of PMS such as irritability, pain, cramps, acne, etc.

What is a Bioidentical hormone?

Hormones are called bioidentical or natural if they are exact duplicates of what your body makes. The molecular structure of a bioidentical hormone is identical to that of the hormones made by your body. This is an important distinction because the hormones often prescribed by doctors are not bioidentical; in fact many are not found anywhere in nature. These are called synthetic hormones.

Who needs Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

Women suffering from early menopause symptoms looking to put an end to hot flashes, night sweats, memory loss, mood swings, weight gain, and low libido. The individualized programs for each woman suffering from early menopause symptoms, menopause, perimenopause and severe PMS will benefit.
Men experiencing andropause(the male menopause) who want to get a grip on weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, energy, muscle mass and body fat. For men, andropause happens gradually and when diagnosed, the symptoms can be successfully treated using bioidentical HRT.

What is the difference between Bioidentical hormones and Synthetic hormones?

The difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones is dual fold. Unlike bioidentical hormones, synthetic, or conventional, hormones may be patented by pharmaceutical companies; therefore dosage varies only by milligrams dictated by your doctor, while the molecular structure of the prescribed hormone is the same for every single person on that drug. Additionally, synthetic hormones are not created structurally the same as human endogenous hormones, which often leads uncomfortable side effects. While synthetic hormones can mimic the effects of endogenous hormones on certain biological pathways, they rarely offer the same effectiveness at a deeper, molecular level.
Bioidentical hormones mimic the affinity of human endogenous hormones; therefore they are effective on more biological pathways, at all levels. Because bioidentical hormones are an exact structural replica of endogenous hormones, side effects are rarely observed, and in the event you do experience side effects, talk with your doctor—the dosage may simply need to be adjusted. The added benefit of bioidentical hormones is that each dose is tailored specifically for your needs, not simply what doses the pharmaceutical company offers (as is the case with synthetic hormones.)

How soon before I start seeing improvement in how I feel?

With adrenal supplementation, the results can be very quick, in as a little a couple of weeks.  With hormone replacement, results can take bit longer, weeks to months.

 

What is the difference between Bioidentical hormones and Synthetic hormones?

The difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones is dual fold. Unlike bioidentical hormones, synthetic, or conventional, hormones may be patented by pharmaceutical companies; therefore dosage varies only by milligrams dictated by your doctor, while the molecular structure of the prescribed hormone is the same for every single person on that drug. Additionally, synthetic hormones are not created structurally the same as human endogenous hormones, which often leads uncomfortable side effects. While synthetic hormones can mimic the effects of endogenous hormones on certain biological pathways, they rarely offer the same effectiveness at a deeper, molecular level.
Bioidentical hormones mimic the affinity of human endogenous hormones; therefore they are effective on more biological pathways, at all levels. Because bioidentical hormones are an exact structural replica of endogenous hormones, side effects are rarely observed, and in the event you do experience side effects, talk with your doctor—the dosage may simply need to be adjusted. The added benefit of bioidentical hormones is that each dose is tailored specifically for your needs, not simply what doses the pharmaceutical company offers (as is the case with synthetic hormones.)

My symptoms suggest I have a hormone imbalance but how can I know for sure?

Testing your hormones is the best way to identify any hormone imbalance. There are many symptom pictures that may look similar; therefore knowing what your hormone levels are will enable your practitioner to determine the correct treatment for you.

What is Adrenal Dysfunction and how do I test for it?

Adrenal dysfunction, also known as Adrenal Fatigue, is a condition where the adrenal glands lose their ability to respond to stress and is usually caused by an accumulation of chronic stress over time. Adrenal dysfunction is not a black and white issue of whether or not your adrenal glands produce any cortisol at all, but a function of whether they are producing enough and if they are functioning on a daily rhythm the way they should be. Cortisol should be highest first thing in the morning, approximately 30 minutes after waking, and should slowly decline throughout the day. The best way to assess adrenal function and evaluate adrenal fatigue is to look at cortisol levels at multiple times throughout the day. Not only does saliva’s ease of collection facilitate this, but the cortisol levels present in saliva are only the bioavailable fraction of the hormone. These two factors make salivary cortisol the gold standard for assessing adrenal function and diagnosing adrenal dysfunction.

How accurate is saliva testing compared to urine and blood testing?

Most of the hormones traveling in the blood stream are bound to large carrier proteins that prevent the hormone from being used by the tissues of your body (interacting with its hormone receptor) and are called bound or inactive. These hormones are not used by the body thus inactive or non-bioavailable. Less than 5% of hormones are unbound to proteins. This small percentage of unbound hormone is called free, active or bioavailable hormones. When a hormone is bound to a protein it is too large to pass into the saliva gland; therefore the saliva gland acts as a natural sieve, sorting the bioavailable (free) hormones from the large, inactive protein-hormone complexes. For this reason, the hormones tested in saliva are the most accurate reflection of the amount of the hormone that is available for your tissues to use. Serum hormone levels include ALL of the hormone (“total”), the bound and unbound portions, and does not reflect what the body actually can use.
Urinary hormone levels are directly affected by liver and kidney function, and since the hormones present in urine are not the active hormones, but are actually the metabolites that the body is disposing of, this is not an ideal fluid for hormonal assessment. Furthermore, the ease of saliva collection enables multiple samples to be taken throughout the day which is essential when measuring the rhythm of cortisol (adrenal status) instead of a single data point, or the total amount produced in a 24 hour period.

How long does my visit take?

Your initial visit may take as much as an hour.  We feel that this is a very important visit and we want to take the opportunity to really understand what you are experiencing so that we may be best able to target your concerns through testing and treatment.
Men experiencing andropause(the male menopause) who want to get a grip on weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, energy, muscle mass and body fat. For men, andropause happens gradually and when diagnosed, the symptoms can be successfully treated using bioidentical HRT.

How often do I need to come for follow up?

Your first follow up visit will be 6-8 weeks after your initial testing and then again at 3 months after starting any treatment regimen.
Men experiencing andropause(the male menopause) who want to get a grip on weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, energy, muscle mass and body fat. For men, andropause happens gradually and when diagnosed, the symptoms can be successfully treated using bioidentical HRT.

What are payment options?

Aesthetic+Wellness accepts cash, checks, all major credit cards, and payments through Venmo and PayPal

 

More About Hormone Balance

At Aesthetic + Wellness our goal in treating hormone imbalances is regaining your vitality, your energy and mental clarity as well as decreasing your risk for chronic conditions including cancer. We want you to feel your best so that you can be your best. We are here to guide our clients through their hormone journey, through regaining not only hormone balance but life balance.

 

Hormone imbalances can occur and be corrected at any stage of life. Traditional medicine usually treats hormonal problems in pre-menopausal women by prescribing birth control pills. This approach relieves symptoms, but can contribute to even greater hormonal imbalances.

 

Bioidentical Hormones are very similar to the hormones produced by the human body and are used in small daily doses in the form of creams for men and women whose own natural hormones are out of balance. Common hormones that are matched include estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  Treating with bioidentical hormones is a safe and effective way to gently bring the body back into a state of balance by replacing hormones that have been lost.  As a result, hormone levels increase and the symptoms of imbalance are improved.  We will determine your dosage needs by monitoring levels through saliva and can be adjusted based on each individual client’s symptoms and need. All of the bioidentical hormones that we use have passed the FDA’s very strict standards and have been shown to be safe and effective.

 

Bio-identical hormones are derived from plants. Plant precursors to hormones undergo transformation in the chemical laboratory and create the end products, hormones, which are identical in biochemical structure and biological function to the hormones made by the human body. Because bio-identical hormones are identical to our human hormones, our body can utilize and metabolize them easily, without dangerous side effects.

 

Conversely, Horse derived estrogens (found in prescription hormone pills) are not specific for the human species.  These synthetic hormones have different chemical structures and biological actions than human hormones; therefore they can create unpleasant side effects.  Synthetic hormones can help with menopausal symptoms, but they will not restore hormonal balance.

 

The goal of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is to restore the levels of hormones which you had when you were in your prime feeling great and looking more youthful.

 

Bio-identical hormones are prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and are compounded specifically for your needs.

 

Choosing bio-identical hormones is the best way to replace hormones.

 

Before we start you on bioidentical hormones and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, you can expect a thorough evaluation where we will spend time gaining a full understanding of the symptoms you are experiencing as well as obtain the baseline hormonal evaluation by a saliva test.

 

After we know what your hormonal needs are, we can give you a prescription for bioidentical hormones and BHRT in the form of a skin cream.

 

It may take a few days for you to start noticing the positive effects of BHRT, but to accomplish the desired hormonal balance, up to several months may be required.

 

Follow up tests are performed after 3 months from the initial evaluation and we recommend further follow-up testing every three months during the first year of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. After the first year of BHRT, if the desired hormonal balance is accomplished, follow-up testing can be repeated once a year.

 

Our Program Consists of:
  • Detailed hormonal assessment
  • Comprehensive biochemical and metabolic evaluation
Once we know the nature of your hormonal imbalance, we provide you with individualized recommendation for:
    • Dietary changes
    • Lifestyle modifications
    • Nutraceutical supplements
    • Prescription for bio-identical hormones as determined by your laboratory tests
In addition to Bioidentical Hormones we also offer a variety of supportive supplements and prescription therapies to aid in the balance of hormones and the adrenal gland.  We may recommend synergistically acting nutraceutical supplements and skin care products to further enhance the effects of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  Hormone balance offers an answer to the lack of energy, low libido and signs of aging apparent in the body.  It decreases your cancer risk, improves mental clarity and sleep as well as symptoms that are commonly associated with hormone imbalances and aging.

 

Menopause
Women at the time of menopause can decide to start bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). At this time of your life, BHRT is prescribed mainly for 2 reasons: to help alleviate the unpleasant menopausal symptoms and to slow down the aging process.

 

Bioidentical Hormones are very similar to the hormones produced by the human body and are used in small daily doses in the form of creams for men and women whose own natural hormones are out of balance. Common hormones that are matched include estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  Treating with bioidentical hormones is a safe and effective way to gently bring the body back into a state of balance by replacing hormones that have been lost.  As a result, hormone levels increase and the symptoms of imbalance are improved.  We will determine your dosage needs by monitoring levels through saliva and can be adjusted based on each individual client’s symptoms and need. All of the bioidentical hormones that we use have passed the FDA’s very strict standards and have been shown to be safe and effective.

 

Bio-identical hormones are derived from plants. Plant precursors to hormones undergo transformation in the chemical laboratory and create the end products, hormones, which are identical in biochemical structure and biological function to the hormones made by the human body. Because bio-identical hormones are identical to our human hormones, our body can utilize and metabolize them easily, without dangerous side effects.
Conversely, Horse derived estrogens (found in prescription hormone pills) are not specific for the human species.  These synthetic hormones have different chemical structures and biological actions than human hormones; therefore they can create unpleasant side effects.  Synthetic hormones can help with menopausal symptoms, but they will not restore hormonal balance.

 

The goal of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is to restore the levels of hormones which you had when you were in your prime feeling great and looking more youthful.

Bio-identical hormones are prescribed by a licensed healthcare professional and are compounded specifically for your needs.

 

Choosing bio-identical hormones is the best way to replace hormones.

Before we start you on bioidentical hormones and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, you can expect a thorough evaluation where we will spend time gaining a full understanding of the symptoms you are experiencing as well as obtain the baseline hormonal evaluation by a saliva test.

 

After we know what your hormonal needs are, we can give you a prescription for bioidentical hormones and BHRT in the form of a skin cream.
It may take a few days for you to start noticing the positive effects of BHRT, but to accomplish the desired hormonal balance, up to several months may be required.
Follow up tests are performed after 3 months from the initial evaluation and we recommend further follow-up testing every three months during the first year of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. After the first year of BHRT, if the desired hormonal balance is accomplished, follow-up testing can be repeated once a year.

 

We may also recommend synergistically acting nutraceutical supplements and skin care products to further enhance the effects of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

 

Our Program Consists of:
  • Detailed hormonal assessment
  • Comprehensive biochemical and metabolic evaluation
  • Once we know the nature of your hormonal imbalance, we provide you with individualized recommendation for:
  • Dietary changes
  • Lifestyle modifications
  • Nutraceutical supplements
Prescription for bio-identical hormones as determined by your laboratory tests
In addition to Bioidentical Hormones we also offer a variety of supportive supplements and prescription therapies to aid in the balance of hormones and the adrenal gland.  We may recommend synergistically acting nutraceutical supplements and skin care products to further enhance the effects of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  Hormone balance offers an answer to the lack of energy, low libido and signs of aging apparent in the body.  It decreases your cancer risk, improves mental clarity and sleep as well as symptoms that are commonly associated with menopause.

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MURFREESBORO - 615-714-8419

FRANKLIN - 615-970-0287

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Franklin Office 

1039 Westhaven Blvd., Franklin, TN 37064
615-970-0287

Murfreesboro Office

1034D N. Highland Ave., Murfreesboro, TN 37130
615-714-8419

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