What is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?

Bioidentical hormones are exactly the same hormones, molecule per molecule that the body produces. They come from plant sources, but are still considered natural to the body because they are biologically identical to female and male hormones and so they help to balance hormone levels in a safe and natural way.

Hormone Imbalance Therapy

A decline in hormone production is a natural part of aging in both men and women. Although it typically starts in the 30’s, most people don’t feel the full effects of declining hormones until they are closer to middle age.

Hot Flashes & Night Sweats
Fatigue
Mood Swings
Anxiety, Depression, & Irritability
Low Libido
Memory Lapses & Trouble Concentrating
Weight Gain
Headaches
Insomnia & Sleep Apnea
Lack of Muscle Tone

Regardless of your age, gender, or specific symptoms, you can find relief with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).

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How BHRT is Different

The first major difference between Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy and synthetic hormones is that Bioidentical Hormones are created from natural plant based extracts.

The natural hormones in these plants remain unchanged during the compounding process because they are identical to the natural hormonal structure that exists in the human body.

Bioidentical Hormones replace synthetic patented pharmaceutical drugs that don't work as well and have significant life-threatening side effects.

For most people on Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, the similar cellular structure means that the compound is metabolized in the body faster and easier.

With their hormones in balance, men and women in the 30’s, 40’s, and beyond are able to enjoy renewed energy, better health, and a more positive outlook on life.

Countless patients have been able to gracefully transition through the different physiological phases of aging. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has helped men and women to completely avoid or reduce the uncomfortable physical and mental changes related to perimenopause, menopause, and andropause.

Benefits of BHRT

How BHRT Can Help You Get Back to You

BHRT can help you get back to you. Within one month of starting treatment, you may notice improvement in some or all of these areas:

Balanced moods

You no longer experience feelings of hostility, anxiety, or depression that you can't explain. Your emotions are on a much more even keel.

Fat loss & improved muscle mass

Low levels of estrogen makes it hard to lose body fat while low testosterone levels have a negative effect on muscle tone. Replacing these hormones helps to eliminate both problems.

Increased sex drive

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy increases the libido of both genders to what it was before they started suffering the effects of hormone loss.

More regular sleep patterns

Hormone imbalance affects the hypothalamus, the area of the brain that regulates sleep. Restoring the balance helps decrease insomnia and gets you back to a more predictable pattern of sleep.

Bone remodeling & regeneration

BHRT helps defend against problems like osteoporosis or hip fractures. Estrogen and testosterone have benefits for preventing bone loss.

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Conditions Treated with BHRT

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help to reduce many of the symptoms that are the result of disproportionate hormone levels. Many of these conditions and their related symptoms can occur at any age and may be due to numerous causes. Some of these causes can include aging, poor nutritional intake, environmental factors, stress, and a lack of exercise. Dr. Childers uses specialized programs for both men and women with Bioidentical Hormones to improve improve their overall health and wellness levels.

Women's Conditions

Estrogen and Testosterone play important roles in the regulation and growth of both bone and muscle. Testosterone increases the levels of growth hormone that make exercise more likely to build muscle. In addition, Testosterone increases bone density and tells bone marrow to manufacture more red blood cells. Dropping levels of testosterone can cause an increase in body fat as well as a loss of bone density, increasing the risk for fracture. Estrogen plays an important role in the growth and maturation of bone as well as in the regulation of bone turnover in adult bone. In menopause estrogen deficiency induces cancellous as well as cortical bone loss. Highly increased bone resorption in cancellous bone leads to general bone loss and destruction of local architecture because of penetrative resorption and microfractures. In cortical bone the first response of estrogen withdrawal is enhanced endocortical resorption. These lead to decreased bone mass, disturbed architecture and reduced bone strength. At cellular level in bone estrogen inhibits differentiation of osteoclasts thus decreasing their number and reducing the amount of active remodeling units. Many studies have found that estrogen and testosterone have benefits for preventing bone loss, so some research suggests that BHRT helps defend against problems like osteoporosis or hip fractures Age related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength accelerates with the onset of menopause in women and andropause in men. There is evidence that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy aids in maintaining and enhancing muscle mass and strength and protecting against muscle damage.

When feelings of anxiety and depression are unrelated to a specific life event, they are often the result of unbalanced levels of estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol. You may feel weepy, irritable, nervous, guilty, and many other troublesome emotions. Having a hysterectomy or going through menopause tends to increase your risk of anxiety and depression. When anti-depressant medication doesn’t work, it’s more likely you’re experiencing hormonal depression that is treatable with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Women who are approaching middle age complain of chronic headaches more often than younger women do. This is often because of pending menopause or being at a certain point in their menstrual cycle. An unbalanced amount of the hormone progesterone may also be the cause of this misery. If Henry E. Childers, M.D. discovers a problem with your progesterone, he may recommend that you start Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy along with a daily dose of the vitamin B12.

It’s normal to feel tired when you are under stress or don’t get enough sleep, but chronic fatigue lasting throughout the day is probably a sign of hormonal imbalance. Unfortunately, it causes other problems such as irritability, depression, and lowered resistance to illnesses. Low estrogen levels are often the cause of severe fatigue in women. Balancing your hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy gives you the energy you need to meet everyday responsibilities and enjoy satisfying relationships.

Insomnia, which is the consistent inability to fall or stay asleep, is both a cause and an effect of hormone imbalance. The hormonal changes of PMS, perimenopause, and menopause can all cause sleeplessness. Chronic insomnia can also make hormone imbalance worse. When your hormones are balanced through Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, it has a less inhibiting effect on your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

IBS is a term that describes pain with bowel movements, urge frequency, a feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, abdominal distension, and several other symptoms. Many women report worsening IBS symptoms just before their period starts. This may occur due to the fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone in the second half of the cycle. Having unbalanced levels of estrogen and progesterone can slow motility in the gut. However, balancing these hormones can greatly alleviate IBS.

Lack of desire for physical intimacy is due to an imbalance in the amounts of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in your body. When the latter two hormones start declining, it may cause estrogen dominance. This problem is also associated with weight gain, mood swings, and painful intercourse, all of which further decrease your libido. Balancing estrogen in your body so it doesn’t dominate other hormones is essential to restore your desire for sex.

Menopause is the clinical term for 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. As you start menopause, your estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone hormones may fluctuate wildly. Although there are dozens of symptoms associated with menopause, the most common ones include hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, mood swings, and weight gain. Replacement therapy with bioidentical hormones can help eliminate or reduce multiple symptoms at the same time.

Although the average age of menopause is 51, you may begin perimenopause as early as your mid 30s. Common symptoms include breast tenderness, changes in the menstrual cycle, skin changes, sexual dysfunction, and loss of bone density. These problems occur due to decreasing levels of estrogen and other essential hormones as you age. If your blood work confirms hormonal imbalance, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help you feel more comfortable.

If you have PCOS, several small cysts are present on your ovaries. The cysts themselves are not always harmful, but they can cause an imbalance of your hormones. This causes numerous problems, such as difficulty getting pregnant, abnormal menstrual bleeding, acne, unwanted facial and body hair, insulin resistance, and weight gain. Treating PCOS with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy balances the hormones, which may help the cysts go away on their own.

In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen rises for the first two weeks and then begins to fall. During the second half of the cycle, this process repeats itself with progesterone. If you’re highly sensitive to hormonal changes, you may experience worsening symptoms of PMS. Some of these include bloating, irritability, fatigue, tension, and weight gain. If your PMS symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your quality of life, consider Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy with Doctor Childers.

You have a thyroid imbalance when your thyroid, which is a small nodule at the base of your neck, produces too little or too much of this hormone. When you go to a traditional doctor complaining of fatigue or difficulty losing weight, he or she may test your TSH level. However, this may not be enough to determine hormone imbalance. Henry E. Childers, M.D. conducts several medical tests to see if you are a good candidate for Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Men's Conditions

Estrogen and Testosterone play important roles in the regulation and growth of both bone and muscle. Testosterone increases the levels of growth hormone that make exercise more likely to build muscle. In addition, Testosterone increases bone density and tells bone marrow to manufacture more red blood cells. Dropping levels of testosterone can cause an increase in body fat as well as a loss of bone density, increasing the risk for fracture. Estrogen plays an important role in the growth and maturation of bone as well as in the regulation of bone turnover in adult bone. In menopause estrogen deficiency induces cancellous as well as cortical bone loss. Highly increased bone resorption in cancellous bone leads to general bone loss and destruction of local architecture because of penetrative resorption and microfractures. In cortical bone the first response of estrogen withdrawal is enhanced endocortical resorption. These lead to decreased bone mass, disturbed architecture and reduced bone strength. At cellular level in bone estrogen inhibits differentiation of osteoclasts thus decreasing their number and reducing the amount of active remodeling units. Many studies have found that estrogen and testosterone have benefits for preventing bone loss, so some research suggests that BHRT helps defend against problems like osteoporosis or hip fractures Age related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength accelerates with the onset of menopause in women and andropause in men. There is evidence that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy aids in maintaining and enhancing muscle mass and strength and protecting against muscle damage.

Low levels of testosterone cause an overall feeling of discontent in some men, which is the hallmark characteristic of hypogonadism. Balanced levels of this hormone are so essential that men with hypogonadism receive a diagnosis of clinical depression 400 times more often than men with normal hormone levels do. If you feel hopeless, low on energy, and irritable, ask Henry E. Childers, M.D. to check your testosterone level. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help balance your hormones and improve your outlook on life.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, can go into overdrive when you are under constant, unrelenting stress. This can cause daily headaches of varying intensity. The drop in testosterone starting at age 30 can also play a role in chronic headaches; Henry E. Childers, M.D. can pinpoint an exact cause with a simple blood test. If your hormones are unbalanced, treatment with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can help alleviate headache pain.

When fatigue is chronic, you lack the energy to focus or keep up with everyday responsibilities. Declining levels of testosterone are often to blame for this problem. Chronic fatigue is also worsened by other symptoms of andropause, including night sweats, insomnia, sleep apnea, increased stress, and irritability. It’s important to note that all-day fatigue is different than feeling tired. Fortunately, balancing your testosterone and other hormones with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps to improve fatigue and all of its associated symptoms.

Because testosterone normally replenishes itself while you are sleeping, struggling with insomnia lowers your testosterone production. This causes a vicious cycle because low testosterone levels cause many sleep disturbances, including insomnia and sleep apnea. While difficulty falling or staying asleep and decreased testosterone production are both normal signs of aging, you don’t have to allow them to affect your quality of life. Providing your body the testosterone it needs through Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can greatly improve restful sleep.

Elevated stress levels and a weakened immune system can both cause IBS, which may present itself as abdominal pain, gas, bloating, or frequent diarrhea. In many cases, both stress and immune system deficiency are related to unbalanced levels of hormones. This can trigger an attack of IBS. Determining what triggers your symptoms, including certain foods and hormone imbalance, is the first step to helping you feel better. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps to balance the hormones responsible for triggering IBS symptoms.

The desire to have sex less often and erectile dysfunction are often related, but it’s possible to have one without the other. Testosterone stimulates the nerves in the brain to become sexually aroused, so this sensation naturally diminishes as you age. Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and a poor diet are additional reasons your libido may be low. When combined with a healthy lifestyle, therapy with Bioidentical Hormones helps to improve your sexual desire and functioning.

You have erectile dysfunction when you can’t get an erection at all or maintain one long enough for satisfying sexual activity. A diminished level of testosterone is the typical cause. This also happens when the brain fails to signal the release of nitrous oxide, which is responsible for blood flow to the penis. Too much of the stress hormone cortisol also plays a role in erectile dysfunction. Balancing testosterone and cortisol with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can eliminate or improve this problem.

Gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, belching, and slow digestion may all be related to imbalanced hormones in your body. Specifically, these problems could originate due to problems with normal thyroid functioning due to too much cortisol or estrogen. Many traditional doctors don’t treat digestion problems correctly because they don’t understand the connection to hormones. When diet, exercise, and medication aren’t working, consider replacing lost hormones through Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy with Doctor Childers.

By the time men reach age 70, they may have only 10 percent of the testosterone hormone they had at age 25. This explains why many men begin experiencing symptoms associated with low testosterone around age 40. Andropause is a term that describes the many physical and emotional changes that occur due to the imbalance of hormones. Testosterone replacement is essential to help you experience long-term symptom relief.

Low testosterone, which your doctor may also refer to as male menopause, hypogonadism, or andropause, is the term used to describe the multitude of symptoms many men experience as they approach middle age. Your testosterone production actually starts declining one percent every year at age 30. Sexual dysfunction, mood problems, weight gain, and low energy are common problems associated with low testosterone that are correctable with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Low thyroid levels in men can cause cold intolerance, fatigue, hair loss, weight gain, dry skin, and constipation; as many as one in seven men struggle with hypothyroidism. When the thyroid produces an excess of hormones, hyperthyroidism is the result. This condition has many additional symptoms, including muscle weakness, trembling hands, insomnia, and heart palpitations. Having your thyroid level checked by a hormone specialist such as Henry E. Childers, M.D. and completing Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy program are essential to helping you feel better.

Click on each condition to learn more

Why Optimize Your Hormones?

Real Stories, Real Results.

Discover how Delaware Integrative Medicine transforms live with Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

REACHING NEW LEVELS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Dr. Henry E. Childers, M.D. is happy to provide patients with detailed information, answer all questions, and discuss any concerns. He will listen carefully to your description of their symptoms, and he will then perform testing on hormone levels to determine imbalances. Want to know if Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is right for you? Schedule an appointment today!

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What is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?

Hormone Imbalance Therapy

How BHRT is Different

Benefits of BHRT

How BHRT Can Help You Get Back to You

Balanced moods

Fat loss & improved muscle mass

Increased sex drive

More regular sleep patterns

Bone remodeling & regeneration

Conditions Treated with BHRT

Women's Conditions

Men's Conditions

Why Optimize Your Hormones?

Real Stories, Real Results.

REACHING NEW LEVELS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Contact Us

ABOUT US

FIND US

What is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?

Hormone Imbalance Therapy

How BHRT is Different

Benefits of BHRT

How BHRT Can Help You Get Back to You

Balanced moods

Fat loss & improved muscle mass

Increased sex drive

More regular sleep patterns

Bone remodeling & regeneration

Conditions Treated with BHRT

Women's Conditions

Men's Conditions

Why Optimize Your Hormones?

Real Stories, Real Results.

REACHING NEW LEVELS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Contact Us

ABOUT US

FIND US

Bone remodeling & regeneration