Whether we like it or not, menopause is a condition that all menstruating women experience. It is a natural biological process that marks the end of your menstrual cycle. Oftentimes, it’s accompanied by symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, anxiety, and more. However, working with a menopause specialist in Potomac can offer some relief.
Here at The Menopause Center, we use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat symptoms of menopause. Keep reading to learn what it is and whether this is a good treatment option for you.
Signs of Hormone Deficiency in Women
So, how can you tell if you are hormone deficient? Well, women experience a wide range of symptoms when they are hormone imbalanced. Symptoms can include things like:
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia and/or fatigue
A menopause specialist Potomac can help you determine whether your symptoms are caused by a hormonal imbalance. Contact our team for a consultation today.
Female Hormones Explained
Your female hormones are responsible for a multitude of functions within the body. They control everything from regulating menstruation and menopause to influencing mood, weight, and libido.
While estrogen and progesterone are the two main hormones impacting a woman’s health, testosterone, thyroid hormone, and insulin also play a role. Here is a quick overview of each:
The Role of Estrogen
When people think of female hormones, estrogen is usually the first to come to mind. Your estrogen levels fluctuate throughout your life, peaking in the middle of your menstrual cycle and dropping during menopause.
Estrogen is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat tissues, and it significantly impacts puberty, fertility, and pregnancy. Additionally, having a deficiency of estrogen can cause hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, low libido, mood swings, and more.
The Role of Progesterone
Progesterone is a female hormone that is secreted by the ovaries. Its main function is to prepare the lining of the uterus for pregnancy. Additionally, if a woman does not become pregnant, her progesterone levels drop, and she menstruates.
Progesterone is necessary for the implantation of the fertilized egg, and its levels are highest during the first trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, if you have a deficiency of progesterone, you can experience irregular periods, uterine bleeding, and a heightened risk of miscarriage.
The Role of Testosterone
Although testosterone is largely associated with male health, it plays an important role in a woman’s body. The testosterone hormone is created in the ovaries and adrenal glands, and it contributes to sex drive, bone density, and the regulation of pain-free menstrual cycles. Although it is rare, some women produce too much testosterone. When this happens, women can experience irregular periods, obesity, acne, and more.
The Benefit of HRT for Women
After menopause, your body produces fewer female hormones. And it is the decrease of those hormones that causes menopausal symptoms to occur. Therefore, HRT effectively relieves menopausal symptoms by replacing the hormones that are lost and returning your levels to normal. Of course, it also protects against osteoporosis and lowers your risk of heart disease.
Top Menopause Specialist Potomac
If you are seeking a menopause specialist Potomac, look no further than our team here at The Menopause Center. Having made menopause our specialty, we offer our patients a wide variety of treatments to relieve symptoms and maximize comfort. It doesn’t matter whether you are peri-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal, we are confident in our ability to help you.
To learn more about our services, stop by our office or contact our team today. We would be happy to walk you through our available treatments and determine the best plan for your needs.