Proudly Part of Privia Health
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormones Play an Important Role in Your Health
In order for your body to function at its full potential, it needs to produce sufficient levels of hormones. As you age, hormone production naturally declines and it’s not unusual for both men and women to experience changes. Below are some hormone deficiency symptoms that may significantly benefit from hormone therapy:
- Anxiety & Depression
- Difficulty falling & staying asleep
- Dry skin
- Erectile dysfunction
- Fatigue, low energy level
- Muscle atrophy
- Night sweats
- Osteoperosis
- Painful intercourse
- Severe, hot flashes
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Insomnia
- Loss of libido
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Migraines
Balanced Hormones, Better Health
“Menopausal women can consider how a wide range of hormone replacement therapies – bio-identical and conventional – can work in concert with lifestyle adjustments to bring my patients back to a healthy state, physically and mentally.”
If you’re experiencing some of these symptoms, it’s best not to delay treatment because hormone imbalance may affect your future health and quality of life.
Forty percent of American women suffer from a low sex drive.
Hormone therapy can ease these symptoms but must be chosen carefully. Your age, type of menopause, time since menopause, and history of breast cancer or cardiovascular disease play a significant role in determining whether the benefits outweigh the risks.
How do I know if Hormone Therapy is What I Need?
The only way to discover if you need hormone replacement therapy – traditional or bio-identical – is through specific laboratory testing. Dr. Miller takes a functional medicine approach – looking for the underlying causes of your disease, rather than treating symptoms. He conducts a thorough exam, gathers a thorough medical history, talks with you at length about what you are experiencing, and may recommend blood work and/or specific lab panels to determine a diagnosis.
Help for Your Partner
If your partner is also experiencing difficulties, Dr. Miller may also suggest that he come in for an appointment to discuss the hormone treatment options that are available for men.
Why Dr. Miller Prefers Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement (BIHR)?
If Dr. Miller determines hormone treatment will help relieve your symptoms, there are two types of hormone treatment available – traditional and bio-identical therapy. Traditional hormone therapy uses synthetic and animal-based hormones that are slightly different from your own hormones. They are available only in standard doses and some are associated with uncomfortable side effects. On other hand, bio-identical hormones are derived solely from plants and, biochemically, are the same as were made by your ovaries in your reproductive years. With natural hormones, dosing can be adjusted to more closely respond to your needs and side effects are rare.
Help for Sorting Out The Right Treatment for You
“One of my patients came to my office complaining of insomnia so we spent some time talking about what was happening in her life. After listening carefully, it seemed highly probable that the gluten in her diet, not a lack of hormones, was at the core of her problem. Sure enough, avoiding gluten was the culprit.”
To complicate hormone therapy even further, some traditional hormone therapies are also derived from plants and contain natural hormones, expanding the number of options. Without a specialist who has chosen to focus his practice on the complexities and potentials of hormone replacement therapy, it will be difficult to choose the best, most affordable strategy for you. Dr. Miller specializes in helping his patients sort through the overwhelming possibilities and arrive at a safe solution that offers minimal side effects – bio-identical, traditional, or a combination of the two.
If Not Hormone Therapy, Then What?
In some cases, hormone therapy is not what is indicated and Dr. Miller will instead suggest non-hormonal prescriptions, lifestyle, nutrition, or environmental changes. He encourages his patients to always keep the lines of communication open with his office and get back in touch if they are experiencing symptoms. Since hormone levels typically change over time, your treatment may need other adjustments.