Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

Sleep Issues

Anxiety

Low Energy

Depression

Erectile Dysfunction

Decreased Sex Drive

Weight Gain

Muscle Mass

Concentration

Hot Flashes

Mood Swings
Hours of Operations
Monday-Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
Saturday | Closed |
Sunday | Closed |
Overview
As we age, our hormone levels decline and can become problematic. We can experience negative effects on our health, energy, and appearance with the in-balance of these vastly important naturally occurring compounds.
At R2 Medical Clinic, we believe every individual is unique, therefore requiring a customized treatment approach. We tailor a plan specifically to you by analyzing your blood work and listening to your unique goals and symptoms.
Optimize your mind and body safely and naturally through the use of Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) and targeted nutritional supplementation.
You have a choice. You do not have to live this way! Years from now you should not be asking why I didn’t rather you should be saying I am happy I did.
Hormones are molecules that carry instructions/directions from more than a dozen endocrine glands and tissues to cells all over the body. There are approximately 50 different known hormones, which vary in their structure, action and response that control a variety of biological processes including muscle growth, heart rate, menstrual cycles and hunger.
What are hormones?
Hormones travel throughout the body, either in the blood stream or in the fluid around cells, looking for target cells. Once a hormone finds a target cell, they bind with specific protein receptors inside or on the surface of the cell and specifically change the cell’s activities.
The protein receptor reads the hormone’s message and carries out the instructions by either influencing gene expression or altering cellular protein activity. These actions produce a variety of rapid responses and long-term effects.
Hormones vary in their range of targets. Some types of hormones can bind with compatible receptors found in many different cells all over the body. Other hormones are more specific, targeting only one or a few tissues.
For example, estrogens, the female sex hormones, can regulate function by binding to special estrogen receptor sites in uterine, breast and bone cells.
In addition, the same cell can act as a target cell for many different regulatory molecules. For instance, the same uterine, breast and bone cells that accept estrogens, also contain progesterone, androgen, glucocorticoid, vitamin D and vitamin A receptors.
Testosterone
- Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles in men and ovaries in women.
- Thus, Testosterone is an important hormone for BOTH sexes.
- It is important in maintaining bone density, fat distribution, muscle strength and mass, red blood cell production, sex drive, and erectile function to name a few.
Estrogens
- Most animals depend on the versatile estrogens to influence growth, development, and behavior; regulate reproductive cycles; and affect many other body systems.
- The hormones, though, are more plentiful and play a larger role in females than in males.
- In women, estrogen levels vary through life, surging at adolescence, seesawing monthly in the reproductive years, and waning to low levels during menopause.
- Although indispensable, too much estrogen exposure is linked to some cancers.
- This little understood paradox between health and disease continues to spur public attention and scientific interest.
Progestins
- Progestin hormones prepare, sustain, and build. With them, pregnancy, some behaviors, and sex hormones endure.
- Indeed, progestins are nicknamed the pregnancy hormones because they prep for and maintain the body during pregnancy.
- Their essential role in egg and sperm maturation, sexual receptiveness, and estrogen production are lesser known. Not surprisingly, females make and use more progestins than males.
Thyroid
- Thyroid hormones support nearly every body system. In humans and other backboned animals, the iodine-containing hormones guarantee proper development of the brain, skeleton, and organs.
- Yet, too much or too little derails the body’s delicate balance causing goiter and other health troubles.
- These distinct regulators work alone or in cooperation with other hormones to generate energy, control cell oxygen use, and moderate many other life processes in both males and females.
Bio-identical vs Synthetic HRT
There is much debated if one form is truly superior to the other in regards to efficacy and safety. According to a 2009 retrospective study, they concluded that:

Male BHRT
As men age, their hormone levels, including testosterone, decline. This can leave a man feeling tired, unmotivated, overweight or suffering from sexual dysfunction.
Restoring testosterone and other hormones that have been lost over the years is not only important to a man’s health, but necessary to loose fat, build muscle, boost energy and enhance libido.

Symptoms Associated with Male Hormone Imbalance
- Decreased libido
- Unable to concentrate
- Infertility
- Fatigue
- Decreased muscle mass
- Weight gain
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased strength
- Depression or anxiety
- Low endurance and/or inability to workout
- Insomnia

Benefits of Male Testosterone Therapy
- Increased Energy
- Improved Self Confidence
- Increased Libido
- Prevent Memory Loss
- Prevent Age Inflicted Disease
- Increase Lean Muscle
- Positive Immune System Effects
- Fat Loss
- Improve Sleep
- Assists with Insulin Resistance - decrease chances to develop type 2 DM
- Cario-protective
Female BHRT
Menopause is the end of ovulation marked by a sharp decline in estrogen, progesterone and testosterone in women. By the time women reach menopause, they have likely experienced many symptoms such as hot flashes, irritability, weight gain, deep wrinkles, arthritic pain and insomnia.
It is important for women to begin BHRT as soon as symptoms begin, to take advantage of the window of opportunity to greatly improve their health and aging process.
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can give a woman back her youthful energy, while preventing disease associated with hormonal decline.
The average age of menopause is approximately 51y/o with symptoms usually starting around age 45y/o but some women experience Menopause much earlier, even in their late 20’s or 30’s.

Menopause, Peri-Menopause, Early Menopause
- Estrogen
- Testosterone
- Progesterone
- Thyroid

Benefits of BHRT in Women
- Increased energy
- Reduced fatigue
- Fat loss
- Improvement of dry and wrinkled skin
- Increased sex drive and satisfaction
- Decreased memory loss
- Improved sleep
- Reduced symptoms of menopause such as night sweats and hot flashesl
- Decrease: breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and cardiac risk
There are many options available.
Consider the following:

Hormone Delivery Options: There is much debate on the efficacy of the different hormone delivery symptoms
- Pellets: arguably the most effective
- Men: every 5-6 months
- Women: every 3-4 months
- Lower rise in hematocrit (thick blood, leading to increase risk of cardiovascular issues)
- Lower rise in Estrogen
- Available since the 1940’s
- Similar daily fluctuations based on activity and associated blood-flow. More similar to normal body hormone release.

Injections: typically in males only
- Usually weekly or bi-weekly intra-muscular injections
- Associated with greater risk of increase in hematocrit
- Higher Estrogen levels
- Steady release into the blood. Not similar on normal body hormone release.

Oral: pills, sublingual pills, troches, and BLA
Daily intake requirement BLA (Bio Lymphatic Absorption)
- Seem to have similar delivery as compared to pellets (24hr coverage)
- Bypasses liver metabolism (first-pass) with absorption to the lymphatics
- All hormones
Traditional Pills
- First pass metabolism -> metabolized by the liver
- Not great absorption for most hormones
- Typically used with Progesterone and Thyroid Potential issues with compliance
Sublingual Tablets
- Dissolve under the tongue
- Peaks early in the day
- Bypasses liver metabolism
- Most hormones
Troches
- Bypasses liver metabolism
- Typically require twice daily dosing
- Most hormones
- Leads to higher risk of estrogen blood clots

Transdermal Creams
- Applied daily to the skin
- Risk of transfer to others (significant other, kids, etc)
- Lower rates of increase in hormone levels when compared to injections or pellets
- Potential issues with compliance