Hormone Therapy

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What Is Hormone Therapy?

As we age, our body’s natural ability to produce hormones can decrease significantly. While this is a natural process for many, some individuals experience this due to specific conditions that impair hormone production.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is designed to replenish and balance these essential hormones, helping to restore vitality and well-being. Many individuals rely on HRT to maintain a comfortable and dignified quality of life.

A deficiency in hormone production can lead to a reduced quality of life, often causing debilitating symptoms. Patients can manage these symptoms effectively through HRT and improve their overall health and happiness.

Table of Contents

What Are the Signs That You Need Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormones play a crucial role in our energy levels, bone strength, and overall well-being. Often, we don’t realize their importance until our hormone levels decline.

Low hormone production can lead to burdensome symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin, weakened bones, hot flashes, and more. It’s essential to detect and be aware of any decline before it affects our health and quality of life.

If you are experiencing these bodily changes, it is recommended that you consult with a doctor.

Below are some of the most prevalent symptoms indicating the need for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance​

Low Libido

Reduced estrogen and testosterone levels can significantly decrease sex drive in both women and men.

For women, low estrogen may lead to vaginal dryness, making sex more painful and less enjoyable.

For men, low testosterone can result in erectile dysfunction and difficulty maintaining an active sex life.

Mood Swings

Low hormone production can cause disturbances in mood, including:
  • Depression
  • Irritability
  • Reduced attention
  • And increased risk of dementia

Additionally, physical discomforts such as hot flashes can contribute to mood instability, making daily life more challenging.

Trouble Sleeping

Hormone imbalances can significantly impact your sleep quality. Low testosterone levels can lead to fatigue and insomnia, creating a frustrating cycle of being tired yet unable to sleep.

For women, low estrogen levels may also contribute to sleep difficulties. Symptoms like increased body temperature and other irritations can make restful sleep impossible.

Addressing these hormone imbalances through HRT can help restore sleep patterns and improve overall well-being.

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

Hormone Therapy for Women

HRT helps millions of women manage menopausal issues, fertility difficulties, and other hormonal imbalances effectively.

Estrogen, a key hormone in HRT, consists of three distinct but related hormones circulating throughout a woman’s body. The level of each hormone varies with the menstrual cycle:
  • Estrone (E1): Constitutes 10-20% of circulating estrogens and is the primary estrogen produced after menopause.
  • Estradiol (E2): Makes up 10-30% of circulating estrogens and is produced by the ovaries. It is the predominant estrogen before menopause.
  • Estriol (E3): Accounts for 60-80% of circulating estrogens.

Balancing these estrogen levels through HRT is crucial for maintaining hormonal health and well-being without creating imbalances.

Learn More About HRT for Women

Hormone Therapy for Women

Hormone Therapy for Men

By age 75, men typically have only two-thirds of the testosterone levels they had at 25, and this decline continues with age.

Some men may experience low testosterone levels even earlier in life.

Symptoms of low testosterone levels include:
  • Low sperm counts
  • Prostate problems
  • Slow wound healing

Proper laboratory testing is essential to diagnose low testosterone accurately. Replenishing testosterone to the normal physiological levels of younger men leads to numerous benefits such as:
  • Increased libido
  • Enhanced muscle mass
  • Boosted energy levels
  • Improved bone density
  • And more

Balancing testosterone through HRT can significantly improve quality of life and overall health.

Learn More About HRT for Men

Hormone Therapy for Men

Hormone Therapy Treatment Options

Estrogens, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone have been widely used and clinically accepted internationally since the 1940s. These hormones are available as both manufactured products and compounded preparations.

While there are many commercially available HRT products, individualized compounds are often necessary.

Compounding allows us to prepare the exact dose, dosage form, and route of administration needed for optimal results. This personalized approach also enables careful titration of the medication.

Below are a few frequently used dosage forms or HRT:

Hormone Therapy Treatment Options_

Hormone Delivery Vehicles

Transdermal Creams

Transdermal creams deliver hormones through the skin, allowing them to directly enter the bloodstream and underlying tissue.

For optimal absorption, apply the creams to areas where the skin is thinnest, such as the inner thighs and arms.

Rapid Dissolve Tablets​ (RDTs)

RDTs are a unique offering that only a few compounding pharmacies provide. These small tablets dissolve within seconds in the mouth, making them ideal for patients who have difficulty swallowing pills.

RDTs taste better and bypass the stomach, allowing the hormones to enter the bloodstream directly from the mouth.

Troches

Troches are small tablets that dissolve slowly in the mouth. They are similar in size and consistency to cough drops.

Our laboratory compounds them to contain precisely the right amount of hormones for each patient.

Like RDTs, troches bypass the stomach, allowing hormones to enter the bloodstream directly from the mouth.

Hormone Delivery Vehicles

Other Hormones We Work With

Estrogen and testosterone are generally the main focus in HRT, but several other hormones also play crucial roles in enhancing patient well-being.

Exploring additional hormones, such as progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), pregnenolone, and chrysin, among others, can provide tailored benefits for patients undergoing HRT.

These hormones may address specific symptoms or conditions beyond what estrogen and testosterone alone can manage, offering a more comprehensive approach to hormone balance and overall health.

Progesterone

Progesterone, a key hormone primarily released by the ovaries, plays a pivotal role in regulating menstrual cycles. Doctors often use it to initiate or regulate periods in women.

Progesterone is often combined with estrogen during HRT to mitigate potential side effects. This combination is essential as estrogen alone may heighten the risk of uterine cancer without progesterone’s protective effects.

Progesterone can also alleviate the symptoms of menopause, providing relief from common discomforts associated with hormonal changes.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

DHEA is naturally produced in the adrenal glands and helps boost the production of testosterone and estrogen.

Widely recognized as an anti-aging supplement, DHEA’s efficacy in supporting such claims remains the subject of ongoing study and debate.

While additional research is necessary to understand its clinical applications fully, it shows promise in hormone production support.

Other Hormones 1

Pregnenolone

This hormone is called a “pro-hormone” because it is a building block for the production of other hormones.

Pregnenolone helps produce estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and other hormones.

In addition to its role in hormone synthesis, pregnenolone is often explored as an anti-aging supplement, with mixed results in studies.

Chrysin

Chrysin is a plant-based hormone that can be utilized internally to promote testosterone production.

Due to its role in enhancing testosterone levels, chrysin is often recommended for individuals seeking to build muscle mass. Additionally, it has been explored for its potential benefits in managing conditions such as anxiety and gout.

Further research is ongoing to fully understand chrysin’s effectiveness and potential therapeutic applications.

Green Leaf

Choose ClearSpring Pharmacy for Your Hormone Replacement Needs

Some patients may not find success with commercially available hormone replacement drugs. ClearSpring Pharmacy compounds your hormone medications to fit your individual needs. Our experienced pharmacists offer counseling with all prescriptions.

We carry ZRT laboratory kits so patients can send saliva samples for testing. Our pharmacists review lab results to help patients understand their HRT process.

Please feel free to call us at our Littleton or Denver locations. You can also reach out by completing the form on this page.

If you don’t like calls, then send us a text!
Littleton: 303-707-1500
Cherry Creek: 303-333-2010

Connect with us on our social media platforms. We offer prompt responses within one business day!

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