Balancing female hormone levels often sounds complicated, or as though it will create other problems. While in men the principle hormone we focus on is testosterone, in women there are two other very important hormones to properly balance and optimize - estrogen and progesterone.

Common factors that can lead to hormone deficiencies (some temporarily, others permanently) include pregnancy, menopause, a hysterectomy, chronic medical conditions, inflammation, excessive stress, poor sleep, and aging.

As a woman ages, she may notice deficiencies in hormone levels that manifest as fatigue, mood changes, pain, weight gain, a drop in libido (sex drive), skin dryness, and other symptoms. While these symptoms aren't always directly attributed specifically to hormone deficiencies, it's important to consider whether a hormone deficiency exists.

In the typical outpatient medical office, hormone deficiencies are determined solely on lab reports, which can leave many patients stuck with a hormone imbalance and further worsen symptoms over time.

At Virtue Medical, we work with you to set reasonable goals of hormone therapy. We do this by not only paying attention to your labs, but also paying attention to each woman's symptoms to create an individualized, optimal regimen that will allow for efficient symptom resolution and improve quality of life.

Hormone therapy is not safe for everyone, nor a "one size fits all" approach. It's important that we at Virtue Medical are as transparent as possible to help you understand the risks associated with hormone therapy. As a part of anyone's total health, a healthy diet and regular exercise are necessary in coordination with any treatment or therapy.

Those women who are not reasonable candidates for hormone therapy include: tobacco users, previous breast, ovarian, uterine cancer history, a high risk of blood clots, and family history of ovarian, uterine, or breast cancer.

CANCER RISKS:

A personal history of breast or ovarian cancer places a woman at high risk of cancer recurrence, even if these organs have been surgically removed. It's also important to know your family history of breast and ovarian cancer (really, we strongly encourage everyone to know their family's health history in general).

It's especially important to understand that hormone therapy does not CAUSE cancer, but it can potentially grow an undetected cancer. For that reason, it's important to make certain to stay up to date in regards to your preventative care, such as getting your routine mammogram done on a regular basis.

BLOOD CLOTS:

Hormone therapy may increase your risk of blood clots, which is why it is important to stay active and have your labs checked according to your treatment plan. It's also why tobacco users are not candidates for hormone (estrogen) therapy.

Those who have a history of a blood clot, or a condition causing an increased risk of blood clot occurrence (previous blood clots, genetic disorders, tobacco use) have an increased risk of forming a blood clot when taking hormone therapy.

ABNORMAL CYCLES AND PREGNANCY:

The natural menstruation cycle occurs as a result of hormone fluctuations - primarily between estrogen and progsterone. While taking hormone therapy, periods may decrease in cramping/bleeding, or become absent.

Despite the possibility of absent periods, it is abundantly important to know that this type of hormone therapy is NOT an effective means of birth control, and is dangerous to use during pregnancy.

If you are planning to have children in the near future (next 6 months), we recommend avoiding (if considering) or stopping (if currently on) this type of hormone therapy. Some women may use optimization therapy for a time and desire to become pregnant at a later time - which is easily possible, but requires some time to allow the body to reset to its normal cycle and allow normal ovulation.