How to Prepare for Your First Pregnancy Ultrasound
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Aging is more than simply adding years on the calendar — it can include significant changes to your body. Fortunately, in the case of imbalanced hormones, help is available.
Dr. Thomas Hatchett, our midwife nurse practitioner Britteny Barron, and our highly skilled staff provide a wide range of integrative health care services for all your gynecological and obstetrical needs at Habersham OBGYN in Demorest, Georgia. Whether you're suffering from a problem such as hormonal issues, having a baby, or are a woman looking for preventive services, we couple our state-of-the-art treatments with a caring, personalized touch for the best possible experience.
Known as the body's “chemical messengers,” hormones move through the bloodstream affecting the function of everything from cells to organs. They are created in the endocrine glands and help regulate many important bodily functions like metabolism and reproduction.
An imbalance occurs when there is too much or too little of a certain hormone and can affect both men and women. The process is so delicate that even a small change in levels can have significant repercussions in many parts of the body.
Given hormones' important job of directing so many of our bodies' processes, an imbalance can affect a number of important functions. These can include everything from metabolism, appetite, and sleep cycles to our heart rate, body temperature, and stress levels. They can even affect our fertility and sexual function.
Our bodies rely on a number of different kinds of hormones. Therefore symptoms of a hormone imbalance depend on which hormones and glands are having an issue. The number one cause of a hormone imbalance in women is low estrogen or progesterone levels, while men tend to have an issue with low testosterone.
Problems can range from low sex drive and sexual issues like vaginal dryness and erectile dysfunction to hot flashes, night sweats, and struggles with concentration. Bone mass can also decrease, raising the risk of osteoporosis.
If an individual suspects they are suffering from a hormonal imbalance, the first step is to have an in-depth lab test to evaluate the levels. Using this detailed information, a customized treatment plan can be developed.
There are multiple options available, depending on a person's needs. BioTE® bioidentical hormone replacement therapy involves the insertion of pellets into the hip area several times a year. Over time, the body slowly absorbs the pellets, resulting in hormones that are stable and avoiding issues with surges and accompanying side effects.
Other possible treatments include using estrogen or testosterone creams or patches, vaginal estrogen, or hormonal birth control.
If you're suffering from symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, call our office at 706-229-4718 for an appointment today or book one online to get a definitive diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.
