The most well-known women’s sex hormones are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. They play a critical role in reproductive health, including libido, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. When there is a disruption in these or any other hormones in the body, a cascade of health problems can ensue. At PRIME Medicine, we will focus on your needs, as a woman, and help treat the source of any symptoms you are experiencing.

Estrogen is predominantly produced in the ovaries, but small amounts come from the adrenal glands and fat cells, as well as the placenta during pregnancy. Estrogen is vital for puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. It also affects the brain, skin, hair, urinary tract, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal system.

Progesterone is produced in the ovaries after ovulation and is also made by the placenta during pregnancy. Although its role is more specialized to aid in the menstrual cycle, it is a crucial hormone, and imbalance can affect uterine lining, pregnancy, and estrogen production after ovulation.

Although testosterone is considered a male hormone, it still plays a small but vital role in women’s health and is produced in tiny amounts in the adrenal glands and ovaries. It is an essential hormone for libido, regulation of menstrual cycles, as well as bone and muscle strength.

When any of these hormones are out of balance, it is important to return them to homeostasis. Women’s needs for each of these hormones fluctuate throughout life due to puberty, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and even throughout the menstrual cycle each month. As menopause approaches, hormone production in the ovaries begins to slow down – estrogen begins to fluctuate more, and progesterone levels steadily decline. This typically happens around the age of 50 but can vary widely between individuals.

Symptoms of hormone imbalances can include:

  • Decreased sexual desire
  • Vaginal dryness or painful intercourse
  • Irregular menstrual cycles and skipped periods
  • Infertility
  • Pelvic pain
  • Increased or reduced hair growth
  • Depression
  • Prolonged symptoms of menopause
  • Morning sickness or other pregnancy-like symptoms

To combat these hormone imbalances, we offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which replaces the missing hormones with those that are biologically identical to them. Your body is less likely to have an adverse reaction to them since they are otherwise indistinguishable from those your body already produces.

BHRT comes in several different forms, and at PRIME Medicine, we carefully take into consideration your symptoms, medical conditions, and history before making a recommendation for a specific treatment. Options may include:

  • BioTE® pellet therapy
  • Compounded natural hormones
  • Nutraceutical supplementation

Delivery of BHRT depends mainly on the specific therapy option, but include:

  • Implanted pellets
  • Creams
  • Patches
  • Gels
  • Injections

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above and would like to schedule an appointment, please call us today at (949) 640-0096.