Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones naturally produced in the human body. As we age, hormone levels can become imbalanced, leading to undesirable symptoms. Replacing deficient hormones with bioidentical versions can help restore optimal levels, alleviating troublesome symptoms.
Treatment with bioidentical hormone replacement has grown in popularity due to its natural composition and ability to closely mimic the body's own hormones. When prescribed and monitored appropriately by a specialist, bioidentical hormones offer an effective way to treat hormonal imbalances related to aging, menopause, and other conditions.
Bioidentical hormones are synthesized from plant sources and are chemically identical to endogenous human hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, thyroid hormone, and others. The molecular structure of these hormones perfectly matches the hormones produced naturally in the body.
This makes them different from synthetic versions of hormones, which can have slightly different molecular structures. As a result, bioidentical hormones tend to have improved physiological effects and side effect profiles.
When administered properly under medical supervision, bioidentical hormone therapy offers a host of benefits for both men and women.
Located in Manchester, Optimal Hormone Solutions specializes in prescriping bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Our experienced medical team provides customized treatment plans to help patients restore healthy hormone balance.
We take an integrative approach that focuses on:
Our goal is to alleviate symptoms using the lowest effective hormone doses based on your unique physiology and needs. We find this approach provides optimal outcomes with minimal risk.
We offer convenient consultations in our Manchester clinic as well as via telemedicine to reach patients throughout the area.
Hormone imbalances can negatively impact quality of life in many ways. We frequently treat the following common conditions with bioidentical hormones:
Menopausal Symptoms
Andropause (Male Menopause)
Thyroid Disorders
Other Hormonal Conditions
We also treat patients with more general symptoms like:
Restoring hormonal balance can help alleviate these issues and get you back to optimal wellness.
If you're experiencing any symptoms of hormone imbalance, contact us today to learn if bioidentical HRT is right for you.
We offer a full range of bioidentical hormone therapy options including:
Estrogen
Helps relieve hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, bone loss, and heart disease risk. Available as pills, patches, gels, rings, pellet implants, and creams.
Progesterone
Crucial for regulating menstrual cycle, supporting pregnancy, building bone matrix. We offer oral capsules, sublingual drops, vaginal gels, and more.
Testosterone
The most important androgen. Testosterone pellets, injections, gels and creams can treat low libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, and muscle loss in both men and women.
Thyroid Hormone (T3 & T4)
Oral thyroid hormone effectively treats hypothyroidism, supporting healthy metabolism, weight, hair growth, body temperature, and mood.
DHEA
Supplementing the adrenal hormone DHEA can improve energy, immunity, skin tone, cholesterol, and body composition.
Melatonin
Getting good sleep is crucial for optimal hormonal health. We offer pharmaceutical grade melatonin to support sound sleep and circadian rhythm.
And more...
Other hormones we may recommend include growth hormone peptides, cortisol, insulin, hCG weight loss therapy, and hormones used in transgender care.
We thoughtfully construct a personalized plan around your needs and blood testing results. Follow-ups and dosage titrations ensure optimal treatment.
We also provide recommendations for proven lifestyle interventions like nutrition, exercise, and stress management that support hormone health.
The first step is suspecting and diagnosing a potential hormonal imbalance.
Some common symptoms to be aware of include:
Laboratory testing allows us to check individual hormone levels and identify any deficiencies that may be causing bothersome symptoms.
Based on the results, we can prescribe appropriate bioidentical hormones and doses to restore optimal balance. Ongoing testing helps monitor treatment effectiveness.
While testing is crucial, we also consider risk factors like:
If hormone imbalance is suspected, comprehensive testing allows for proper diagnosis and treatment.
We utilize advanced salivary, blood and urine testing to obtain accurate hormone levels, including:
Female Panels
Male Panels
Adrenal Panel
Additional Tests
Optimal Hormone Solutions partners with top specialty laboratories to provide accurate saliva, blood, urine and drying blood spot tests. This allows us to design fully customized treatment plans.
Below we explore some of the most common hormonal conditions we successfully treat with bioidentical hormone replacement.
Menopause is diagnosed after a woman has no menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. Perimenopause describes the transitional stage leading up to menopause, often lasting up to 10 years.
Declining ovarian function means lower production of estrogens and progesterone. This hormone imbalance is responsible for uncomfortable symptoms like:
Restoring estradiol and progesterone levels with properly dosed bioidentical hormone therapy effectively alleviates these symptoms for most women.
We also recommend lifestyle interventions like dietary changes, targeted nutrient support, stress reduction practices, and regular exercise. Our integrative therapies support women transitioning through perimenopause and beyond.
After age 30, testosterone levels drop roughly 1% per year. Some men experience a more extreme decline, causing symptoms like:
This set of hypogonadal symptoms is sometimes referred to as “andropause” or male menopause. It reflects androgen deficiency due to falling testosterone.
Testosterone replacement therapy can alleviate low testosterone symptoms, supporting libido, energy, weight management, mood and cognitive function.
We customize treatment based on symptoms and lab testing, using gels, injections, implantable testosterone pellets, and other proven modalities.
Lifestyle optimization is also key - we provide nutrition and exercise coaching for men with low testosterone. Sleep hygiene, stress management and limiting alcohol intake also support healthy testosterone levels.
Estrogen dominance describes a hormonal state where estrogen levels are abnormally high relative to progesterone. It has become quite common due to:
Too much circulating estrogen can cause adverse symptoms like:
Careful attention to the estradiol:progesterone ratio using lab testing allows us to accurately diagnose estrogen dominance.
We then craft treatment plans using bioidentical progesterone in physiological doses to rebalance the ratio, alleviating symptoms without side effects. Lifestyle optimization is also important for supporting hormonal balance long-term.
The thyroid gland produces hormones (T3 & T4) that regulate metabolic rate, temperature regulation, growth, energy levels, heart rate, digestion, and more.
When thyroid function drops too low, a state called hypothyroidism, numerous symptoms can result:
Conversely, some patients develop symptoms from excessive thyroid hormone levels, known as hyperthyroidism, such as:
We provide advanced testing of free and total T3 & T4 to accurately diagnose thyroid dysfunction. Custom compounded bioidentical thyroid hormone offers an ideal treatment option.
Oral T4 medication normalizes levels, improving metabolism and alleviating hypothyroidism symptoms for most patients. We also utilize combination T3 T4 therapy where appropriate.
Nutritional support, stress reduction practices, immune modulation, and proper sleep also help manage thyroid disorders.
The adrenal glands produce key hormones like cortisol and DHEA that support vital metabolic and immune processes.
Chronic stress can deplete adrenal hormones over time, causing:
Together this cluster of symptoms is referred to as adrenal fatigue or HPA axis dysfunction. It reflects inadequate output of adrenal hormones relative to bodily demands.
We test adrenal function via salivary cortisol levels at multiple timepoints across the day. Low and erratic cortisol rhythms indicate insufficient adrenal reserves.
Treatment focuses on supporting adrenal hormone output using bioidentical DHEA while also emphasizing stress management and a low-glycemic nutrient-dense diet.
Melatonin at bedtime often helps rebalance circadian cortisol secretion for better sleep quality. Our integrative therapies aim to rebuild adrenal resilience over time.
Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for menopausal symptoms. However, some women report preferring them because they more closely mimic the body's natural hormones. More research is still needed to fully understand the risks and benefits.
Hormonal issues tend to worsen gradually over months and years if left untreated. This can lead to declining health, quality of life, and onset of degenerative disease.
Identifying and addressing hormone imbalance early is key for supporting long-term health.
Benefits of early detection and prompt treatment include:
In essence, restoring hormone balance in the near-term preserves vitality, function and quality of life in the long run. It is always ideal to identify and treat hormonal dysfunction early before it can impact health more severely.
This requires a proactive approach focused on prevention - getting tested routinely, paying attention to emerging symptoms, optimizing lifestyle habits proactively.
We encourage such proactive health practices and offer convenient testing and treatments to keep your hormones balanced as you age.
Conveniently located in Manchester, Optimal Hormone Solutions provides cutting edge bioidentical hormone replacement therapies personalized to your unique needs.
Our clinicians specialize in endocrinology, functional medicine, and integrative therapies. We stay current on the latest scientific advances in precision hormone optimization.
Decades of combined experience allow us to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of hormonal conditions using proven bioidentical options.
We take time to understand your health history and symptoms, then craft custom plans to restore balance. Ongoing fine-tuning and monitoring ensures optimal outcomes.
Our goal is to help patients look, feel and perform their best long into later life. Balanced hormone physiology is central to achieving this.
Conveniently located in Manchester, we provide:
We aim to make high quality bioidentical HRT accessible, convenient, and affordable for Manchester area residents.
Contact us today to learn more and schedule your initial consultation.
While bioidentical hormones serve as the foundation of treatment, lifestyle interventions magnify therapeutic benefits:
Nutrition
Exercise
Stress Relief
Supplements
Adopting sustainable healthy lifestyle upgrades makes a major difference when it comes to experiencing excellent hormonal health and therapy outcomes.
Excellent hormone balance requires high quality food, skilled healthcare, and community. Fortunately the Manchester area offers exceptional fitness, dining, and wellness options such as:
Diagnostic Labs
Manchester Medical Laboratories - convenient central location for blood draws before therapy begins
Restaurants
Cottonopolis - farm to table bistro with seasonal menus The Classroom - cozy gastropub with healthy comfort foods
Walking Trails
Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens - beautiful trails and gardens year-round
Wythenshawe Park - gorgeous 1000 acre park, perfect for long walks
Fitness Centers
Aspire Fitness - upscale fitness center with pools, classes, lovely facilities
Total Fitness Altrincham - large fully outfitted gym open 24 hours
Yoga Studios
The Space - workspace and studio with daily yoga classes
Taking advantage of community offerings supports the foundations of hormone health - nutrition, movement, social connection and nature exposure. This magnifies positive effects of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
Conclusion
We help patients understand and address the root causes of their hormone imbalance using cutting edge testing, bioidentical hormones, nutrition and proven lifestyle interventions.
Optimal Hormone Solutions aims to provide fully customized therapy based on your unique physiology, life situation, and health goals. We empower patients to take control of their hormone health utilizing the latest scientific advances and years of clinical expertise.
To learn more about what we offer or schedule new patient consultations, contact us today. Our caring medical team looks forward to helping you restore balance, optimize wellbeing, and actualize your full potential across the lifespan.
