How do I Know if I Have a Hormone Imbalance?

A hormone imbalance is a condition that occurs when the body produces too few or too many types of hormones. Hormones are messenger chemicals that regulate the physiological functions in all parts of the body, so any fluctuations can negatively affect our physical and emotional health. Depending on a patient’s age and gender, there are multiple hormones required in varying amounts for optimal wellness, making a hormone imbalance a complex condition to live with. Still, there are many telltale signs that a qualified clinician can pinpoint, and allow patients to move in the right direction for treatment. 

Our team at Swan Medical in Los Gatos, CA can help you achieve the vitality you are looking for with treatments that target the source of the problem. As hormone specialists and female sexual health advocates, our qualified medical team helps patients find natural solutions to issues at various life stages. To get in touch, call us at (925) 905-9922 or schedule a free virtual consultation today. 

Signs and Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

The signs and symptoms of hormone imbalance are typically prevalent during menopause, the time in a woman’s life when menstrual cycles stop. During this time, a drop in estrogen and progesterone occurs. Men go through andropause and experience other changes during this point in their life. After men reach middle age, testosterone levels decrease by 0.8-2% per year. ⁽¹⁾ Although the changes are more gradual in men than women, both genders may encounter some of the same signs and symptoms that can be difficult to deal with. 

As sex hormone levels decrease, both men and women can experience:

Women, specifically, may go through hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and notice a reduction in their breast volume. Men may have trouble getting and keeping erections and exhibit more body fat in their breasts. 

While these signs and symptoms are most common during middle age or later, many of them can show up in younger people if they have a condition that affects their sex hormones. 

Thyroid Gland Disorders

While the decrease of sex hormones usually occurs later in life, unwanted fluctuations of thyroid hormones can cause issues at almost any age. The thyroid gland, located near the voice box, plays a major role in regulating your weight, digestion, controlling heart and muscle functions, and brain and bone health. An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can result in weight gain, fatigue, sensitivity to cold weather, depression, and/or anxiety. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) can manifest in excessive weight loss, anxiety, increased heart rate, and excessive sweating. 

The two most important hormones that contribute to the function of the thyroid are triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)- hormones that can easily be balanced to treat hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. ⁽²⁾ 

Treatments for Hormone Imbalances

The medical team at Swan Medical offers a variety of solutions to target specific hormonal issues- most often used to relieve symptoms related to andropause, menopause, and other issues: 

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) 

Our BHRT consists of utilizing plant-derived ingredients that are bioidentical to hormones in the human body. This means that they have the same molecular structure as natural hormones. We offer varying amounts of estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in the form of gels, pills, oils, injections, and pellets. Pellets are tiny implants that are placed into the skin so that the body can take the hormone whenever it needs it. 

For pellets, a medical provider will make a small incision in the buttock or hip followed by a steri-strip to close it. For a couple of days after, there may be some swelling at the site of the incision, but it will quickly subside as the beneficial effects begin to kick in. Each formulation of BHRT prescribed is designed for your individual hormonal needs. 

Sermorelin with Glycine

Sermorelin is a version of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that stimulates growth hormones for anti-aging benefits. It is not the human growth hormone itself, but it allows the body to naturally produce it. Glycine is an amino acid (compounds that form proteins) that has been found to enhance the quality of sleep, have anti-inflammatory properties, and serve as an antioxidant in the body. ⁽³⁾ It may also help with muscle maintenance and have cognitive benefits. This treatment is delivered as an injectable that is taken 5 days a week. 

Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) 

Testosterone replacement in both men and women has been shown to aid in fitness, promote lean body mass, improve sexual function, and restore bone density. ⁽¹⁾ With this treatment, men and women can avoid the negative side effects that come with aging and feel physically and mentally younger. This therapy can be administered as injections, dissolvable tablets, topical gels, patches, and pellets. 

Semaglutide for Weight Loss 

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medication that imitates the functions of the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone. GLP-1 works to regulate hunger, so semaglutide is the perfect tool for weight loss in overweight and obese adults. ⁽⁴⁾ It stimulates the production of insulin to help balance blood sugar levels which can often lead to more stable energy. 

O-Shot 

Though the O-Shot doesn’t affect your hormones, it can help patients attain sexual arousal and treat incontinence in women. The O-Shot is made of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is extracted from your own blood sample. PRP has many restorative and healing effects; it is often used in the healing of tendons and ligaments. It has also been found to safely treat erectile dysfunction, so it is effective for men as well. ⁽⁵⁾

PT 141 (Bremelanotide) 

This medication provides a safe, long-term solution for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. ⁽⁶⁾ Men can benefit from this libido-enhancing medication as well. At Swan Medical, we offer this medication compounded with other libido-enhancing products for maximum benefit.  

Benefits 

Fixing hormonal imbalances can have profound benefits for those who need it. If any of the above medications and therapies are right for you, you can expect to see the following benefits: 

Candidates 

In general, patients must be in good health and have hormone-related symptoms affecting their everyday life. To qualify for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy or testosterone replacement therapy, hormone deficiencies must be identified and diagnosed through a blood test. Semaglutide will only be prescribed if you have been unsuccessful in losing weight naturally through diet or exercise. People who have experienced waning or no sex drive for at least six months may qualify or O-shot and PT 141 injections. All in all, if menopause or andropause symptoms are affecting the quality of your life- and they have not been relieved through other methods- you may be a good candidate. 

Personal Consultation

Treating hormone levels is a delicate matter that requires consistent monitoring. With a personal consultation, our team at Swan Medical can accurately assess your signs and symptoms to determine if they may be related to a hormonal issue. Call our office in Los Gatos, CA at (925) 905-9922 or schedule a consultation online to get started feeling better. 

Preparation 

One of the best aspects of these treatments is that little preparation is needed to receive them. All of them are non-invasive or minimally invasive (pellet therapy), so there is no recovery time needed. Our clinicians will work to inform you of the pros and cons of each treatment and how the body responds to each one. You should be prepared to undertake these treatments long-term so that they can provide long-lasting relief from your symptoms. 

Cost of Hormone Treatments in Los Gatos, CA 

Depending on the severity of your hormonal condition, the cost of treatment can vary. There is also price variability between each of the treatments themselves. Our clinicians will take a look at your needs and determine the best course of action after your personal consultation. 

FAQ

References 

1. Yeap BB, Almeida OP, HydeZ, et al. In men older than 70 years, total testosterone remains stable while free testosterone declines with age. The Health in Men Study. European Journal of Endocrinology. 2007;156(5):585-594. doi:https://doi.org/10.1530/eje-06-0714 
2. Shahid MA, Sharma S. Physiology, Thyroid Hormone. Nih.gov. Published 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500006/ 
3. Razak MA, Begum PS, Viswanath B, Rajagopal S. Multifarious Beneficial Effect of Nonessential Amino Acid, Glycine: A Review. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity. 2017;2017:1-8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1716701 
4. Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2021;384(11). doi:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183 
5. Poulios E, Mykoniatis I, Pyrgidis N, et al. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Improves Erectile Function: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2021;18(5). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.03.008 
6. Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Portman D, et al. Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Bremelanotide for Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019;134(5):1. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/aog.0000000000003514