Bioidentical Hormone Treatment & Functional Hormone Balancing
Feeling like you’ve lost your spark? It could be your hormones.
Get back to feeling your best with an individualized approach to hormone health.
Dr. Cori Burke uses functional medicine to address hormone health, balancing symptom control with a focus on improving overall health and wellbeing.
Dr. Burke provides comprehensive testing options including serum, salivary, and urine hormone testing.
What are Sex Hormones?
Sex steroid hormones are the chemical messengers responsible for reproduction (i.e. baby making). Besides being important for sexual health, sex hormones also have a profound effect on our moods, energy, cognition, bone health, and overall well-being.
The main sex steroid hormones in both men and women are Estrogens, Progesterone, and Testosterone. In women these hormones are made in the ovaries as well as the adrenal glands. In men these hormones are made in the testes and adrenal glands.
What are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance?
When your hormones are out of balance a variety of unpleasant symptoms can occur, including:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Weight gain
- Low libido
- PMS
- Breast tenderness
- Rheumatism
- Irregular, heavy, or painful periods
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and pain
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Low levels of estrogen in women is also a risk factor for dementia, osteoporosis, and heart disease, which is why the likelihood of having these health conditions increases after menopause.
Natural Treatments for Hormone Imbalance
Luckily, there are many natural treatments to promote healthy hormone balance. Dr. Burke takes an integrative approach to hormonal health. She often prescribes a combination of herbal medicines, nutrition, vitamins and nutriceutical supplements, and bioidentical hormone therapies to manage symptoms of menopause and hormone imbalances.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may be appropriate for severe menopausal symptoms or to treat other hormonal health conditions. Bioidentical hormone replacement uses Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone, either alone or in combination, to enhance your body’s own hormone levels and to address hormone related symptoms.
After starting bioidentical hormones, many patients report that they finally feel like themselves again. Hormonal treatments can improve hot flashes, energy, mood, sleep, libido, and vaginal dryness.
How Are Bioidentical Hormones Different?
Unlike other forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to the hormones that your body normally makes on its own.
Are Bioidentical Hormones Safe?
All hormone therapies convey some risk and this needs to be carefully weighed against the potential health benefits of these medications. You will need to discuss with your doctor whether bioidentical hormones are appropriate for you. Women taking any kind of hormones will need to follow up with their doctor regularly to discuss whether it’s appropriate to continue the treatment.
Although the research is limited, there is some evidence that bioidentical hormones may be safer than non-bioidentical hormone treatments like synthetic Progestins and Premarin (an estrogen made from the urine of pregnant horses).