Often, a hormonal imbalance doesn’t just “happen” with the flip of a switch. Changes to your mental and physical health can gradually settle in over time. As a result, you might not recognize a commonality between your symptoms and instead spot-treat new concerns as they arise.
At The Stoehr Center, we recognize just how deeply connected our systems are. When you seek care with our team of specialists, we work to understand your health concerns at the root, so we can treat them holistically and sustainably.
For many aging patients, personalized hormone replacement therapy can bring widespread relief to the body and mind.
Keep reading to learn how we implement bioidentical hormone therapy near Plano, or schedule a consultation to chat with our expert providers about restoring balance to your life.
Understanding Your Hormonal Imbalance
But why do our hormone levels decline over time? After all, many people in their 40s and 50s feel like they’re in their prime, with no young children to chase after, fewer career hurdles to cross, a consistent social life, and more free time to pursue hobbies.
Though your calendar might be more active than ever, your hormones might not be in alignment. With age, many of the body’s processes naturally slow down. This includes hormone production, as the reproductive system has recognized your childbearing years have passed.
This chapter in life, starting with perimenopause and followed by menopause, comes with a steady decline in estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone development. Without these sex hormones circulating, your fertility diminishes.
Beyond the reduced likelihood of pregnancy, however, many patients experiencing a hormonal deficiency also notice significant changes in their mental and physical wellness.
Navigating Your Symptoms
Your journey through perimenopause and menopause is unique to you—there is no one “correct” way for this stage to look or feel. You might notice a combination of symptoms as you experience hormonal decline, including:
Aesthetic Appearance
- Dull, acne-prone skin
- Changing hair growth patterns
Cardiovascular Health
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Poor heart health
Metabolic Rate
- Changes in cholesterol levels
- Weight fluctuation
- Fatigue
Body Composition
- Low bone density
- Reduced muscle mass
Cognitive Function
- Insomnia or sleep apnea
- Low or unpredictable moods
- Brain fog
- Memory issues
Sexual Wellness
- Low sex drive
- Vaginal dryness and atrophy
Though this personal experience can feel isolating, it might help to reframe this time in your life as an opportunity to get back in touch with your body and better understand what serves you. For many, that includes hormone replacement therapy.
Restoring Harmony With The Stoehr Center
At The Stoehr Center, we see each patient as a whole person. By diving deeper to evaluate and treat your concerns holistically, we can detect underlying patterns that traditional medicine might overlook.
For example, you might see a dermatologist when you notice new skin congestion, or a general practitioner when your weight loss efforts fall short of your goals. These two providers might help you find temporary relief with separate, short-term treatments, but they likely can’t establish true, lasting change at the source of your dysfunction.
As hormone health specialists, we can often identify the correlation between seemingly distinct symptoms and trace them back to a shared origin: hormonal imbalance. When we tackle these concerns at the root, we can restore whole-body harmony and quality of life in one fell swoop.
Your Consultation
When you book your first appointment at The Stoehr Center, we ask you to fill out new patient forms online so we can have your medical insights at our fingertips. Armed with these files, your care starts with a one-on-one consultation in the office.
Dr. Stoehr, our leading menopause doctor and board-certified OBYGN, listens carefully to your concerns and reviews your provided medical history.
Along with discussing your symptoms and any preexisting conditions, we use thorough diagnostics to confirm your hormone levels and identify which ones are low. With a small blood draw, we can conduct a comprehensive hormone panel and test for any additional concerns, such as cholesterol, blood sugar imbalances, inflammation markers, and more.
Once Dr. Stoehr receives test results confirming your hormonal imbalance, she can help you navigate your options for bioidentical hormone therapy near Plano, reviewing any steps you should take before, during, and after treatment to support your lasting wellness.
Pre-Care Steps
Prior to beginning your custom HRT, Dr. Stoehr often recommends some lifestyle changes. These small, actionable steps help prepare your body for the reintroduction of hormones. Often, these pre-care guidelines include:
- Stick to healthy habits, like a balanced diet and regular exercise
- Avoid regular alcohol consumption and the use of tobacco products
- Hydrate well before each appointment
- Hold off on starting any new medications until you can speak to Dr. Stoehr
Our instructions might vary slightly based on the treatment method that best suits your needs. When you take these personalized steps to preserve your wellness, your first session of hormone therapy near Plano should go smoothly.
Bioidentical Hormones
At The Stoehr Center, we use FDA-approved bioidentical hormones to balance your hormone levels. Bioidentical hormones are derived from plant-based sources, designed to have the same chemical structure as those produced by the body. By mimicking your hormones, the body seamlessly assimilates and integrates them.
Regardless of the administration method, Dr. Stoehr uses the ACOG-recommended and NAMS-certified dosing protocols, relying on approved standards and proven data to support your wellness.
Your options for hormone therapy near Plano include topical estrogen, oral progesterone, and topical testosterone. Depending on your symptoms and the results of your hormone panel, Dr. Stoehr might recommend a thoughtfully guided combination of these therapies.
Topical Estrogen
If Dr. Stoehr determines that you have low estrogen levels, she can walk you through the process of administering your topical estrogen therapy. This involves inserting the nozzle of the pump into the vaginal canal, so it is best to sit or squat during administration.
This form of hormone therapy near Plano helps resolve troublesome symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and more, gradually replenishing your estrogen levels with each dose.
Oral Progesterone
Dr. Stoehr might also recommend oral progesterone tablets to restore optimal estrogen and progesterone levels. These once-daily pills balance your increasing estrogen levels and help foster more restful sleep and balanced moods.
If you begin a regimen of topical estrogen, it is likely Dr. Stoehr will recommend that you also start progesterone therapy as well. This is because estrogen taken in isolation can create unwanted thickness of the uterine lining, inadvertently increasing your risk of endometrial cancer.
For patients going through perimenopause and still experiencing irregular periods, progesterone replacement can protect the uterine lining and ease painful menstruation.
Topical Testosterone
Though you might assume only people with penises can experience a shortage of testosterone, low T can actually affect anyone. If Dr. Stoehr finds that your testosterone levels are suboptimal, small doses of topical testosterone can improve your libido and sexual function, along with your metabolic rate.
This can go a long way in supporting your weight loss efforts and your time in the bedroom.
During your appointment, Dr. Stoehr shows you how to apply the topical hormone therapy. It usually comes in a cream or gel form, which you can smooth onto clean, dry skin each day. You should pick a naturally hairless area so the skin can absorb the product more effectively—think of the lower abdomen, upper thighs, or the back of your knees.
Feeling the Whole-Body Benefits
As you continue your personalized treatment plan for hormone therapy near Plano, you meet with Dr. Stoehr regularly to track your progress. During these 3- to 6-month follow-ups, you can bring up any new or improving symptoms. This enables Dr. Stoehr to recommend any supplementary treatments or lifestyle habits that could further support your progress.
With each dose of your topical and/or oral HRT, you should feel more and more like yourself. These therapies can steadily relieve the uncomfortable side effects of hormonal imbalance, empowering you to get back to doing what you love with comfort and confidence.
Supporting the Effects of HRT
Along with maintaining your usual healthy habits like balanced hydration, nutrition, exercise, and sleep, Dr. Stoehr might suggest introducing additional therapies to further enhance the restorative effects of HRT.
These treatments could include:
- Nutritional supplements to replenish vital nutrients, relieve menopausal symptoms, and support your immune system.
- Weight loss injections that help you regulate your appetite and hunger cues as your body adjusts to a new metabolic rate.
- Body sculpting treatments that further define your figure as your body fat redistributes and muscle mass develops.
- Emsella pelvic floor muscle strengthening treatments to improve bladder control and intimate sensation.
- Emfemme vaginal rejuvenation to improve lubrication, tightness, and sensitivity.
- Exomind brain stimulation to support balanced moods and emotional regulation.
Harness Your Hormones
Your body is a complex, beautiful network of interconnected systems. When we restore balance to these internal mechanisms, you can see and feel the difference. Unlock whole-body harmony and optimal quality of life with your personalized hormone therapy near Plano.
Learn more about our menopause doctor and how she treats sexual dysfunction on our blog.
