Hormones are chemical messengers that travel throughout the body, coordinating complex processes including digestion, growth, energy supply and reproduction. They can influence the function of the immune system and even alter behavior. They help to regulate appetite, mood and libido. Unfortunately, when hormone imbalances occur, they can lead to a chain reaction of health problems.

Regina Forester, M.D. at Gateways to Integral Health in Fayette County, Kentucky works hard to restore your hormonal balance to improve your body’s overall function and health.

Bioidentical hormones are designed to chemically and biologically match the hormones in the human body. Instead of using synthetic or animal hormones, which do not exist naturally in humans, Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy uses hormones that are exact chemical matches to the hormones naturally found in your body. For over 80 years, bioidentical hormones have been used successfully. These hormones are used today to treat many medical conditions.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be used to treat:

A gradual process that happens when a woman’s ovaries make less estrogen and progesterone and her lifetime supply of eggs is depleted. A woman is considered to have reached menopause when she hasn’t menstruated for 12 months. Natural menopause typically occurs between ages 41-59. Symptoms of Menopause Include: Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy feeling, irritability, mood swings, sudden tears, trouble sleeping through the night, loss of libido, crashing fatigue, anxiety, depression and more.

The period of transition to natural menopause during which the body undergoes endocrinologic and biologic changes resulting from declining ovarian hormone production; Symptoms of perimenopause can include irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness, insomnia, and mood swings. Perimenopause can last over six years (four years is average) and usually ends after twelve months of amenorrhea.

Andropause is the period of a man’s life, occurring usually between the ages of 45 and 55, marked by a drop in testosterone hormone levels secreted by the testicles. The body changes occur and may be accompanied by symptoms such as changes in attitudes and moods, weight gain, fatigue, a loss of energy, loss of sex drive, lowered physical agility and more. It is a phenomenon similar to the female menopause.

An imbalance of your thyroid hormone can affect every metabolic function in your body. Your thyroid gland is your body’s regulator. Thyroid hormone modulates carbohydrates, protein, fat metabolism, vitamin uses, digestion, muscle and nerve action, blood flow, hormone excretion, oxygen utilization, sexual function.

Fibromyalgia is a disorder causing aching muscles, sleep disorders, and fatigue, associated with abnormal levels of the brain chemicals that transmit nerve signals (neurotransmitters) it is characterized by symptoms in several body systems. Symptoms include: Wide spread body pain, skin temperature changes, irritable bowel, brain fog, immune system or repeated illness and more.

Progesterone and estrogen are normally the culprits that lead to weight loss difficulties and resistance. Our overall body composition is greatly dependent on having balanced hormones, a healthy digestive tract, a balanced diet and an awareness of food allergies.

Adrenal Fatigue is a stress-induced condition characterized by a set of common symptoms that indicate decreased function of the adrenal glands. Also referred to as hypoadrenia, adrenal exhaustion, adrenal insufficiency, adrenal gland fatigue, adrenal chronic fatigue, and non-addisons hypoadrenia. Adrenal Fatigue affects every organ and system in your body. A below average functioning of the adrenal glands result in a number of symptoms. Those symptoms often include chronic infections, fatigue, Sleep disturbance, insomnia, menopause type symptoms, IBS, anxiety and more.

Call Lexington Bioidentical Doctor, Regina Foster, M.D. in Fayette County, Kentucky today to learn more about how bioidentical hormone therapy can treat certain medical conditions.