Hormone Replacement Therapy in Maryland, DC and Virginia

About Hormones

Hormones are messengers that communicate with the cells of the body. They are an essential part of the metabolic process of living. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA), insulin, melatonin and growth hormone are some of the major hormones in our bodies. Hormone production declines as we age, suffer disease and expose ourselves to toxins or trauma. Some people have a rapid decline in certain hormones at a younger age but are unaware and under-diagnosed. When this happens the aging process accelerates. Decline in hormone production is one of the major reasons for our deterioration as we get older, both physically and mentally.

Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Here at Atlantis, we recognize it is important to evaluate each individual from a holistic perspective. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), like many other medications, must be prescribed with care. A complete and proper evaluation may find a simple underlying hormone issue. Treatment may help decrease cholesterol levels, decrease the need for diabetes medications and prevent diabetes altogether, help with weight loss, increase bone strength, decrease risk of Alzheimer Disease and improve:

Anemia
Sleep
Mood
Menopause symptoms
Sex drive
Overall health

Treating the underlying cause of a symptom, rather than treating just the symptom, may decrease the need and thus the side effects of many prescribed medications. This is what we strive to do at Atlantis!

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

More and more physicians agree synthetic hormone replacement therapy is fraught with problems. Bio-identical hormones, or hormones that are natural and are exactly the same as the hormones we make in our bodies, are much better than the synthetic hormones. At Atlantis Medical Wellness Center, we practice bio-identical hormone replacement therapy because we want to give you the best treatment available so you can get the results you want and need.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Myths

There are many myths associated with HRT not only in the public but in the medical community as well. Here are four of the most common myths about hormone replacement therapy:

It’s the answer to old age: This is simply not true. A balance of good nutrition, stress management and a complete full physical evaluation to look for underlying medical issues and managing those issues can correct many hormone imbalances. But this must be physician directed.
Blood levels aren’t important: Hair and saliva samples do not always correlate with how the body reacts to the hormones in the blood. Even blood levels must be correlated with the symptoms and issues each individual has.
It can cause cancer: Broad generalizations put out in the media such as “all estrogen and progesterone replacement causes or increases the risk of cancer” do not apply to bio-identical estrogens, progesterone or other bio-identical hormones.
“Normal” blood levels mean you have no other problems: If you were told by your doctor your blood levels came back “normal,” that may not correlate with your symptoms and may not be “optimal” for you. There are many undiagnosed hypothyroid, estrogen toxic, vitamin D deficient, pre-diabetes and adrenal-exhausted individuals who are being told by their physicians that they are “normal.” At Atlantis Medical Wellness Center, we know prevention and treating a condition BEFORE it becomes a true medical issue or emergency is the key to improved overall health.

Hormone Replacement Therapy from Atlantis Medical Wellness Center