Estrogen controls a woman’s menstrual cycle and reproduction, and is also responsible for the physical changes that turn girls into women. In pre-menopausal women, estrogen levels change during the monthly cycle, with levels at their lowest during menses. Estrogen also helps protect women from osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.
Once a woman becomes menopausal, her estrogen levels may drop dramatically. This is a major reason so many women experience the uncomfortable side effects of menopause, including symptoms that may affect them physically and emotionally. Fortunately, a Long Island estrogen replacement therapy doctor may be able to help restore your quality of life with the appropriate treatment. Reach out to an experienced doctor today to discuss your treatment options.
Once menopause occurs, the ovaries stop estrogen production. Fat cells and the adrenal glands still produce some estrogen, but that is far less hormone than the ovaries once supplied. The ensuing lack of estrogen affects many bodily functions besides the cessation of reproduction ability.
In addition to its effect on bone health, the loss of menopause causes changes in the skin, increasing dryness and wrinkling. Furthermore, because of the thinning of the urethra due to estrogen depletion, menopausal women may need to urinate more frequently. Unfortunately, these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to menopausal symptoms.
Many women consider estrogen replacement therapy when menopausal symptoms are wreaking havoc on their lives and affecting them both personally and professionally. Possible symptoms of menopause are wide-ranging and may include any or all of the following:
Many women are reluctant to undergo hormone replacement therapy to ease menopausal symptoms because they think they will increase their risk of developing breast cancer or heart disease. There is an increased risk with conventional estrogen replacement therapy, which is derived from pregnant mare’s urine.
However, that is not the case with bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy. Bioidentical estrogen, which is derived from natural sources such as wild yam and soy, is the same on the molecular level as the estrogen produced by a woman’s body, and her body recognizes it as such.
Along with performing a thorough physical examination and taking a complete medical history, an estrogen replacement therapy doctor in Long Island could evaluate estrogen levels via a blood or saliva test. The right amount of bioidentical estrogen could then be prescribed for each patient and created in a state-of-the-art compounding pharmacy.
Bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy is available in various forms, including gels, intradermal pellets, tablets, and injections. The doctor can discuss with each patient the best form of therapy for her purposes.
Patients are monitored regularly, and dosage adjustments are made as needed. In addition, the doctor could devise a custom-tailored diet and exercise plan for each woman so that she may obtain optimal health. When it comes to bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the unique needs of each woman are taken into consideration.
If you are menopausal and would like to know how bioidentical estrogen replacement therapy may help relieve your symptoms, contact Dr. Edward Jacobson today and arrange a consultation. An estrogen replacement therapy doctor in Long Island could answer all your questions, so that you can make an informed treatment decision.