Conveniently Located in Wellesley
A woman’s hormone levels start to decline abruptly sometime after the age of 40. As hormone levels drop, a series of side effects can occur, including any of the following:
- Decline in mental clarity
- Anxiety
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood swings
- Weight gain
- Decrease in energy
- Low sex drive
- Depression
Replacing lost hormones minimizes or eliminates these side effects, helping women look and feel better as they age. Scientific research also indicates that hormone therapy may reduce the risk of serious age-related health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
Hormone therapy is extremely personalized; what works for some women may not work for you based on your medical history, health, symptoms and personal preferences. Dr. Ahn has seen excellent results with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. There are several options to choose from with regards to delivery systems. She will help you choose the appropriate option, and will continue to monitor you regularly to assess the efficacy of treatment and ensure optimal timing and dosage.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is the process of replacing lost hormones with hormones that are biologically the same in chemical structure as your body’s own hormones. Bioidentical hormones are derived from natural plant ingredients and created in a compound pharmacy to match the molecular structure of naturally occurring hormones.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy comes in oral, topical and pellet forms.
Estrogen Patches
Estrogen patches deliver hormones transdermally, or through the skin. The patches are convenient, easy to wear and require little maintenance. They only need to be changed twice a week.
The bioidentical estrogen patches do not have some of the risks that other hormone delivery systems like oral synthetic estrogen pills do. Even though estrogen pills have been around for a very long time, there are concerns that taking the synthetic hormone pills can raise the risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke and breast cancer.
Compounded Creams
Compounded creams are popular because they can be customized
easily to fit the individual patient’s needs. Compounded creams are generally
plant-based and can consist of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. They
are rubbed into the skin and applied once or twice daily. They also can be
compounded to insert into the vagina for vaginal dryness. We work exclusively
with accredited compounding pharmacies, listed on the website of the
Pharmaceutical Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB).
Learn More about Balancing Your Hormones
If you would like to take the first step on the path to hormone optimization, Dr. Ahn invites you to meet with her for a personal consultation. During the appointment, the two of you will discuss the symptoms you are experiencing as well as your treatment goals to find the customized solution to meet your unique needs. In addition to hormonal supplementation, Dr. Ahn may recommend changes to your diet, exercise and lifestyle.
Call or email our practice today to request an appointment with Dr. Ahn.
