Personalized functional medicine based in Boise, ID

Hormone Balance

How do hormones work with your body?

Hormones are messengers in your body. They deliver information to your cells to instruct them how to function. They have the power to affect your mood, weight, energy, digestion, skin, hair, fertility, libido and more. So it comes as no surprise that when your hormones are imbalanced, the rest of your body feels out of sorts, too.

signs and symptoms

Could it be my hormones?

Fatigue

Experiencing unexplained tiredness and low energy levels can be due fluctuations in hormones like cortisol and thyroid.

Weight Gain, Loss of muscle mass

Sudden changes in weight, particularly around the abdomen, hips, or thighs, may indicate hormone imbalance.

Mood swings

Feeling irritable, anxious, or experiencing sudden mood changes can be the result of hormones impacting neurotransmitters.

Mental fog

Spells of mental fatigue, poor concentration, and lower motivation may signal hormone imbalances.

Trouble Sleeping

Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or poor quality sleep can all be linked to hormones disrupting the body's natural sleep-wake cycle.

Low Libido

When hormone balance is negatively impacted, lower desire for intimacy can be a result.

Begin Your Journey

Reset your Hormones and Metabolism

If your current morning routine consists of rushing around in a flustered frenzy, then it’s time to start doing thing a bit differently. Discover a new way to start every morning with increased energy, lose stubborn weight, balance your hormones and jumpstart your metabolism in the next 3-5 days.

What now?

How can I get my hormones back on track?

We must acknowledge that hormone balance and control is predicated on the health of your system as a whole. Whether we are seeking natural hormone replacement or balancing the current hormones you still are producing – your nutrient status, gut health, adrenal function, inflammation, liver detox capacity, circadian rhythm, and mitochondrial health, toxin load all impact whether or not hormones can get and stay on track

Both Men and women have often-overlooked factors that are contributing to their hormonal symptoms that addressed in conventional hormone clinics. Your hormones are often affected by variables within the system and simply checking to see if a hormone is low without addressing the health the system as a whole is short sighted and one often can feel worse or not better.

There are several methodologies of hormone testing from serum, to saliva or urine testing and different testing must be used for different cases to ensure optimal view of your hormone production and your body’s capacity to use a hormone

Sometimes a person may not need hormone replacement and we simply need to remove the interferences and support the body’s capacity to make more of its own hormones. Thus taking a comprehensive whole-body approach to hormone health is key whether or not one needs hormone rebalancing  or hormone replacement

Maintaining hormone balance involves educating and empowering you to keep blood sugar levels optimal, lower inflammation, create healthy adrenals and nurture liver and gut microbiome pathways

Do I need hormone replacement therapy?

Maybe, but start with foundations first

Hormone balance is like a symphony. Each hormone in the body is a musical instrument and, when in balance with each other, the outcomes are harmonious. Testing or treating hormones without appreciation of the levels of the others does not ensure balance is occurring. We seek to understand why hormones may be out of tune from variables such as gut health, stress, blood sugar, diet, and liver health, which can all impact the body’s response to and levels of hormones.

Bioidentical vs. Synthetic

Functional HRT vs. an HRT Clinic

Many clinics offer hormone replacement therapy, but most of those clinics offer a “one-size-fits-all” approach that doesn’t address the root causes of hormone imbalance or test hormone levels to ensure optimized treatment. A functional approach to HRT includes comprehensive testing and addresses all potential causes of hormone imbalance.

HRT Clinic
Functional HRT

Testing

Estrogen Testing
Progesterone Testing
Testosterone Testing
Insulin
Cortisol
DHEA
SHGB (Sex Hormone)
Thyroid
Rebalance Hormones at Root Cause
Identify Underlying Causes of Hormone Imbalance
Enhance Body to Make Hormones
Support Liver to Activate Hormones
Optimize Body to Properly Utilize Hormones
Balance Gut Health to Metabolize Hormones
Address Hormone Disruptors

Prescribing

Prescribe Replacement Hormones

I'm here to help

Hey, let's work together!

If you’re feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by your hormone imbalances and looking for customized solutions, I would love to help you create a personalized plan that will help you regain your energy, improve your mood, and feel better overall. Let’s collaborate to bring harmony not just to your hormones, but to your mind, body, and spirit as well.

Frequently asked Questions

Synthetic hormones aim to mimic the actions of your own hormones, however the molecular structure actually differs from your own hormones. While their aim is to replenish hormones, the difference in structure may affect how the synthetic hormone interacts with your hormone receptors,  increasing the risk of side effects. In contrast, bioidentical hormones are synthesized from plant sources like yam and are identical in molecular structure to your own hormones. This allows them to possess identical biological actions to your hormones and translates into reduce risk sick effects and better physiological interaction with your body.

Much of the negative connotation with hormone replacement is from the misinterpretation of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002. Evidence now demonstrates that transdermal estrogen in association with natural micronized progesterone represents one of the optimal bio-identical hormone restoration regimens. The bio-identical hormones when given to support restoration have less side effects associated with it compared with the older synthetic progestins and synthetic estrogens.  The hormones used in the study were hormone replacement made from the urine of pregnant horses or other synthetic sources. 

Multiple studies have shown that synthetic progesterone, called progestins, was found to be associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. However, the bioidentical hormone formula of progesterone appears to have the opposite effect – actually reducing the risk of breast cancer.  Other research has supported the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence menopause guidelines that the benefits of hormone restoration therapy outweigh the risks in the majority of women.

There is a common misconception about “normal” lab values. The range of “normal” is often determined by using statistical data from the general population.  Thus, optimal levels vs population statistics differ and may not mean optimal for you.  In addition, the lab ranges can be very broad with a wide difference between the low end and the upper end of the range. Subsequently,  We use your age, lifestyle, medical history, goals, and more restore your vitality and improve your functionality supporting optimal levels for you.

When hormones are balanced and health in the system as a whole is created then many experienced improvement in:

  • Energy, Stamina, Motivation
  • Mental focus, sharpness, clarity of thought
  • Libido and performance
  • Sleep depth and quality
  • Muscle gain, endurance, and workout recovery
  • Mood, well-being, vitality, vigor
  • Vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood swings
  • Body composition and Reduce fat mass 
  • Hair, skin and nails
  • Bone health
  • Cardiovascular Health

Achieving balance

Hormone Resources

Explore our blog resources to uncover valuable insights and practical tips on understanding and optimizing your hormones for a happier and healthier life.