Every year, millions of men are diagnosed with low testosterone and other hormone imbalances that cause a wide range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, hair loss, and sexual dysfunction. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has proven to be an effective treatment to address these issues, and we’ve used it to help many men get their lives back here at Tru-Male Medical in Oak Brook, IL. If you’re considering this therapy, here’s how quickly you can expect it to start working.
How Soon Will Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Show Results?
The results of this therapy can take some time to work. However, many men notice the effects as quickly as a few days after starting treatment. Once the bioidentical hormones are introduced into your body, your metabolism and other factors can play a role in how quickly your body then responds.
Although the initial effects can take place anywhere between a few days to up to four weeks after getting started with treatment, it can sometimes take several months before you see the full effects as your body gradually responds and symptoms begin to diminish over time.
How Does Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Work?
BHRT is an effective treatment to address hormone imbalances. Men can suffer from hormone imbalances for different reasons in life, though the most common reason is a drop in testosterone levels due to the aging process. As a plant-based therapy, BHRT uses hormones that chemically match those found naturally in your body.
If you have uneven hormone levels in your body, including low levels of testosterone, this therapy can correct this by rebalancing them. Depending on your needs and lifestyle, many different forms of this treatment are available. The result for most men is a noticeable improvement in quality of life as symptoms like low libido, muscle weakness, and even hair loss start to respond.
What Are Some Common Symptoms of a Hormone Imbalance?
While low testosterone or other hormones can cause a wide range of symptoms, the following are some of the more common symptoms that men may experience:
Low Libido
You may be experiencing a low libido where you aren’t as interested in sex as you were when you were younger. This is often the result of decreases in testosterone that occur with older age, though this process can start quite early in life for some men.
Impotence
If you have impotence, otherwise known as erectile dysfunction, there can be many causes, but one of the most common ones is a hormone imbalance. Some men can’t maintain an erection once they achieve one, while others can’t get an erection at all, even with sexual stimulation.
Hair Loss
Both a deficiency and overabundance of testosterone in the body have been linked to hair loss in men. Due to genetics, some men are simply more sensitive to fluctuations in testosterone levels than others, and this can affect the hair follicles as well as the texture, thickness, and overall health of the hair.
Mood Swings
Having sudden changes in mood, such as feeling angry or sad at different times for no explainable reason, can be due to hormone issues. In some cases, this can be so subtle that you may not notice it yourself, but others may tell you that they’ve noticed a change in your mood.
Daily Fatigue
We all feel tired every now and then after strenuous activities, but if you’re feeling constantly fatigued, this is often a sign that something is wrong with your hormone levels. Many men report waking up after having a long, deep sleep all night and still feeling unrested and out of energy.
Weight Gain
Hormones play a critical role in our body size by regulating our metabolism. Weight gain that’s either sudden or otherwise not linked to overeating can be an indicator that your hormones are out of sync and need to be corrected.
Skin Issues
Your endocrine system plays a major role in producing and regulating your hormones, and your skin is a well-known endocrine organ. When testosterone or other hormones reach unhealthy levels, your skin can become affected with everything from adult acne to poor skin texture.
Heart Problems
While many factors can affect your heart and cardiovascular system, emerging evidence shows that there’s a probable link between testosterone deficiency and some heart problems. Many men with cardiovascular issues have seen improvements after having their testosterone levels increased through therapy.
Muscle Weakness
Testosterone is one of the key factors in muscle growth, so a deficiency of this hormone can affect your strength, as well as your overall size, as it can cause your muscles to shrink gradually. Even if you don’t notice any specific changes in the way you look, you may notice a loss of energy or stamina while at the gym or during everyday activities.
What Happens After I Schedule My Appointment?
Consultation
During your initial consultation, we’ll want to know about your medical history, including any medications you’re taking or other hormone treatments that you may already be on. If you are undergoing another hormone therapy, you’ll need to stop this the night before your treatment with us, though you can resume this immediately afterward, and we’ll provide instructions on how to transition off it.
Treatment
The method of treatment used to address your hormone issues will vary, depending on which form of therapy we provide. With injections, these are normally given in the lower abdomen near your buttocks or your thigh, and you can return for additional treatments three to four times per year or as needed. Oral medications are typically taken once daily, while skin patches are normally worn all the time and replaced once a week.
How Long Will the Results From This Therapy Last?
How long you’ll see improvements from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy will depend upon many factors, such as the form of treatment, the severity of your symptoms, and the reason you’re experiencing a hormone imbalance. The effects typically last many months after injections are administered, and they can last indefinitely with other treatment forms as long as you’re staying on them.
Some men only need a few treatments to help them get through a stressful time in life when their hormones may be affected. Others with more chronic disorders may stay on this therapy for many months or years until their issues have been resolved.
What Are Some of the Benefits of This Therapy?
This treatment offers all of the following advantages and benefits:
Symptom Relief
Once a hormone imbalance is corrected by this treatment, symptom relief normally follows, allowing most patients to live a healthy and happy life again. Some issues, such as mood swings and fatigue, may respond quickly to this treatment, while others, like hair loss and skin issues, may take a bit more time to respond or might require multiple treatments.
Versatile Application
This treatment is also versatile in how it’s applied, as the hormones can be delivered to your body in various forms, including oral, topical, and injectable therapies. We’ll be able to determine which form will be most appropriate based on your needs during your initial consultation.
Preventative Benefits
While BHRT is typically used to address existing symptoms that are affecting one’s quality of life, it has preventative benefits as well. Many of these symptoms can become more severe over time, and new issues can develop at any point when hormone levels are unbalanced, though these can usually be prevented when starting therapy soon enough.
No Need for Downtime
There’s no downtime with this therapy, regardless of whether you receive injections, skin patches, oral medications, or another form of therapy. With injections, we may advise you to avoid strenuous activities for a few days, but you’ll otherwise be able to return to work or everyday activities after treatment.
Natural Ingredients
Because bioidentical hormones are made from plants, they come from completely natural sources. Also, since they’re chemically identical to the hormones your body produces, they can be easier on the body than other hormone treatments, and your body may respond more easily to this therapy.
Schedule Your First Appointment
When left unchecked, hormone imbalances can severely affect your health, which can impact your quality of life and lead to functional disability. To see how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help you get relief, contact us at Tru-Male Medical in Oak Brook, IL today to schedule your consultation and get ready to start enjoying your life again.
