Hormone imbalances can develop at any age and affect both men and women. When hormones fall out of optimal ranges, people may experience symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, low libido, hot flashes, and sleep disturbances. Imbalances commonly involve "sex hormones" like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Causes of hormonal imbalances include:
Testing hormone levels through blood, saliva, or urine samples can help identify deficiencies or excesses. Based on test results, doctors may recommend lifestyle changes or bioidentical hormone therapies to restore balance.
Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as the hormones naturally made by the body. In hormone therapy, carefully calibrated doses of bioidentical hormones can supplement low levels to help alleviate uncomfortable symptoms.
Benefits may include:
Doctors also closely monitor patients on bioidentical hormones to ensure optimal dosing for the individual based on factors like age and health status. Dose adjustments over time may be necessary.
Declining estrogen levels are most often responsible for menopause symptoms in women. Bioidentical estradiol tablets, patches, topical creams or gels can supplement the body's lower estrogen production. Treatment helps counteract hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irritability, and bone loss.
Progesterone naturally rises after ovulation, then falls during menstruation. With age, production slows and fails to counterbalance estrogen. Low progesterone can manifest with symptoms like anxiety, sleep problems, and thinning hair. Bioidentical progesterone creams, capsules, or suppositories can provide relief by restoring balance.
Testosterone fuels libido, muscle mass, bone density, motivation and confidence in both sexes. Levels peak in the 20s then slowly decline. Low testosterone affects 30% of men by age 50. Signs include erectile dysfunction, reduced endurance, and emotional numbness. Doctors may prescribe bioidentical testosterone gels, pellets, patches or injections to alleviate deficiencies.
The adrenal glands produce high levels of DHEA in youth, which drops up to 80% by age 75. DHEA supplements may improve energy, immunity, libido, and stress resilience. Studies found DHEA also helped ease depression and vaginal atrophy when added to estrogen therapy in postmenopausal women.
Due to gradual onset, many people adapt to declining hormones without realizing major health implications emerge over time. Symptoms dismissed as normal aging may significantly impair wellbeing and longevity.
Seeking treatment in the early stages of imbalance can:
Effective hormone therapy relies on properly identifying deficiencies early. People concerned their symptoms indicate hormonal changes should consider laboratory assessment to inform treatment.
The Butterfly Hormone Center clinic opened to provide individualized care for hormone balance needs in the Streator area. Our compassionate doctors have advanced training in anti-aging medicine, bioidentical hormones, and lifestyle strategies.
Our approach focuses on:
We create fully customized treatment plans involving the latest bioidentical hormones, supplements, and holistic protocols. You also get continuous access to our doctors for questions and follow-up adjustments.
Butterfly Hormone Center accepts most major insurance plans. Uninsured patients receive discounted cash pricing.
Hormone therapy can help transgender individuals align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. Studies show that for many, hormone therapy leads to significant improvements in quality of life, including reduced anxiety and depression as well as increased self-confidence. The emotional benefits often outweigh the physical changes in importance.
Since hormone balance fluctuates with age, gender, lifestyle factors and health conditions, testing key blood markers establishes an individual’s baseline for comparison over time. Doctors diagnose deficiencies when specific hormones fall outside optimal ranges.
We profile the major sex and adrenal hormones with our comprehensive panels:
Blood tests directly measure free and total levels of key hormones for precision gauging of treatment needs:
Blood samples also show effects of nutritional imbalances tied to hormone health like vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium deficiency.
Salivary analysis reveals how hormones flux in response to everyday stressors. Saliva levels indicate bioavailable hormones actively influencing bodily processes. Testing adrenal and ovarian or testicular hormones best captures daily rhythms and adaptations.
Saliva allows economical frequent testing to monitor patient responses to therapies like:
For comprehensive insights, we collect samples at four different times throughout the day.
Urinary sampling over 24 hours measures excreted hormone metabolites for assessing whole-body hormone activity. Changes in urinary excretions closely track with blood level fluctuations. Primary sex hormones monitored include:
Combining urine, blood and salivary analyses creates an integrated overview of the endocrine system for developing targeted treatment plans.
After testing reveals specific deficiencies, Butterfly Hormone Center doctors design personalized hormone supplementation regimens and recheck biomarkers monthly to ensure optimal restorative benefits.
Common hormone therapy protocols involve:
Low estrogen symptoms - Hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, urinary urgency, mood swings
Estradiol tablets - Most bioidentical estrogen, quickly absorbed
Estradiol patches - Steady transdermal estrogen delivery
Estradiol gels/creams - Topicals also treat urogenital tissue locally
Estradiol pellet implants - Gradual consistent estrogen release up to 6 months
Low progesterone signs – Anxiety, irregular periods, fatigue
Progesterone capsules - Boost levels before bed for calming effect
Progesterone cream - Can both restore balance systemically and alleviate vaginal dryness
Progesterone injection - Delivers immediate relief from severe PMS type symptoms
Progesterone IUD - Intrauterine device releases steady low doses directly to endometrium
Low testosterone indications - Low libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, reduced endurance
Testosterone injections - Fast absorption, especially beneficial for correcting severe sexual health issues
Testosterone gels/creams - Topicals can treat genital tissue while avoiding spikes from injections
Testosterone pellets - Gradual consistent release, lasts several months per insertion
We mainly recommend DHEA for:
Doctors adjust DHEA based on follow-up testing to avoid overdosing side effects.
Hormone therapy works best alongside nutritious whole foods, regular exercise, stress-relieving activities, optimal sleep habits and toxin avoidance for multiplied benefits:
Streator offers pleasant walking trails through parks and natural areas perfect for daily movement within blocks of Butterfly Hormone Center.
The new Streator Fitness Center just opened downtown, providing state-of-the-art equipment and classes for supporting patient health goals during treatment.
Relaxation therapies like meditation, yoga, deep breathing, biofeedback, massage and sauna use limit stress hormone surges that disrupt endocrine function.
The peaceful Zen Den Studio offers therapeutic yoga and meditation classes. Their massage therapists are experts at traditional techniques ideal for hormone clinic patients.
Streator Hot Springs provide therapeutic mineral bathing in scenic nature.
Rejuvenating at least 7 hours nightly sustains optimal hormonal cycling processes.
Light exposure, regular bedtimes, clean air quality and stress management enables restorative sleep.
Spring brings revitalizing sights, sounds and scents of renewal that perfectly complements starting hormone therapy in Streator. The gradually warming and brightening days lift mood naturally to support positive mindset shifts also aided by balancing hormones.
Cool rainy spells commonly arriving in springtime fosters appreciation for cozying up indoors to focus on self-care with our hormone optimization protocols. Streator’s rain showers also produce vibrant wildflowers blooming along area walking trails.
Summer allows patients established on their treatment regimens to take full advantage of long sun-filled Streator days getting outdoors more while experiencing secondary benefits like improved sleep, vitality and body confidence from hormone therapy.
Convenient local labs for hormone testing needs without requiring referrals include:
Health-supportive dining options in Streator:
Some of the most scenic, relaxing outdoor places in Streator:
Conclusion
Approaching hormone therapy through a lens of holistic health and community can help residents in Streator and beyond appreciate it as part of caring for ourselves and each other. Butterfly Hormone Center aims to support this community-oriented approach.
