Period Problems And Period
A common complaint of women who visit Madison Womens Health is irregular periods or unexpected changes to their periods. A period is considered irregular when it occurs more often than before or less often than before, or if the amount and duration of bleeding has changed significantly for repeated months. Is your period suddenly much heavier than it has been? Or are you not having a period at all?
Keep track of your cycles, when you begin to bleed, and for how long. A popular app among our patients for tracking cycles is Period Tracker Period Calendar , although there are many options. Let your doctor know how many days there are between your periods and what your typical flow is like. Discuss what is different and why you are concerned. Let them know if youre under more stress than before, if youve changed your diet or exercise recently, or if you have a family history of irregular periods.
These changes could have a structural cause having to do with your cervix or uterus or a hormonal cause. Your doctor will likely want to perform a physical exam and may also check specific hormones on a specific day of your menstrual cycle.
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What Causes Hormonal Imbalances
Throughout your life and even throughout the day your hormone levels naturally rise and fall.
Certain periods of life cause more dramatic changes and fluctuations in hormones, including:
However, there are several other reasons why your hormone levels may be irregular at unexpected times. Some of the most common causes of fluctuating or imbalanced hormone levels include:
- Certain medications.
These hormonal imbalances are more likely to be temporary or fixable with a change in medication or properly managing stress.
Chronic hormone-related conditions can have several different possible causes. In general, the main conditions or situations that cause medically significant hormone imbalances include:
Tumors, adenomas and growths
Any kind of growth on a gland or organ that produces hormones, such as a tumor, adenoma or nodule, could affect its ability to do so.
Tumors
Rare endocrine tumors form in glands or in cells that produce hormones and can cause hormone imbalances. Some of the rare endocrine tumors include:
Adenomas
An adenoma is a benign tumor. Many adenomas are nonfunctioning, meaning they dont produce hormones. But some can produce excess hormones. These are called functioning adenomas. Adenomas that affect your endocrine system and cause hormone imbalances include:
Other growths
Damage or injury to an endocrine gland
Autoimmune conditions
Appetite And Weight Gain
You may gain weight during hormonal shifts, such as menopause. But hormone changes donât directly affect your weight. Instead, it likely happens because of other factors, like aging or lifestyle. For example, when youâre feeling blue or irritated, as you can be when your estrogen levels drop, you may want to eat more. It can also impact your bodyâs levels of leptin, a hunger-revving hormone.
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Why Visit A Womens Health Doctor For Hormonal Problems
Hormones are pivotal to many bodily functions and your overall well-being. Certain symptoms can signify you have a hormonal problem, particularly if you have womens health problems. For instance, you may notice a change in your weight without making any changes to your diet or lifestyle, feel fatigued or irritable, have a low sex drive, or experience difficulty conceiving a baby. All of these issues can stem from hormonal problems.
If you are experiencing womens health symptoms, here is why you should see a gynecologist or obstetrician for hormone testing.
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Hormone Imbalance Doctor In Midtown Manhattan Nyc
ReBalance of Radiance Aesthetics & Wellness is a wellness and holistic health center in NYC. We offer a natural & individualized management approach to balance your hormones. Below youll learn what type of hormonal imbalance your specific symptoms might be pointing to, what the root causes of your hormonal problem are. Best rated hormone specialist in NYC Dr Fazylova can help you treat the hormone imbalance without experiencing the negative side effects associated with synthetic hormonal imbalance treatments. Come see our integrative medicine center and meet Dr. Fazylova, hormone doctor in Midtown Manhattan to balance your adrenal and thyroid glands.
Integrative Health and Wellbeing at ReBalance of Radiance Aesthetics & Wellness provides a comprehensive mechanism to balance your hormones. Dr. Fazylova among few specialists, top hormone doctors to offer an integrative, holistic health, wellness approach and natural & individualized treatment for a wide variety of symptoms and conditions, including hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, sexual dysfunction and weight loss. Integrative health and medicine offer best practices for optimal health and healing. Discover a healing power of the best specialist for hormonal imbalance in NYC Dr. Fazylova who is using a comprehensive, full body treatment approach.
Dr. Fazylova is an internationally recognized female hormone specialist in New York and an author of a book Health and Wellness for Busy Women.
- Blood pressure changes
Who Should Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone therapy is often the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms and is a good fit for most women. To consider hormone therapy, you should be generally healthy. Certain medical conditions might mean that youre not a good candidate for the treatment.
For most women who are dealing with menopausal symptoms that are impacting quality of life, hormone therapy is an excellent treatment choice.
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What Is The Treatment
Hormone testing is the first step, as it helps determine exactly what the imbalances are. Hormone therapy with bioidentical hormones is an excellent choice for the hormone balance problems that occur with menopause. Unlike other hormones, which are made from substances like pregnant mares urine or chemical compounds, bioidentical hormones are derived from plant materials, in particular, yams and soy. They include 17 beta-estradiol, estrone, estriol, and progesterone. In addition, lifestyle changes like better nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management can also promote hormone balance in the whole body.
Major Health Insurance Plans Accepted
A New Life OB/GYN of Broward, LLC is part of Florida Woman Care, LLC and accepts most major insurance plans: HMO, PPO, POS, EPO, Medicare and Tricare, including Covered Florida Exchange plans . Unfortunately, we do not accept Blue Select, Preferred Care Options , Medica, and Careplus Health Plan . If you do not see yours listed here, please contact our office for more information.
What Are The Treatment Options
Hormone replacement therapy is one of the most common treatments of low hormone levels.
For people experiencing menopause, premature menopause, or primary ovarian insufficiency as well as after oophorectomy or chemotherapy estrogen therapy can offer some relief. Estrogen therapy alone is recommended for those who have had a hysterectomy. You can take estrogen in different forms, generally estrogen pills and estrogen patches.
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Why The Conventional Approach Is Ill
Just as every woman is unique, so is her hormonal balance. Understanding and effectively treating hormonal imbalances requires a whole-body approach, rather than looking at your health as a set of independent issues. This is especially true with hormones, which are all interrelated. As a result, an imbalance in one can lead to a series of other problems, including weight gain, irritability, lack of libido and more serious health issues.
The holistic approach we have advocated for so many years is very different from what youll see in todays medical system, which at times can seem hopelessly out of touch with the care that real women need. Here are just a few examples:
What Kind Of Doctors Treat Hormonal Imbalances
Primary healthcare providers can diagnose and help you manage many hormonal imbalances, but you may benefit from seeing an endocrinologist.
An endocrinologist is a healthcare provider who specializes in endocrinology, a field of medicine that studies conditions related to your hormones. They can diagnose endocrine conditions, develop treatment and management plans and prescribe medication.
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What Conditions Are Caused By Hormonal Imbalances
Dozens of medical conditions are caused by hormone issues. For most hormones, having too much or too little of them causes symptoms and issues with your health. While many of these imbalances require treatment, some can be temporary and may go away on their own. Some of the most common hormone-related conditions include:
How Can I Find A Top
You can use Zocdoc to find Endocrinology Consultation doctors who are highly rated by other patients. These ratings are based on verified reviews submitted by real patients. Every time a patient completes an appointment booked on Zocdoc, theyre invited to review their experience. Each review must comply with Zocdocs guidelines.
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What Is Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal dryness is a painful symptom that affects a persons quality of life. It can cause pain during sitting, exercising, peeing and sexual intercourse. Normally, your vaginal lining is lubricated with fluid that helps keep it thick and elastic. Vaginal dryness happens when the tissues in your are dry, thin and not well-moisturized. This leads to discomfort, especially during sex.
Vaginal dryness occurs at any age. Its most common in women or people assigned female at birth during or after menopause when estrogen levels decline. The hormone estrogen helps keep your vaginal lining moisturized and healthy. Low levels of estrogen cause your vaginal walls to become thin and dry. This is a common condition of menopause called vaginal atrophy.
Many safe and effective treatments are available for vaginal dryness.
Can I See Any Healthcare Provider For Skin Tag Removal
A dermatologist is the most qualified to remove skin tags. They have the skills and training to treat delicate problems, like skin tags on your eyelids. They also excel in minimizing scarring, which is important for skin tags on your neck. And dermatologists can accurately diagnose growths that are not skin tags.
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The Doctor Prescribed Three Kinds Of Medicine For Me
Hormonal imbalance in men over 50 years of age usually involve a decreased growth hormone you should always speak with your doctor before you follow anything that you read on this website. This way patients get a customized blend of hormones that will provide exactly what they needed. In this article, learn more about how to tell if a person has a fever. Even then, not all hormones are recommended for hormone imbalance is a broad term. Do i need my primary care doctor or should i see a specialist? If your pcp does not want to check your levels you can see an integrative medicine specialist or a functional medicine doctor. Hey listen, its gonna take a lot more money going to a specialist when some issues could have been clarified with a primary care physician. Nonhealing sores in your mouth or persistent white. These specialists assess and treat internal glands that produce hormones and other bodily functions. But what should you really do with. Is there a one stop shop for my issues or should i see. Becoming a doctor is not an easy path. What kind of doctor should i see?
But i really advise not to go to a specialist. Medicines should not be stored in your bathroom because heat and humidity can affect the potency of the drug. Do i need my primary care doctor or should i see a specialist? These drugs are tailored according to every persons needs. Take this quiz to find out what kind of doctor you should consider.
What Is A Hormone Imbalance
The human body produces a variety of different chemicals called hormones that help regulate many of your bodily functions. They can affect your sleep cycle, reproductive cycles, libido, appetite, and more.
If your hormones become imbalanced, your body might not function properly. You may feel sick or depressed, or even struggle with infertility, weight gain, or other symptoms that can affect your quality of life. Hormone imbalances can even cause sleep disorders and chronic fatigue.
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What Is The Most Accurate Way To Test Cortisol Levels
Serum is not found to be a very helpful measure for cortisol levels, and this is because cortisol follows a diurnal pattern.
It rises when you get out of bed, hitting its peak about 30 minutes after waking, and then slowly falls as the day goes on. We arent able to see this pattern by performing a snapshot in time serum cortisol test. This is where salivary testing is thought to be the best option when testing free cortisol, especially when considering the cortisol awakening response .
Finding A Hormone Doctor Doesnt Need To Be Complicated
Finding the right doctor and receiving the correct hormone treatment can vastly improve your quality of life and overall well-being. The information included in this article can be used to help guide your decision, and take some of the guesswork out of finding a new hormone doctor.
Blending complementary and conventional therapies gives you access to a wider array of treatment options, so feel free to shop around for multiple providers. Additionally, keep an eye out for any red flags that we discussed, and always trust your judgment when looking for any kind of healthcare practitioner.
If youre currently looking for a hormone doctor, our functional medicine providers have experience in treating many different types of hormone disorders and imbalances. Reach out to our clinic at the Ruscio Institute for Functional Medicine to schedule an appointment and begin your healing journey today.
The Ruscio Institute has developed a range of high-quality formulations to help our patients and audience. If youre interested in learning more about these products, please click here. Note that there are many other options available, and we encourage you to research which products may be right for you.
References
Links & Resources
Recommended Reading: Best Low Hormone Birth Control For Acne
When Should I See An Endocrinologist
There are a few types of disorders that can arise in the endocrine system:
- Excessive or low production of a hormone
- A tumor on the gland affecting its functionality
- An infection affecting the gland
If you have the following disorders or symptoms, you should seek an appointment with an endocrinologist to check your hormone levels and treat your health concerns.
The menstrual cycle is closely regulated by four hormones that work in tandem to bring changes to the uterus every month. If you have irregular periods, your endocrine system may not be functioning properly. This could indicate underlying issues like thyroid disorder or PCOS or could occur due to menopause, puberty, or hormonal contraception.
Women with PCOS have higher levels of male hormones that give them characteristics like increased facial hair growth and irregular menstrual periods. If left untreated, PCOS can lead to infertility. Whatever the cause of menstrual irregularity, an endocrinologist can help you plan the treatment for your condition.
Infertility is when a woman is unable to get pregnant for 12 months. Many times, infertility in men and women is due to hormonal imbalances or insufficiencies. In men, low levels of testosterone can lead to a lower sperm count. Women have higher chances of infertility due to hormonal disorders like PCOS, prolactinoma, and anovulation.
What to Expect from the Endocrinologist?
What Sets Dr Burke Apart
Dr. Burke is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor with a focus in endocrinology and Womens Health. She is an advocate for your health and well-being, looking beyond labs that appear to come back normal and conventional care options. Dr. Burke looks at the body as a whole, which involves looking at all components of well-being. While your hormones may contribute to your symptoms, Dr. Burke also will look at other body systems and lifestyle to identify the root cause of your imbalance. Of utmost importance to her is research-based and ethical medicine, which requires keeping up to date with the latest in conventional and alternative medicine.
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Are There Complications Of Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea is not life-threatening. However, some causes may lead to increased risks over the long term, so amenorrhea should always be evaluated. Researchers have found a greater risk of hip and wrist fractures in people with amenorrhea. You may also be at high risk for bone thinning and fertility difficulties.
Which Hormone Test Is The Easiest To Get
It depends. As mentioned, serum blood testing by your doctor is the standard of practice and typically easiest for most people to get if they have easy access to the doctor. You, as the patient, dont have to do any work except drive yourself to the lab.
Finding a qualified nutrition expert or physician that is functionally trained who will order saliva and urine testing and properly interpret the results may be less accessible, but it just takes a little research to see who is in your area.
Youll have to read directions and complete the testing on your own with saliva and urine testing. There are benefits to having a combination of serum, saliva, and urine for a full picture of whats going on with your hormones.
We did it! Thanks for sticking through until the end!
As you can now see, the options for hormone imbalance tests are quite advanced these days. There are strengths and limitations to serum, saliva, and urine testing, and when used together, can provide important information about your hormones when you expect that things just feel off. You are more in touch with your body than anyone else. You know what does and does not feel right. So, if clear answers to your problems dont show up on a standard lab test, investigate further!
Sometimes the root of your symptoms is a result of food sensitivities or not following an anti-inflammatory diet. Embarking on an elimination diet could be instrumental in managing your hormonal imbalance symptoms.
References
Read Also: How To Replace Hormones After Menopause