Dont: Ignore Red Flags
Its important to look for a doctor whos willing to work with you in your care, and is sympathetic to your needs. The following are some common red flags to look out for when searching for a hormone doctor:
When choosing any kind of healthcare provider, its important to trust your judgment. If your gut is telling you that your current doctor is not the right fit for you, its time to move on and find a new provider.
What Is A Hormone Specialist
Hormone specialists aim to restore hormone levels to proper levels so that the bodys functions work correctly. Compared to other medical professionals, hormone specialists have a more in-depth knowledge of hormones, their diseases, and effective treatments. Hormone specialists also have access to the latest technological solutions that may make treatment more effective, convenient, and faster for patients.
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Ask For A Referral Or Find Another Md
If youre not confident in your physicians ability to help you address your concerns, its always OK to ask for a referral to an endocrinologist or someone who has more experience treating hormonal imbalance. You may also need to simply shop around for a doctor with whom you feel comfortable and supported.
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Who Should See An Endocrinologist
In most cases, people visit an endocrinologist when their primary care doctor refers them to one. The purpose of the referral is for an expert diagnosis or treatment of an endocrine problem. However, an endocrinologist is not a surgeon. If you need surgery, your endocrinologist will refer you to a surgeon.
If you require continuing care for an endocrine condition, your endocrinologist will let you know if you should continue to see him or her or return to your primary care doctor. In general, your primary care doctor can treat and manage uncomplicated hormonal disorders. For more complex hormonal conditions, your endocrinologist will most likely remain involved in your treatment.
Increased Risk Of Sleep Apnea
The risk of obstructive sleep apnea increases in women during and after menopause. Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious condition that causes people to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep. OSA occurs when muscles in the throat relax and block the airway during sleep. People who have this type of sleep apnea often snore. Researchers who performed one study found that perimenopausal and postmenopausal women who had lower estrogen levels were more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea than women who had higher estrogen levels. More studies are needed, but women who feel tired or who have unrefreshing sleep should see their doctors to assess hormone levels and discuss risk factors and testing for sleep apnea.
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Is Hormone Replacement Therapy The Same For Everyone
You would not give the same amount of medicine to a child that you would to an adult, or to a 300 pound wrestler that you would to a 90 pound elderly woman. Hormone replacement therapy is no different.
Each therapeutic regimen is created specifically for that person based on their risk factors, age, symptoms, and results of the hormone lab tests. If your hormone levels are extremely low to begin with you will likely need a much higher dose to keep your hormone levels in a safe range. It takes a specially trained provider to take all of these factors into consideration and create the right treatment for you.
Why Should I See An Endocrinologist
Primary healthcare providers can diagnose and help you manage many endocrine conditions. However, you may benefit from seeing an endocrinologist since theyre likely more knowledgeable on your condition and more up-to-date on different medications, technology and clinical trials that can help treat your condition. Endocrinologists are experts in endocrinology and endocrine conditions.
Just like you may want to take your vehicle to a repair shop that specializes in your vehicles brand instead of a general repair shop that works on any type of vehicle, you may benefit from seeing a healthcare provider who specializes in your condition.
If your primary healthcare provider has diagnosed you with an endocrine condition, they may recommend that you see an endocrinologist to help manage your condition, especially since many endocrine conditions are long-term or chronic .
If your primary healthcare provider suspects your body may be having issues with certain hormones, they may have you see an endocrinologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
An endocrinologist could also be part of a team of healthcare providers to treat certain conditions such as cancers and fertility issues.
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What Is An Endocrinologist
An endocrinologist is a medical specialist who treats people with a range of conditions that are caused by problems with hormones, such as diabetes, menopause and thyroid problems.
Hormones are part of theendocrine system, series of glands that produce and secrete hormones that control many different bodily functions. The endocrine system includes:
- the pituitary gland
How Can I Book An Appointment Online With A Doctor For Endocrinology Consultation
Zocdoc is a free online service that helps patients find doctors for Endocrinology Consultation and book appointments instantly. You can search for doctors for Endocrinology Consultation or any other visit reason. Then, enter your desired appointment location and choose your insurance plan. Based on that information, youll see a list of providers who meet your search criteria, along with their available appointment slots.
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Other Causes Of Hormone Imbalances In Men
- Diet: A diet high in refined carbohydrates can increase insulin resistance and lead to sex hormone problems.
- Stress and adrenal fatigue: Adrenal fatigue is thought to upregulate aromatase, which leads to high estrogen and low testosterone.
- Environmental chemicals: Personal care products, plastics, and other environmental chemicals contain chemicals called xenoestrogens, which are known to cause hormone imbalances.
- Too much exercise: Excessive amounts of endurance and cardio exercise can lead to high estrogen and low testosterone. High-intensity interval and strength training are better options to avoid hormone imbalances in men.
- Excessive alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can lower testosterone level.
Do: Consider Having Both A Conventional And Integrative Hormone Doctor
Because of the different tools that the above providers have in their toolkits, youll likely benefit from having both a conventional and integrative practitioner in your corner. This will allow you to have access to a wider repertoire of treatments, and you can experience the best of both worlds.
For example, women with PCOS may benefit from having a conventional practitioner who can prescribe medications like birth control, hormone modifiers, and anti-inflammatories, and help with symptom management. Meanwhile, an integrative provider can look into diet, stress, poor gut health, and other factors that are known to contribute to an underlying hormonal imbalance .
Keep in mind, this is just an example, and not all women with PCOS will require all of the above interventions.
In the clinic, I often see that hormonal imbalances can be resolved through healing the gut, lifestyle changes, and other holistic treatments. However, in some cases, prescription medications may be necessary for the treatment of hormonal disorders. Using natural therapies together with pharmaceuticals can help reduce the number of medications you need to take, the strength of medications needed, and any unwanted side effects.
As you can see, blending conventional and complementary medicine can offer you more treatment options and a higher quality of care. In our next section, well discuss what to look out for when choosing your hormone doctor.
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Hormone Problems That Start In The Brain
The hypothalamus is the portion of the brain that lies near the pituitary gland. It helps regulate hormone secretion in various parts of the body, controlling functions like body temperature, mood, hunger, thirst, sleep, fatigue, sex drive, and circadian rhythms. Dysfunction of the hypothalamus may produce many symptoms depending on which hormone systems are affected. Supplementing hormone levels that are low may help relieve symptoms. If the hypothalamus is malfunctioning due to the presence of a tumor, treating the tumor may provide relief.
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What Kind Of Doctor Prescribes Hormone Replacement Therapy Hrt Facts
Written by Elite HRT on March 04, 2021
Camille Frecking, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, MEDICAL ADVISOR
Hormone replacement therapy has a large scope and can encompass a lot of things. Knowing the ins and outs of hormone replacement therapy can be tough especially when you have never seen a doctor for this before or dont know anyone who has either.
Even though this could be a problem for you it shouldnt get in the way of you creating a well informed decision about whether or not HRT may be good for you.
Keep reading to learn about what hormone replacement therapy is, which doctor you should see, if it is safe, and how to know if you may need it.
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Can I Buy Human Growth Injections Online
You cannot buy actual growth hormone online. You can only obtain real human growth hormone with a doctors prescription, which then must be obtained from a licensed pharmacy, just like any other prescription medication. Any product being sold online, that can be purchased without a prescription, that claims to be HGH, or to contain HGH, or growth hormone, cannot , contain any human growth hormone. Furthermore, real growth hormone therapy is only prescribed as HGH daily injections. Any product that claims to contain HGH, or be HGH, that can be taken in any other way than an injection, is not real human growth hormone.
This having all been said, you may be able to work with a growth hormone clinic that can refer you to an online pharmacy that may fill your growth hormone injection prescription. However, understand that you will still have to go through the very same procedures of seeing a doctor, having your blood tested, and obtaining a prescription for a growth hormone injection kit, but, you may just be able to save a little money having your HGH prescription filled online.
It is very important that you understand this difference. While there may be the possibility of having your prescription for growth hormone injections filled online, you cannot, under any circumstances buy HGH online or anywhere else for that matter, without a doctors prescription.
What Are The Different Types Of Hormones
Endocrine glands are located throughout the body. These glands include the:
- Hypothalamus: controls thirst, hunger, sleep, sex drive, moods, body temperature, and the release of other hormones
- Parathyroid: controls calcium
- Ovaries, in women: controls female sex hormones
- Testes, in men: controls male sex hormones
There are several different types of hormones in the body. When you have a hormonal imbalance, you may have a problem in one of more of these glands. The specific hormone thats imbalanced will determine the signs and symptoms that you experience as a result. Some of the major hormones found in the body include:
- Estrogen: controls sex drive in both men and women, and regulates the menstrual cycle in women
- Progesterone: influences the bodys changes through pregnancy
- Testosterone: controls sex drive in both men and women
- Cortisol: controls stress
- Melatonin: controls the bodys circadian rhythm and sleep cycles
- Serotonin: controls sleep cycles, appetite, and mood
- Growth hormone: controls the reproduction of cells and their subsequent growth
- Leptin: controls appetite, signaling when youre full
- Ghrelin: controls appetite, signaling when youre hungry
- Insulin: responds to sugar in the bloodstream
If your hormones are well-balanced, you will thrive. An imbalance, however, is something you cannot afford to ignore.
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In This Article Learn More About How To Tell If A Person Has A Fever
Asokumar buvanendran, president of the american society of regional anesthesia and pain medicine and an anesthesiologist at the rush university medical center in chicago, says that acute pain chronic pain leads to changes in the hormones, the cardiovascular system and in the brain. Take this quiz to find out what kind of doctor you should consider. What kinds of doctors prescribe growth hormone therapy? Children may need to see a doctor sooner than this. These specialists assess and treat internal glands that produce hormones and other bodily functions. This should help you choose a doctor the next time you are. Being constipated means your bowel movements are ask your doctor or pharmacist which kind might work for you and how long you should take it. To me, these both sound like a hormonal imbalance issue. Introduction to cancer symptoms and signs. Once you take the medication, then your blood is tested to see if your body reacted properly to the introduction of the growth any kind of doctor can write you a prescription for growth hormone. What do you think is the most important thing that a doctor should bring always? Specific organs in the endocrine system for hernia repair surgery, you should see a general surgeon. An endocrinologist diagnoses and treats disorders of glands and hormones.
Why Blood And Serum Hormone Tests Do Not Reflect Your Symptoms:
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Things Every Hormone Doctor Wants You To Know
Ah, hormones. Such an easy scapegoat. And for good reason: They can be responsible for everything from mysterious weight gain to hair loss to crazy hunger. When things get a little out of control in that department, an endocrinologist might be able to help you.
But before you make an appointment, read on to find out what they think you should know.Simply put, “we’re hormone doctors,” says Marilyn Tan, MD, an endocrinologist at Stanford Health Care. “The three most common diagnoses we make are thyroid problems, diabetes, and osteoporosis,” she says. Other common conditions they treat: menopause, hypertension, and infertility. And while endocrinology might be a specialty in itself, these docs sub-specialize. Some may focus on weight loss, others on thyroid abnormalities, some on diabetes or reproductive health. That means you should see the one that fits your health issue to get the most targeted treatment.
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Your endocrinologist is likely to feel around the front of your neck to check for a nodule or lump, which could be indicative of an undiagnosed thyroid condition or potentially thyroid cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there were nearly 62,500 new cases of thyroid cancer in 2015. You can also perform this check on yourself .
They want to hear about your hot flashes.hot flashes during menopauseJAMA Internal Medicine
What Is A Menopause Specialist
While the designation âmenopause specialistâ isnât recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, there are ways to tell if your doctor has a good understanding of menopause care. We encourage anyone needing medical help with menopause symptoms to interview doctors anyone can call themselves a âmenopause doctor specialistâ â be sure yours really is one.
NAMS, or the North American Menopause Society, is the largest non-profit organization devoted specifically to the health of women in midlife and beyond. Their membership is made up of experts in the field, in medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, epidemiology, and so on.
NAMS offers a training and certification that is generally considered to be excellent and reliable, so if your doctor is an NCMP , you can rest assured they have had quality training. If your doctor is not an NCMP, that doesnât mean they arenât qualified to deal with menopause issues you may just want to conduct a bit of your own research.
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