Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is used to treat both men and women experiencing imbalances or drops in their naturally-occurring hormones. Your endocrine glands make and release hormones, which act as messengers throughout the body. These signals often work together and are responsible for most of your essential bodily functions. When they are disrupted and imbalances occur, symptoms may develop that can interfere with your day and sense of well-being.
Levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decrease as we age, and in women, the drop is dramatic around the time of menopause. Symptoms that may develop around this time include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Mood changes
- Memory loss
- Decreased libido
- Weight gain
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Sleep disturbances
BHRT comes in several different forms, and at Refine Medical Aesthetics, we carefully take into consideration your symptoms, medical conditions, and history before making a recommendation for a specific treatment. With 30 years of endocrinology and pharmaceutical experience, you can feel certain that we have your optimal health as a goal.
Emsella
We call Emsella our “Kegel Throne,” but it goes far beyond that!
Pelvic floor muscles are the layer of muscles that support the pelvic organs and span the bottom of the pelvis. Think of the pelvic floor as the foundation for your core muscles. A strong pelvic floor gives you control over your bladder and bowel. Weak pelvic floor muscles mean your do not fully support your internal organs, and you may have difficulty controlling the release of urine.
If a cough, sneeze, or laugh is something that makes you worry about wetting yourself, a weakened pelvic floor may be at fault. Women who bore multiple children are at higher risk for urinary incontinence. Strengthening your pelvic floor should help, and most women know about Kegel exercises. Performing this exercise routine is rarely maintained though. Imagine doing 10,000 Kegels in less than 30 minutes!
Our Emsella chair delivers the strongest muscle contractions you can imagine. Using high-frequency focused electromagnetic waves (HIFEM), Emsella safely and painlessly strengthens your core muscles. We recommend twice weekly sessions over three weeks (six treatments), but you should see improvement after just one or two visits.
Who can benefit from Emsella?
Do you experience leakage while coughing, sneezing, or laughing?
Does exercise occasionally result in wetness?
Are you overweight?
Do you worry about leakage affecting intimacy?
Have you given birth to at least one child?
Are you going through or have you passed through menopause?
Does your bladder control your life?
What are the benefits of Emsella?
Stronger pelvic floor muscles mean less urinary incontinence.
Less dependence on trip planning based on restroom facilities.
Less or no spending on incontinence pads.
You can wear your own clothes during treatment sessions.
Reduced need for invasive surgery.
A stronger pelvic floor supports the lower back and many find relief of chronic low back pain.
Stronger muscles have better blood flow, and many patients report improved sexual intimacy and orgasms.
And yes, Emsella helps men too.
For more information, request an appointment online or contact us today at (412) 347-1733. We offer single FREE 5-minute Emsella demos too!
Ask us about Hypothyroidism & Osteoporosis
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common diseases in adults, affecting 5% of the population with more being undiagnosed. Women are almost 10x more likely to have it than men! Hypothyroidism is also called underactive thyroid and sometimes Hashimoto’s disease.
The thyroid gland is a remarkable organ that is shaped like a butterfly and sets in the neck, just below your voice-box (Adam’s apple). It releases hormones that help control metabolism by regulating the speed at which your cells work. The thyroid is in continuous contact with two structures in the brain, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, to be sure that your thyroid hormone levels remain normal.
Symptoms that suggest hypothyroidism include:
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Sensitivity to cold temperatures
- Dry skin
- Thinning hair
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Puffiness
- Hoarse voice
- Muscle aches and stiffness
- Heavy menstrual cycles
- Slow heart rate
- Forgetfulness
- Depression
The most common treatment for hypothyroidism is levothyroxine (Synthroid is one brand name). This medication is exactly the same molecule as our T4 hormone. While many patients feel well using levothyroxine alone, some still feel symptoms even if blood levels appear normal. These patients may feel better if using desiccated thyroid extract (Armour Thyroid, NP Thyroid) or a combination of T4 and T3. It is necessary for most patients with hypothyroidism to be seen twice yearly to be sure ideal levels are maintained.
Osteoporosis is a disease that develops when bone structure and strength decreases to a point where the risk of fracture (broken bone) is significantly increased. 50% of women will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime, and this is nearly twice as likely than men.
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being remodeled to keep strong. Our bones are broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of old bone. Osteoporosis affects men and women, but women who are past menopause, are at higher risk. Osteoporosis is usually without symptoms, but signs suggesting the condition include:
- Height loss
- Stooped posture
- Bone fracture(s) that occur more easily than expected
- Pain (from a yet undiagnosed fracture)
Many factors contribute to the risk of osteoporosis including several that we can’t change (age, biological sex, race, family history, and body frame). Factors that we do control include:
- Assure adequate daily calcium and vitamin D intake (this means throughout your life!)
- Maintain regular weight-bearing and muscle strengthening exercises
- Do NOT smoke
- Avoid drinking too much alcohol
- Avoid fast food and soft drinks
- Avoid exercising too much (if it affects your menstrual cycles, it’s too much)
- Check with your doctor or gynecologist if menstrual cycles are absent or frequently skipped.
- Seek help if you have an eating disorder
A healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss, but sometimes medications are needed to help strengthen already weak bones. Just as important is knowing whether or not another disease is causing or contributing to osteoporosis.
There is no one more knowledgeable than an endocrinologist when it comes to hormones and their imbalances. Having an endocrinologist who has the time to listen to your concerns is rare. Refine Medical Aesthetics offers 30 years of experience in managing hormone-related conditions. For more information, request an appointment online or contact us today at (412) 347-1733.