The intimate Wellness institute is the leading provider of integrated hormone optimization solutions for women in the region. We provide superior options for women seeking relief from symptoms of hormone imbalance including hot flashes, anxiety, weight gain, muscle loss, and sexual dysfunction.
The IWI team’s expertise will help you achieve improved wellness through advanced medical therapies, including advanced bio-identical hormone therapy, hormone pellet therapy, other advanced hormone options, non-hormonal treatments, nutraceuticals, and help with healthy lifestyle changes. IWI has the largest array of treatments for women in the region.
Hormone imbalances negatively affect millions women of all ages. It hurts their quality of life, sex, social interactions, energy, mood, relationships, work and many other aspects. This is not just an issue of menopause and not exclusive to estrogen. Factors such as aging and stress often make these issues worse and many people suffering from hormone imbalance believe that it is “just part of aging” rather than a treatable condition with available long-term solutions. Though the condition is common it is not normal and not something you have to live with.
The Intimate Wellness Institute offers women suffering from hormone imbalance comprehensive, tailored treatment options designed to address the root of the problem. Every plan is customized to meet your needs, goals and lifestyle. Advanced therapy programs with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), hormone pellet therapy, energy-based therapies and advanced nutraceuticals are extremely effective and can restore you quality of life
Bioidentical hormones are hormones produced from natural sources and designed in the exact molecular structure as the hormones produced in your body. The bio-identical nature maximizes improved function and minimizes side effects and risks.
Synthetic hormones can help but they are chemically produced and do not replace the exact hormone structure in womens’ bodies. Bioidentical hormones work in your body exactly as the hormones you naturally produce. Synthetic hormones do not interact with your hormone receptors perfectly. This can lead to more side effects and less effective treatment. The superior results of Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is supported in countless studies and patient testimonials.
The Intimate Wellness institute only uses the highest-quality natural bioidentical hormones from one of the nation’s leading FDA-registered compounding pharmacies.
Let the IWI team help you discover a fuller, healthier life.
This is different than Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which uses a one-size-fits-all approach to hormone treatments. Instead hormone optimization therapy is designed to restore hormones to optimum functional levels in the body.
To find out if you would benefit from hormone optimization schedule a consultation with an IWI specialist. We will assess your health issues, medical history, review symptoms and goals, and perform on-site lab tests to develop a comprehensive treatment program to restore your hormone balance and optimize your function and well-being.
Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause when hormone alterations can start to cause symptoms. His transitions at menopause, when the ovaries are no longer producing any hormones.
Women become perimenopausal on average 4-5 years prior to menopause or around age 47. Some women, however, experience symptoms of perimenopause starting in their mid–thirties. If you are experiencing symptoms do not ignore them regardless of age.
Perimenopause starts as estrogen and progesterone hormone levels begin to fluctuate as women age. Most symptoms women experience during perimenopause are caused by declining estrogen levels.
Common perimenopause symptoms include:
Low estrogen levels prior to menopause can accelerate risks such as osteoporosis or cardiovascular risks such as stroke and heart disease.
Menopause marks the end of the reproductive period of a woman’s life. This occurs when a woman’s menstrual cycles stop which is defined as having no period for 12 consecutive months. The average age is 52.
Natural menopause occurs when estrogen and progesterone levels drop causing your ovaries stop to releasing eggs and your periods end. Menopause also occurs if your ovaries are removed such as with a complete hysterectomy after a woman has had a full hysterectomy. There are other events that cause the ovaries to stop functioning as well. Cancer therapies like radiation and chemotherapy can induce menopause. Certain medications can also cause menopause.
Common menopause symptoms include:
In addition to feeling terrible and functional issues low estrogen levels can lead to a variety of health issues. Osteoporosis risk increases after menopause. This where the bones become less dense and brittle and can fracture with minimal stress. Low estrogen levels can also increase cholesterol levels and increase the risk for heart disease and stroke. Urogenital symptoms such as urge and/or stress incontinence increase after menopause, as the tissues of the urethra and vagina lose elasticity.
Testosterone is produced and needed in women not just men! While women produce less testosterone than men, it is a critical hormone women need to support sexual health, well-being, and body mass. A low libido is the most common obvious symptom of low testosterone in women.
Testosterone levels decline as women age. Most women experience low testosterone levels during perimenopause and after menopause. It is also very common after child birth.
Testosterone is primarily produced in women’s ovaries and adrenal glands. Just as the ovaries produce lower levels of other sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) leading up to and after menopause, the same is true of testosterone. Testosterone deficiency in women may also be caused by dysfunction of the adrenal glands, oral estrogen therapy, underactive pituitary gland or surgical removal of ovaries, and cancer treatments that inhibit the ability of the ovaries to produce testosterone.
The symptoms can be caused by a number of health conditions besides low testosterone, which is one of the reasons it often goes undiagnosed in women.
Thyroid dysfunction, low vitamin D, other vitamin deficiencies and many medications can cause similar symptoms. That is why it is critical to have a proper evaluation and treatment plan to improve your life.
The Intimate Wellness Institute uses a comprehensive approach to diagnose hormone imbalances in women. During the consultation, we will review your symptoms, medical issues, and health goals. A series of lab tests are performed on-site to analyze your hormone levels, along with other factors that may need correction and mimic hormone imbalance.
Based on this information a diagnosis is made and a comprehensive treatment plan is created to optimize your hormones.
Hormone imbalances are treated with a variety of hormone therapy options, supplements, medications, supportive procedures, and a plan for a healthy lifestyle. With hormone optimization women experience increased energy, improved mood and libido, quality sleep, and other benefits.
There are many different ways to deliver hormone optimization. They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Working with your IWI team member you will develop a plan that works best for you.
Creams and gels are a common method of hormone therapy because they both simple to use and discreet.
However, this delivery method comes with some risks. Hormone creams and gels may transfer from one person to another through contact with the area where the cream was applied. This exposes kids, pets, and partners to the therapy and can impact their health.
Creams and gels also require application one to two times daily. If you skip a dose because you run out or forget, you can hinder the effectiveness of the treatment. It can also be difficult measure each dose and ensure that the exact amount is absorbed into the skin further impacting consistent and effective relief.
Pills are also a common method of hormone therapy. Pills allow for precise dosing and travel easily. However, much like creams and gels, they can be inconvenient.
Most pills have to be taken at least once a day, depending on the prescription. If you skip a dose, your treatment may be impacted. Furthermore, pills have to compete with the harsh environment of the gut. While most pills are designed to be effectively absorbed as they travel through your GI tract, this delivery method does not offer the consistency achieved by other delivery methods.
Pills also are limited in the symptoms they treat. Due to liver metabolism they are poor at treating vaginal and sexual symptoms.
Patches offer the convenience of lasting longer than pills or creams.
Patches may only be placed on certain areas of the body that are not always discreet in certain clothing.
Patches may not adhere well when coming in contact with water or certain fabrics. If a patch falls partially or completely off, your treatment will be impacted.
Steady dosing is difficult with patches as well because the volume of hormone in the patch declines toward the end of the treatment cycle, leading to the return of unwanted symptoms until a new patch is applied.
Injections are a common method of testosterone therapy. Injections enter the bloodstream directly and therefore absorption is high. However, injections must be administered every 7 to 10 days. If you skip or delay a dose, your treatment may be impacted.
Injections cause a rollercoaster dosing effect. Most patients that choose injections will experience a surge of hormones in the days after the injection followed by significant declines each day until the next injection. This can make symptom relief short-lived.
Injections are also associated with discomfort, inflammation, bruising, bleeding or pain at the injection site and many women don’t like injecting with needles.
Pellets are IWIs preferred method of hormone replacement therapy and become much more common as hormone optimization is better understood.
Pellets offer superior convenience. Pellets are placed under the skin during a short medical visit and deliver a steady dose of hormone for 3 to 6 months based on dosing calculations. This only requires 2-4 treatments a year.
You don’t have to remember to apply a cream, take a pill or hassle with painful injections.
This method of delivery also most closely mimics the body’s natural secretion of hormones and delivers steady dosing for optimal function.
If you are experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance, schedule a consultation with the qualified experts at IWI so we can help you achieve your goals and help you rediscover yourself again.
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