Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate many body functions. Any change in hormone production affects your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Dr. Noosha at Ashburn Laser & Skincare MedSpa understands how a hormone imbalance affects every aspect of your life. They provide both basic & advanced lab testing and treatment to restore balance and improve health. To find out more about balancing & optimizing your hormones, schedule a consultation by calling the offices in Ashburn and McLean, Virginia, or making an appointment online.
What is Hormone Imbalance?
Hormones are chemical messengers made by your endocrine system. They travel through your blood to various organs, muscles, and other tissues, directing their function. Your body produces more than 50 hormones. These hormones control your:
- Metabolism
- Mood & Brain health
- Reproductive health
- Sleep cycle
- Stress response
Hormone balance is vital to overall health and well-being. Any sudden change may result in a deficiency of some and/or excess in hormone production, which affects how you feel or function each and every day.
A hormone imbalance may mean your hormone levels are too high, too low or high in some while deficient in others. Fluctuations in your hormone levels can also lead to a variety of distressing chronic and debilitating or subtle symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of a Hormone Imbalance?
Hormone imbalance symptoms depend on three main factors. First, the specific hormone(s) affected at the root, will predict the type of symptoms manifesting for each person. Traditional specialists tend to run a basic panel via blood to check for the basic estrogen, progesterone & testosterone. Advanced testing with functional labs tend to rely on more specific and accurate testing in the form or a urine & saliva sample. Second, the affected hormones each have associated organs involved, which also account for the wide variety of symptoms that may manifest in each individual. Whether your body is making too much, too little or both and why.
Though fluctuations in hormones may occur at any point in your life, due to many reasons and risk factors including concussions, TBIs, birth control use, previous steroid use, adrenal function, genetics, etc… Both men and women experience a decline in sex hormone (testosterone in men; estrogen and progesterone in women) production as they get older. Changes in sex hormone levels cause many symptoms people to associate with aging, such as:
- Weight gain
- Muscle loss
- Brain fog
- Hair loss
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Low energy
- Low libido
- Mood changes
- Vaginal dryness in women
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) in men
If you have any of these symptoms, feel like something is off, or want to simply optimize and practice preventative medicine, schedule a consultation at Ashburn Laser & Skincare MedSpa for a hormone imbalance evaluation.
What Tests Do I Need to Diagnose a Hormone Imbalance?
The Ashburn Laser & Skincare MedSpa team conducts a comprehensive review of symptoms when you come in with concerns about a hormone imbalance. They also review your previous medical history, and family history.
After gathering the necessary information, the team determines what type of advanced lab testing you need. They often recommend the DUTCH PLUS comprehensive hormone panel, which is a functional test via urine & saliva to check hormone levels and is easy to do at home. The functional tests used are highly researched & studied to be the most up to date types on the practitioner market. They test for more markers than your typical blood tests including metabolites and intermediates that play a huge role in how you physically feel. You might need to run other blood work to check thyroid function and have access to other types of tests such as micronutrient testing, to determine if you’re deficient in any nutrient that can lead to a hormone imbalance. Remember, all tests are optional! Our doctors are highly trained and have other tools and ways of gathering objective information to help you feel better.
What Are the Treatments for Hormone Imbalance?
Ashburn Laser & Skincare MedSpa customizes treatment for your hormone imbalance based on the affected hormones, your symptoms, and medical history.
If your hormone levels are low, the team starts looking at natural ways to restore balance including well studied herbal blends to help balance those specific hormones. They may also recommend eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and finding healthy outlets for stress. HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is also an option as we have doctors that have the ability to prescribe, but again, we address lifestyle & other herbal and less invasive modalities first. Always starting with natural methods and turning to more invasive if no improvement.
The team schedules regular follow-up appointments to monitor your hormone levels and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
To schedule a consultation for hormone balancing, call Ashburn Laser & Skincare MedSpa or book an appointment online.
