Four insights into understanding and treating hormone imbalances from a holistic perspective

Hormone imbalances are associated with many often vague yet potentially debilitating and chronic health concerns. After all, hormones and the right “balance” or levels of these chemicals help coordinate essential and wide-ranging functions in the body – from metabolism and sexual health to mood and sleep. You can finally put unexplained fatigue, frequent headaches, digestive issues, and so much more to rest when selecting a “hormone specialist near me in Weston,” who takes a holistic approach. The Connecticut Center for Integrative Medicine in Stamford serves our neighbors in Westchester and Fairfield counties, and we welcome the opportunity to provide four insights into hormonal needs and interventions for both men and women.

1 – Men’s health needs

While more than 50 hormones have been identified in the body (so far), some of the most common imbalances affect the sex hormones. In men, the testosterone hormone produced primarily in the testicles supports healthy bone dentistry, muscle mass, fat distribution, libido, sperm count, and red blood cell production. Starting between the ages of 30 and 40, testosterone levels drop at a rate of around 1% each year. This decline can result in changes in sexual function and desire, undesirable physical changes (increased body fat and swollen breast tissue or gynecomastia), and emotional and cognitive changes. 

2 – Women’s health needs 

In women, estrogen is one of two key sex hormones (the other being progesterone). In addition to playing a key role in pregnancy and fertility, estrogen has many non-reproductive functions – not limited to regulating cholesterol and blood sugar levels, promoting healthy circulation and blood flow, and supporting concentration and overall brain function. Starting in the transition to menopause, known as perimenopause, estrogen levels begin to decline. When this happens, women may notice new or worsening fatigue, insomnia, depression, vaginal dryness, brittle bones, headaches, hot flashes and night sweats, among other changes. 

3 – Interventions for men 

In addition to aging, imbalances in testosterone may be due to hypogonadism. Other diseases and conditions also contribute, such as obstructive sleep apnea, poorly managed diabetes, and thyroid dysfunction. Additional factors that play a role include certain medications, obesity, and alcohol use. It is essential for our naturopathic physicians and professionals to understand what is causing your unexplained and persistent symptoms. We must know what to target before we can effectively treat it. Our comprehensive health assessments and diagnostics evaluate hormone levels and help determine the underlying causes of any changes that impact your overall health and quality of life. Depending on what we find as the result of these assessments, medications may be prescribed to aid in regulating hormones, and/or lifestyle changes may be in your future to manage those risk factors and contributors to low testosterone levels. 

4 – Options for women 

Consistently low estrogen levels are not only a product of aging; numerous conditions are associated with low levels of estrogen (or low levels in relation to androgens or male hormones). They include PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and autoimmune conditions that attack the ovaries. Additionally, periods of intense physical and emotional stress can disrupt the process that activates estrogen production in women’s ovaries. Aside from medications to get your hormone levels in balance, women may benefit from nutritional guidance to support a healthy weight. Taking a healthy approach to physical activity and exercise (not overdoing it) and actively managing negative stress (distress) can help, too. As holistic and integrative medicine practitioners, our team may prescribe botanicals, nutraceuticals, acupuncture, and mind-body techniques in conjunction with conventional medicine and therapies. 

If you are interested in more information about testing and treatments to balance your hormones, request an appointment today! Serving Weston, Stamford, and greater Fairfield and Westchester counties, the CT Center for Integrative Medicine (CTCIM) can be reached at (866) 320-6402.

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