Just because we are women, doesn’t make us crazy!
Why do many women’s healthcare practitioners dismiss women’s symptoms?
Birth control pills and antidepressants are not the only answers for women. Many of our guests have reported doctors pushing these drugs instead of checking labs to clarify underlying issues. Birth control and antidepressants are not the only fixes for women, they are a band-aid and sometimes can make things worse.
It’s time you have more say about your health and to be with doctors that are given the time to actually listen to their guests and look for safer alternatives by checking hormone levels. Do not be afraid to ask questions, you are in charge of your own health and you have a right to have things ruled out before dangerous prescriptions are shoved at you.
It’s very common for women, especially in ages 35 or older, to experience symptoms associated with natural declines in hormone production. Women can do everything right from diet & exercise and still struggle to feel or look their best. This can leave one feeling frustrated, discouraged, and thinking if all the hard work is even worth it.
Finally, you have a place to go where you will not be treated like you are crazy!
Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and known as the “master gland”. The pituitary gland produces several hormones that affect many bodily processes and other endocrine glands. The hypothalamus is the portion of the brain near the pituitary gland which helps regulate hormone secretion in various parts of the body, controlling functions like body temperature, mood, hunger, thirst, sleep, fatigue, sex drive, and many other functions that we may not be aware of but happen every day.
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
Bloating, fatigue, irritability & mood swings, anxiety & nervousness; hair loss, palpitations, problems with blood sugar, trouble concentrating & brain fog, breast tenderness, infertility, dry and/or thin, wrinkled skin.
These are just a few symptoms of hormone imbalances which can be debilitating. Some hormonal shifts are normal, like monthly fluctuations of sex hormones responsible for menstruation and ovulation or the changes that occur during pregnancy.
When I asked for a smoking “hot body”, menopause was not quite what I had in mind!
Menopause also shifts our hormones. Many women may experience hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, acne, hair loss, trouble sleeping, fatigue, mood swings, migraines, cold hands & feet, and diminished sex drive during this time. Other times these fluctuations may be due to a medication or a medical condition but we do not need to “just deal” with these. The doctors at Focal Point know what to do to get you back on track.
Experiencing Vaginal Dryness? When estrogen levels fall during perimenopause, this can cause a lack of estrogen after menopause which often leads to vaginal dryness. It can also be painful to have sex.
Decreased levels of estrogen are associated with skin aging. The skin gets thinner as we age and it tends to wrinkle as collagen is lost. It also becomes drier and less elastic. Check out our cosmetic injectables to learn how to gain some instant youthfulness back in the face and hands.
Do you have an increase in hunger? When we have drops in our estrogen levels, our hunger increases.
You know that awkward moment when you’re not sure if you actually have free time or if you’re just forgetting everything? We call that “Brain fog”! Have trouble concentrating? This is a common complaint we hear about. Women in perimenopause and after menopause seem to report difficulty concentrating and feel like they are having memory loss, experience more hot flashes and increased depression, and often have trouble sleeping. Having a decline in estrogen levels or having thyroid disease could lead to brain fog.
Another common hormonal imbalance that causes fatigue is low thyroid hormone levels (hypothyroidism). Having too much progesterone can make you more tired where having too little may make it difficult to sleep.
Testosterone, typically thought only of as a male hormone, can contribute to low libido in women. Most women receiving extra testosterone report more satisfying sexual experiences and more sexual desire. Finding the most optimal level for you is what our doctors do best.
Utilizing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) could help restore and relieve many of the hormonal imbalances going on and may help prevent or delay the signs of aging skin.
Treatment Options for Women
Some say, “I’d consider Hormone Replacement Therapy, but I’ve got a bunch of other things that need to be replaced first”. The doctors at Focal Point Vitality say, “Let us help you understand how hormones work so you can efficiently and effectively get everything else done”.
Estrogen and Progesterone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement for menopause shows that bioidentical estrogen and progesterone work effectively to improve menopause symptoms and may carry fewer risks for cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and blood clots, compared to the conventional versions of these hormones. Bioidentical estrogen and progesterone come in various forms, the most popular being pills, patches, and creams. Typically a guest starts a dosing regimen that mimics what the body used to produce. It’s commonly called the physiologic dose. This helps avoid any negative side effects and produces a baseline to work off of in case levels need be adjusted to your comfort.
The most convenient and easiest method to deliver the medication is with a cream that is applied and absorbs through the skin. It also allows for any dosing adjustments, as it is very easy to apply a little less or a little more. These prescriptions are not commonly filled through a regular pharmacy, but a compounding pharmacy instead. The difference between the compounding pharmacy and a regular pharmacy is that the compounding pharmacy can prepare a completely unique dose based on your symptoms, medical history, and blood test results which has been specifically prescribed for you by your doctor.
Signs of low Estrogen and/or Progesterone:
- Restless sleep
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
Testosterone Therapy: Is it for Women?
Testosterone is a hormone known as an androgen. It’s often thought of as a “male” hormone. However, women’s bodies also produce testosterone. In fact, our bodies use it to make a form of estrogen called estradiol. As we get older, our testosterone levels also decline and some are interested in taking testosterone, not only to enhance their sex drive, but also to improve muscle strength, bone density, or mood, which are other possible benefits attributed to this therapy.
Testosterone is critical to the balance of overall hormones in women and are often overlooked by many professionals
Some of the functions testosterone serves in a woman’s body include:
- Producing new blood cells
- Enhancing libido
- Sexual satisfaction
- Muscle strength
- Bone density
- Improved mood
- Increased energy level
Growth Hormone Therapy
There’s no evidence available to suggest that taking human growth hormone (hGH) will give healthy women (with normal growth hormone levels) the appearance of bulky muscles. It may help women lose fat and gain lean muscle mass, but this is dependent on many characteristics specific to each woman.
Growth Hormone (GH) levels show a significant decline as we age. The age-dependent decline in GH secretion is paralleled by changes in body composition, with a decrease in lean body mass and an increase in total body fat especially intra-abdominal fat. The hGH is one of the most important hormones affected by our body’s’ naturally aging process.
Symptoms of Low Hormone Levels:
- Increased body fat accumulation
- Fatigue
- Low energy
- Decreased muscle mass or strength
- Decreased blood levels of IGF-1
- Decline in sleep quality
- Mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating/brain fog
- Lack of drive or desire to exercise
- Poor healing or weakened immune system
Boost Libido & Sex Drive!
Do you only masturbate just to make sure everything is still working? How about rediscovering how to bring sexy back with your partner?
According to a recent survey, not only are 80 percent of women putting their health last—after their children, spouses, and even pets—but 62 percent of women admitted to not being satisfied with their sex lives.
Society urges women to make their health a priority. Normally this does not include sexual health. Buy why?
Sexuality is a part of every woman’s life. All of our bodies have the potential to feel physical excitement and pleasure, just as men do. Intimacy between the sheets is associated with a large number of health benefits such as being happier and feeling more connected to their partners.
Sex can boost your immunity and mood and decrease your stress level. Reaching an orgasm increases the benefits of sex, even more, thanks to the release of the oxytocin and endorphins it triggers. These feel-good hormones contribute to relaxation, warmth, and closeness, as well as helping fight pain and depression.
Treatment options include Oxytocin, Testosterone, and a Peptide called PT 141.
Palatin Technologies’ PT 141 which is also known as Bremelanotide is used to enhance one’s sex life. After years of experimenting with PT 141 with clinical trials on both men and women, and being passed around from one pharmaceutical company to the next, in 2016 the FDA finally approved it to be used to treat sexual dysfunction in women. In the study approximately 300 women were used and most of them experienced improved sexual desire. Therefore if one decides to use PT 141, they most likely they will see an increase in sexual activity. We will called it the “women’s Viagra”, because this is the first real, honest-to-God, horny-making, body-shaking, equal-opportunity aphrodisiac and it’s time women get to enjoy sex again too!
The Focal Point Vitality Difference
The doctors and staff at Focal Point Vitality focus on treating each guest based on individual needs. Together they will gain an understanding of your goals and develop a roadmap of next steps, treatment options, and cost. This allows for complete transparency of the process to ensure the best treatment plan will be provided. Focal Point has partnered with the best in the business from dieticians, meal prep, blood testing labs, pharmacies, personal trainers, and local workout facilities to ensure the best outcome for each guest.
Getting Started:
- Call 480.563.7441 to schedule your appointment.
- If you have any current (within 90 days) lab or bloodwork, bring with you to your appointment.
- If you do not have recent labs, we may draw your blood during your appointment and send it to our private testing lab. The fees associated with labs are the patients’ responsibility at the time of the blood draw and will be discussed during the consultation.
- A follow-up consultation will be scheduled at the time of your blood draw. The doctor will then review your results and discuss treatment options. Most treatment options can be done in the comfort of your own home with no weekly office visits.
- Between 60 and 90 days after the treatment has begun, the doctor will ask to have your testosterone levels re-checked to make sure levels are improving. This will allow for any necessary dosage adjustments.