Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers many benefits to men and women experiencing problems caused by low estrogen or testosterone levels. At Dr. Bamba’s Health and Medical Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland, N’Dama Bamba, MD, MPH, uses HRT to help women through menopause and restore men’s vitality. Call Dr. Bamba’s Health and Medical Center to learn more about HRT’s benefits, or request a consultation online today.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormones are chemicals your body produces to perform certain tasks. They come from various glands around your body, including the ovaries in women, testes in men, thyroid gland, adrenals, and pancreas.

Each hormone has a specific role. For example, your pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which you need to regulate sugar levels in your blood. The ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone, and the testes produce testosterone. These are the female and male sex hormones that control reproduction.

When your hormone levels are unbalanced, it can have severe effects. A lack of insulin causes diabetes. Too little thyroid hormone causes hypothyroidism; too much causes hyperthyroidism. Both disrupt metabolism and can prove fatal without treatment.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) reduces the negative impact of certain hormonal imbalances.

Why might I need hormone replacement therapy?

Dr. Bamba’s Health and Medical Center uses HRT to boost male and female sex hormone levels. These hormones are present in large quantities when puberty begins in early adolescence. However, as you approach your mid-forties, their levels drop significantly.

In women, this marks the natural transition through perimenopause. After menopause, women don’t menstruate and can no longer have children. Men don’t lose their fertility — they still produce sperm as they age. But they experience changes from low testosterone levels at the same time of life, a problem known as andropause (male menopause).

Some people don’t encounter any problems with falling hormone levels, others have moderate difficulties, and some suffer immensely. Common menopause problems include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Lack of sleep
• Loss of interest in sex
• Weight gain
• Dry skin
• Thinning hair
• Vaginal dryness
• Chronic fatigue

Men may also experience some similar symptoms, as well as erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and loss of muscle mass. If you have problems like these and they’re getting you down, Dr. Bamba can help by providing HRT.

How do I take hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy is available in several forms, including:

• Patches
• Pills
• Creams
• Injections
• Oral medications
• Implants

Long-acting HRT implants are one of the most convenient ways to take HRT. Dr. Bamba inserts the tiny implant (roughly the size of a rice grain) just below the skin. It gradually releases hormones into your body, providing a safe, long-lasting hormone boost.

Call Dr. Bamba’s Health and Medical Center to find a suitable HRT for your hormone imbalance, or book an appointment online today.