Many patients are concerned about gaining weight during hormone therapy. Whether it’s HRT or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), some patients may experience a bit of weight gain at the beginning. However, overall, weight gain is not associated with hormone replacement and may result from your hormonal imbalance.
Kellie Lewis, co-owner and acting medical director of Avanti Medical Center, helps patients in Lehi, UT who have questions or concerns about getting bioidentical hormone replacement therapy sort through their options.
Below, we’ll look at why the treatment may cause initial weight gain in some patients and why patients shouldn’t worry about this as a long-term effect of bioidentical hormone therapy.
What are the signs of hormonal imbalance?
As we age, our hormones can become unbalanced, affecting metabolism, brain activity, fertility, and mood. A hormonal imbalance can make you feel like a different person, so many patients seek hormone replacement therapy to rebalance their body’s natural hormone levels.
At Avanti Medical Center, nurse practitioner Kellie Lewis helps patients understand their specific hormone imbalance and the effects it may be having. In women, these effects may include mood swings, low libido, headaches, hot flashes, insomnia, and weight gain. Men with hormone imbalances may experience hair loss, fatigue, and reduced muscle mass.
What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is available to both men and women. First, the team at Avanti Medical Center will assess your levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and other hormones. This helps us identify the hormone supplements needed to rebalance your natural hormone levels.
In BHRT, the hormones used in replacement procedures are synthetic, but they are identical on a molecular level to your body’s natural hormones. These bioidentical hormones can be administered via oral capsules, hormone pellets inserted under the skin in the gluteal region, and even creams.
How does bioidentical replacement therapy help?
Many patients see a reduction in their hormonal imbalance symptoms in 2 – 3 weeks, though full results can take up to six months.
Patients on BHRT may experience:
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Better energy levels
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Improved sex drive and enjoyment
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Better mood and concentration
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A reduction in hair loss
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More ease in building muscle mass during exercise
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An increased ability to burn fat and subsequent weight loss
Does bioidentical hormone therapy make you gain weight?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is not associated with weight gain. However, this fear leads people to stop BHRT in the beginning if they see the scale move.
Weight gain is associated with imbalanced hormones, so it’s possible that people on BHRT are simply continuing to gain weight due to metabolism issues that already existed. BHRT does not solve these problems overnight, so patients sometimes fear that any weight gained while taking bioidentical hormones can be directly attributed to them.
It may also be the case that people with hormonal imbalances become more sedentary due to fatigue. Once you regain your energy and your metabolism is stabilized, you will still need to exercise and eat healthy to lose weight.
If you are gaining weight on BHRT, it is usually temporary. However, it can be related to the sudden change in your hormone levels or the wrong dose of hormones. That’s why check-ups at Avanti Medical Center are crucial.
Get bioidentical hormone therapy in Lehi, UT
?If you’re concerned about a hormonal imbalance or gaining weight on BHRT, schedule a consultation with Kellie Lewis. Our staff is skilled at treating patients in Lehi, UT who are dealing with hormone fluctuations and their side effects.
