8 Signs That I May Need Hormone Replacement

Mustafa Ahmed, MD, is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and internal medicine specialist who leads our team at Southern Nevada Bariatrics in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dr. Ahmed is passionate about providing outstanding medical care that helps you experience all the benefits of physical health and emotional well-being regardless of your age. This commitment drives his goal of safely and effectively restoring hormonal balance to counter the effects of menopause in women and andropause in men. 

He shares 8 signs that may indicate you’d benefit from hormone therapy.

1. Difficulty sleeping at night

Restless sleep is one of the most common complaints of aging adults and often accompanies hormonal imbalances.

Along with making you cranky and out of sorts, lack of sleep can lead to a litany of other issues, including elevated blood pressure, poor diabetes management, and increased risk of heart disease. Interestingly, poor sleep can also affect your body’s ability to produce testosterone and other vital hormones.  

2. Decreased energy

The fatigue related to hormonal imbalance goes much deeper than feeling sleepy or tired after a long workday or sleepless night. You may, for instance, find it difficult to accomplish even simple tasks like loading the dishwasher or sorting the day’s mail.

3. Reduced sexual desire

Men with hormonal imbalances often lack sexual drive and may experience problems with erectile dysfunction. Women struggling with declining estrogen levels may lack desire and also experience physical changes, such as vaginal dryness, that can make sexual intercourse painful.

4. Thinning hair

Hormonal imbalances can influence your hair’s growth and reduce its volume. Women may also experience increased facial hair growth (hirsutism) as the hair on their head thins.  

5. Weight gain and inability to lose weight

Hormonal imbalances associated with aging often result in weight gain in your abdomen, which is often described as a “middle age spread” and difficult to lose no matter how closely you follow a weight-loss diet.    

6. Reduced muscle mass

Are you lifting weights like you always have but having difficulty maintaining the same level of muscle strength? It could be due to a hormonal imbalance.

7. Decline in mental functioning

Forgetfulness, easy distractibility, and decreased ability to learn new tasks are all part of what some women identify as “the fog of menopause.” Men can also be affected by a decline in mental functioning as natural hormone production declines.

8. Mood swings

Men and women who are struggling with hormonal imbalances can experience abrupt mood swings that may include irritability, unexplained sadness, and a general sense of hopelessness about the future.

Don’t let a hormone imbalance affect your overall health, ability to lose weight, or emotional well-being. Schedule a visit at Southern Nevada Bariatrics today. Call the office or request a consultation online.  

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