What is hormone decline?
Hormone decline is a natural part of the aging process that both men and women experience. As we age, our hormone levels start to decrease, leading to changes in physical function and health. Some of the key hormones that decline are:
- Testosterone in men - Testosterone helps maintain muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, and sex drive. A drop in testosterone can lead to low energy, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, and mood changes.
- Estrogen in women - Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle and reproductive system in women. Declining estrogen leads to peri/menopause, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, sleep disruptions, and accelerated bone loss.
- Growth hormone - Growth hormone helps regulate body composition, muscle and bone mass, metabolism, and heart function. Decreased levels can lead to weight gain, especially increased belly fat, low energy, and thinning of skin and hair.
- DHEA - DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone helps produce other hormones tied to sexual function, muscle mass, mood and thinking. Declines may impact these functions.
- Thyroid hormones - Thyroid hormones affect weight, mood, energy levels, body temperature, heart rate, digestion, muscle tone and hair health. Imbalances lead to thinning hair, weight gain, fatigue, and brittle nails.
The decline of these hormones varies but often starts for both men and women around age 30, with more significant drops around the 40s and 50s. Genetics, diet, lifestyle, stress levels, and environmental toxins also impact hormone declines. Restoring balance with bioidentical hormone therapy provided by clinics like New Beginnings HRT Clinic() can help alleviate symptoms and regain optimal energy and wellbeing.
What causes hormones to decline?
There are several root causes driving natural hormone decline:
- Aging reproductive glands like ovaries and testes produce less hormones
- Changes in cells' hormone receptors leads to reduced efficiency
- Alterations in hormone feedback loops throws levels out of whack
- Lifestyle factors like poor diet, excess body fat, high stress, toxins
What are the symptoms of hormone decline?
Both men and women can experience a range of unpleasant signs and symptoms when hormones fall out of balance:
- Fatigue, low energy
- Increased body fat, difficulty losing weight
- Loss of muscle tone
- Reduced mental sharpness, cloudy thinking
- Low libido and sexual dysfunction
- Emotional changes like mood swings, irritability, depression
- Hot flashes, night sweats
- Hair thinning and brittle nails
- Sleep disruptions
The constellation of symptoms depends on the particular hormone imbalance and can significantly impact quality of life.
If you are experiencing multiple, unexplained symptoms of hormone decline, especially in your late 30s onwards, this may signal it's time to have your hormone levels tested and take proactive steps to restore health. Clinics like New Beginnings HRT Clinic() provide advanced hormone testing and personalized treatment plans involving bioidentical hormone therapies to get you feeling great again. Reclaim your energy, body and youth - it's never too late!