Depression is a serious disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Thankfully, there are many treatments available to manage symptoms of depression. This includes bio-identical hormone therapy.
What is Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy?
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy offers a safe and effective way to address hormone imbalance that causes physical and psychological effects, including depression. This therapy uses the right dosage of replacement hormones in a small pellet form placed under your skin so it can continuously release the needed bio-identical hormones into your body.
This therapy works with your body’s natural hormones by mimicking how the body releases certain hormones at the right dosage. It can be used to manage symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause. It can also be used to treat symptoms of hypothyroidism and testosterone deficiency that are often associated with fatigue and depression.
Mood swings, insomnia, and lack of energy are often common symptoms of thyroid disorders that are frequently associated with depression. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can reduce symptoms of thyroid disorders and make a significant difference in your mood and energy levels.
Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy and Estrogen Levels
During menopause, women are more likely to experience major depressive disorders as ovarian hormones such as estrogen and progesterone affect mental health and increase their sensitivity and susceptibility to stressful events and clinical depression.
Estrogen is responsible for controlling the brain’s serotonin level, and it is known to be responsible for anxiety and depression regulation. Estrogen and serotonin levels directly affect the mood of a person.
Some studies have shown that the lower the levels of estrogen are in a woman, the higher the level of depression she is likely to have.
Estrogen replacement therapy improves the quality of life for menopausal women and reduces the risk of depression by normalizing estrogen levels.
Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy and Testosterone Levels
If you have been diagnosed with low testosterone and symptoms of depression, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can help manage symptoms of testosterone deficiency.
Testosterone is the male hormone often associated with a man’s libido, energy levels, and mood. Testosterone levels decrease as men get older, and symptoms of testosterone deficiency may include low energy, moodiness, anxiety, and depression.
One study showed that testosterone treatment could relieve depression and anxiety by increasing testosterone levels and thus increasing serotonin uptake into the brain.
How Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy Relieves Depression
When a person is diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and even panic disorder, they are usually prescribed antidepressants.
While antidepressants can increase norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain, they don’t actually solve the problem: replacing hormones such as progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. So, people usually take antidepressants for years without really solving the problem of why they get anxiety and depression.
But bio-identical hormone therapy helps stabilize the body’s hormone levels so it can help prevent the occurrence of hormone imbalance and the development of anxiety and depression.
The hormones used in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy are identical to the ones produced by the ovaries and testes, which match how these hormones are released in the body.
Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is an effective and low-cost treatment that can effectively treat depression. It offers a long-term solution to hormone imbalance and can make a significant difference in your physical and emotional health.
It may also be used in conjunction with other treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, nutritional counseling, and exercise.
It targets the root cause of depression, and anxiety without the side effects reported with antidepressants. It is also important to note that when you are on a bio-identical hormones replacement therapy, you must not take any other medication without consulting your doctor as it can interfere with the therapy.
Conclusion
Depression is a serious disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. There are many treatments available to manage symptoms of depression. But the key is to do what works best for you. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is one of the many natural and effective treatment methods that can be considered. It has been shown to be effective in treating depression as it also helps restore a more stable level of hormones in the body that affects your mood and energy levels. If you think you can benefit from bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, consult your doctor about it.
Z Med Clinic is a trusted and state-of-the-art family healthcare clinic that offers hormone replacement therapy in Houston, Corpus Christi, The Woodlands, and beyond. Let us help you solve the root of your depression. Schedule an appointment today!
