What Is Amino Acid IV Therapy?

Amino acids are compounds that help our bodies build proteins. They are responsible for various bodily functions, including muscle growth, tissue repair, and hormone synthesis.

Our bodies use twenty amino acids, nine of which need to be supplied through food because we can’t synthesize them on our own. Many people suffer from amino acid deficiencies because of an inadequate diet. Amino acid IV therapy can be an efficient way to replenish amino acids and improve our health.

This article explains how amino acid IV therapy works and what benefits to expect.

Benefits of amino acid IV therapy

What Is Amino Acid IV Therapy?

Amino acid IV therapy is an intravenous therapy in which amino acids are administered directly into the blood. Bypassing the digestive system enables the high and quick absorption of these essential nutrients.

The therapy may benefit patients who experience a lack of energy and cognitive focus, especially those who are physically active.

Note: Learn more on what is IV therapy and how it works.

Amino Acids Included in Amino Acid IV Therapy

Medical providers use different amino acid solutions in IV therapy depending on their patients’ needs. Here is a list of amino acids commonly used in IV drip treatments.

Amino Acid IV Therapy Benefits

Amino acids have an indispensable role in our bodies. They assist in various bodily functions and are required for optimal health. While most amino acids we use come from our diet, amino acid IV therapy can be a great way to fill in the gaps.

Here we list some of the most important benefits of amino acid IV therapy.

Muscle and Tissue Growth and Repair

Many amino acids help build muscles and repair damaged tissues, especially leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are particularly beneficial for athletes, who can take them before and after sports events to increase strength and endurance and quicken recovery after an injury.

Note: Specially designed IV drips for athletes boost performance and speed up recovery. Read our blog post IV Therapy for Athletic Performance to find out more.

Enhanced Mental Clarity and Improved Mood

Amino acids convert to neurotransmitters, helping maintain optimal energy levels, mood, and cognitive performance. Tyrosine, tryptophan, and phenylalanine play a significant role in alleviating anxiety and depression, while leucine, isoleucine, and valine help maintain cognitive function.

Increased Energy

Amino acids stimulate the conversion of fat into energy, build muscle, and decrease muscle fatigue. These benefits are particularly useful for athletes, who strain their bodies and sweat excessively, depleting their bodies of essential nutrients.

Improved Heart Function

Amino acids help maintain a healthy heart by lowering blood pressure, increasing blood flow, and maintaining healthy nerves.

Boosted Hydration

Dehydration is common after intense workouts, alcohol abuse, and high stress. Amino acid IV therapy efficiently rehydrates the body. Amino acids such as glutamine, alanine, and glycine help transport sodium, an electrolyte that delivers water to cells.

Better Skin, Nails, and Hair

Amino acids lysine, glycine, and proline help produce of collagen, the essential building block of skin and bones. Regular amino acid IV therapy sessions support hair loss prevention, strengthen nails, and keep the skin firm and supple.

Note: Learn how IV therapy helps maintain glowing skin.

Conclusion

Amino acid IV therapy is a quick and efficient way to improve one’s general well-being and replenish lost amino acids after a high-intensity workout or stressful event.

Find an experienced medical professional who will advise you on the optimal frequency of IV therapy sessions to maximize the treatment results.

Perimenopause vs. Premenopause: Symptoms and Stages

From the onset of puberty to the end of their reproductive life, women experience hormonal changes. None of these changes happen overnight but take place over a period of years.

A significant transitional point in a woman’s reproductive life is caused by a drop in estrogen levels, followed by the ovaries no longer releasing eggs. The end of the woman’s fertile period is called menopause. It is signaled by 12 months since last menstruation.

Before the menopause, a woman goes through two important periods: premenopause and perimenopause. This article explains the difference between these two stages.

Difference between perimenopause and premenopause

Premenopause vs. Perimenopause

The American Menopause Society (AMS) defines the premenopause as the years between a woman’s first period and the onset of perimenopause. During premenopause a woman does not usually experience the symptoms associated with perimenopause.

Perimenopause is the transitional period before a woman stops her periods altogether. It commonly lasts several years and occurs in women in their 40s and 50s. Perimenopause is characterized by a range of symptoms which have varying degrees of discomfort. All of them signal that the body is slowing down its reproductive functions.

Some people mistakenly use the terms perimenopause and premenopause interchangeably. The medical community only uses the term perimenopause, and doesn’t use the term premenopause.  

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause refers to a period before and after menopause. The word “peri” means around, and the term describes the physiological and emotional changes that happen before the menopause and one year after the woman’s last menstrual cycle.

The key female hormone – estrogen – starts to decline during this stage and causes the ovaries to release fewer eggs. The woman can still get pregnant but it is more difficult.

The duration of perimenopause ranges between several months and ten years, but it typically lasts about four years. Most women enter it in their mid- to late 40s, though it can happen a decade earlier or later.

The symptoms of perimenopause vary and include:

Note: Learn what causes low sex drive in women and how to treat it.

Conclusion

As they age, women go through natural stages in their reproductive lives. From the start of menstruation in puberty to the last period and beyond, hormonal levels in women’s bodies constantly shift, causing symptoms that range in severity and discomfort.

Whatever stage you are in, it is important to understand what natural, healthy symptoms are and which possibly indicate more serious health concerns. If you are experiencing uncomfortable emotional and physical changes that can be attributed to perimenopause, consult with medical professionals.

There are now effective and safe treatments which ease the transition into menopause and provide improved quality of life and healthy aging. Book an appointment now at Vibrant Vitality Clinic and our expert staff will help you enjoy life whatever your age.

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Vitamin B IV Therapy: Things You Need to Know

Food is our primary source of essential nutrients. However, today’s unhealthy eating habits and other lifestyle and medical factors cause people to suffer from vitamin deficiencies – especially vitamins from the B complex.

The usual way of replenishing the body with nutrients is through oral supplementation. However, to ensure complete vitamin absorption, many medical professionals recommend IV therapy.

This article explains what vitamin B IV therapy is and how it increases the effectiveness of vitamins.

Vitamin B IV therapy increases the effectiveness of vitamins

What Is Vitamin B IV Therapy?

Vitamin B IV therapy is a medical procedure where a patient receives fluids and essential B vitamins through a catheter injected into a vein. The administered vitamins go to where they are needed, quickly restoring optimal bodily function.

With IV therapy, essential nutrients enter the bloodstream directly, bypassing the digestive tract and ensuring the treatment’s effectiveness. In contrast, when we take vitamins orally, they are first metabolized in the gut. Because of this, only reduced amounts reach our body cells.

B Vitamins Included in IV Therapy

The eight vitamins that make up the B complex are:

IV therapy providers create their own combination of vitamins from the B complex to best meet their patient’s specific health needs.

Vitamin B Complex IV Drip Benefits

IV therapy balances B vitamins and may help:

B vitamins are water-soluble and difficult to store. We need to replenish them regularly to maintain optimal bodily functions.

Vitamin B Complex IV Side Effects

Intravenous delivery of B vitamins can pose the same risk as other procedures that involve needles. Mild risks include inflammation and bruising at the injection site.

Rare but severe complications include:

If your medical provider gives you an excessively high dose of B vitamins, you can experience:

Vitamin B IV Therapy Cost

The cost of vitamin B IV therapy depends on your medical provider’s experience and the clinic’s location.

Medical professionals at Vibrant Vitality Clinic’s offer a mix of B vitamins in their signature IV therapy at $179.

Conclusion

Vitamins from the B complex play a critical role in our health. Their deficiency can cause a range of issues, from fatigue and anemia to nerve damage and heart disease.

If you experience signs of deficiency, schedule a revitalizing vitamin B IV therapy session with our Vibrant Vitality Clinic team.

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What Are the Vitamin C IV Therapy Benefits?

Vitamin C is known for its many beneficial effects on our health. We can’t produce this vitamin on our own, so we take it through food and vitamin supplements. However, our digestive system breaks it down, sending only a portion of the vitamin to our cells.

Medical professionals use IV therapy to bypass the digestive system, facilitating quick and high-dose vitamin absorption.

This article explains the benefits of vitamin C IV therapy and why it may be the best way to deliver this potent antioxidant.

Vitamin C IV therapy benefits

Vitamin C IV Therapy Benefits

The beneficial properties of vitamin C have been known for almost a century. Scientists started studying it when they suspected its deficiency caused scurvy, a potentially fatal disease.

Today, we take vitamin C when we catch a cold and apply vitamin C products on the skin to brighten our complexion. This vitamin can also be effectively administered via an IV drip.

Here, we review the studied benefits of vitamin C in IV therapy.

Supports the Immune System

Studies show vitamin C has numerous beneficial effects on our immune function, including preventing pathogens from entering the system, stimulating white blood cells to fight infections, and killing microbes.

Many people suffer from vitamin C deficiency due to pollution, smoking, infections, and poor diet, compromising their immunity. Regular, high-dose intake of vitamin C through an IV drip can help maintain this vitamin’s optimal levels and contribute to a healthy immune system.

Note: Learn which 10 vitamins are vital for an immune system boost.

Accelerates Wound Healing

Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, an essential protein used to build connective tissue, bones, and muscles. When a person experiences an injury, the body needs more collagen to repair the damaged tissue.

IV infusion is the quickest way to deliver the necessary vitamin C to accelerate collagen production. The vitamin’s anti-inflammatory properties also help fight oxidative stress and eliminate the free radicals that proliferate in the wound.

Promotes Healthier, Youthful Skin

Vitamin C IV therapy promotes healthy skin

Vitamin C is often added to skincare products because it aids collagen production and has powerful antioxidant properties, helping to reduce premature aging effects caused by free radicals. It also helps hydrate the skin by promoting hyaluronic acid synthesis.

The fluids administered through an IV drip additionally hydrate the skin and increase vitamin C absorption. Skin is visibly smoother and younger-looking after the treatment.

Lowers the Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases

Collagen is essential in maintaining healthy arteries and increasing good cholesterol. By stimulating collagen production, vitamin C reduces hypertension and lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Aids in Cancer Treatment

Free radicals cause damage to cells and DNA that can potentially lead to cancer. Regular, high-dose vitamin C intake can help balance free radicals.

Vitamin C is also known to reduce toxicity levels in the system, protecting healthy tissues from chemotherapy and helping cancer patients better tolerate the treatment. Researchers have found that this vitamin may also enhance the effectiveness of cancer therapy.

Alleviates Depression and Anxiety

Vitamin C IV therapy alleviates depression

Pollution, processed foods, diseases, and other factors cause oxidative stress, which manifests through a range of symptoms, including fatigue, anxiety, and depression. As one of the most potent antioxidants, vitamin C can help restore the optimal balance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body and improve the patient’s mood.

Note: Read our article on 8 benefits of IV therapy.

Why Is Vitamin C IV Therapy Better Than Pills?

The modern world has embraced vitamin supplements because it is challenging to maintain optimal vitamin amounts through diet.

However, vitamin C pills can’t compare with the effectiveness of intravenous delivery. The advantages of vitamin C IV therapy over supplements include:

Conclusion

Vitamin C plays a significant role in preventing illness. Book a vitamin C IV therapy session with our Vibrant Vitality Clinic team if you suspect being deficient. We will help you restore optimal levels of this potent vitamin.

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IV Drip for Glowing Skin

In the continuous quest to provide patients with safer and more effective methods for enhancing their looks, medical cosmetic professionals have started using IV therapy as a cosmetic treatment.

Continue reading to learn how intravenous drips for glowing skin work and what results to expect from the procedure.

IV drip for glowing skin

What Is IV Drip for Glowing Skin?

An IV drip for glowing skin is a procedure that involves the intravenous injection of a mix of nutrients to detoxify the organs. This cleansing from within contributes to healthy-looking skin.

Unlike oral ingestion of nutrients via food and supplements, IV infusions sidestep the digestive system and enable immediate and high nutrient absorption.

Ingredients of IV Drip for Glowing Skin

Cosmetic specialists use different combinations of vitamins and minerals in their IV drip therapies, depending on their patients’ needs. Most cosmetic specialists use high doses of vitamin C and glutathione. These two nutrients have powerful hydrating effects and fight off free radicals, which break down cells and accelerate aging. Vitamin C and glutathione also detoxify the liver and kidneys, leaving the skin smoother and brighter.

The Vibrant Vitality Clinic provides an IV drip for glowing skin that also includes these ingredients:

Note: Read our article on ten vitamins that best support the immune system.

What Can You Expect During the Procedure?

An IV drip for glowing skin takes 30-45 minutes. A patient sits in a comfortable chair while the medical provider injects a small needle into their arm. The needle is attached to a tube through which the IV drip cocktail slowly enters the bloodstream.

Patients report feeling a slight stinging sensation when the skin is punctured, but the rest of the procedure is painless and comfortable.

The Results of IV Drip for Glowing Skin

The nutrients in the IV drip instantly reach the cells and produce a positive effect on the skin within 24 hours of the procedure. Patients report feeling energized and refreshed because the components of the drip also balance electrolyte levels.

Many patients notice the following improvements on their skin:

The results are temporary and last for up to one week. Skin specialists recommend regular weekly treatments or getting one right before a special occasion.

IV Drip for Glowing Skin Aftercare

To make the most of your IV drip for glowing skin, drink at least 12 cups of water every day for about a week. This will support the therapy’s detoxification effects.

Following general skin protection guidelines after an IV drip helps maximize the treatment’s results. These recommendations include avoiding:

After the procedure, continue your usual daily skincare routine.

IV Drip for Glowing Skin Side Effects

All treatments involving needles carry certain risks and side effects, including:

The risks are reduced when a trained medical professional performs the procedure.

Some patients also experience headaches, dizziness, and nausea after an IV infusion, but the symptoms quickly disappear.

Price of IV Drip for Glowing Skin

The Vibrant Vitality Clinic’s signature IV treatment for glowing skin costs $179.

Its custom blend of vitamins and antioxidants helps rejuvenate the skin, restore energy, and improve the patient’s overall well-being.

Conclusion

IV infusions are best known as a staple treatment in hospitals. However, they also show great promise as a skin rejuvenation aid. Today, many patients seek IV drips for glowing skin because they help restore a youthful appearance painlessly and in less than an hour.

Contact Vibrant Vitality Clinic medical professionals if you’re interested in giving your skin and wellbeing a boost.

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Testosterone Therapy: What Is It?

With age, testosterone production declines, sometimes causing unpleasant physical and emotional changes. Low testosterone levels can also result from certain health issues.

Today, many men seek testosterone therapy to restore normal levels of this hormone. But is it a suitable treatment for everyone with testosterone deficiency?

This article explains how testosterone therapy works and weighs its benefits and risks to help you assess whether you should seek such a treatment.

Testosterone therapy

What Is Testosterone?

Testosterone is known as the male hormone because it is primarily produced in the testicles, though women’s ovaries and adrenal glands also release it in small amounts.

This hormone regulates many bodily functions, including fat distribution, maintaining muscle mass and bone density, sex drive, energy levels, and sperm production. When testosterone levels drop, it can lead to a slowdown of these processes.

Symptoms of Low Testosterone

Symptoms of low testosterone are different for every person with this condition and may include:

What Causes Low Testosterone

Low testosterone can result from aging, hypogonadism, and medical conditions such as thyroid problems, cancer treatment, diabetes, and depression.

Testosterone levels naturally decline with age. The hormone levels drop about 1% annually after the age of 30. Natural testosterone decline in healthy, aging men is not a reason to get testosterone therapy.

Hypogonadism is a condition in which the testicles, the pituitary gland (which controls the testicles), or the brain do not function properly, causing reduced testosterone production. This is a common cause of low testosterone and one for which doctors prescribe testosterone therapy.

If the patient’s declining testosterone levels are caused by other health issues (e.g., diabetes), a medical provider will perform lab tests to confirm the diagnosis. They may recommend testosterone therapy if they determine the benefits outweigh the risks.

What Is Testosterone Therapy?

Testosterone therapy is a hormone replacement therapy in which patients receive testosterone as an injection, pill, or in some other form to restore healthy hormone levels and mitigate the unpleasant physical and mental symptoms of low testosterone. The effects of the treatment are temporary, lasting only as long as the patient receives the therapy.

It is an FDA-approved treatment for hypogonadism, a clinical condition that causes decreased testosterone production and symptoms of low testosterone.

Sometimes patients receive testosterone therapy if reduced levels are due to other health issues. However, doctors typically discourage people with declining testosterone caused by aging from taking the treatment because studies haven’t confirmed its beneficial effects or possible long-term risks in healthy adults.

To ensure the patient’s testosterone levels are low enough to require testosterone therapy, medical providers measure the patient’s hormonal status on two different days and schedule regular check-ups during the treatment.

Forms of Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone made in labs can be bioidentical or synthetic. Bioidentical hormones are created to chemically match the hormones produced by the body, while synthetic testosterone has a different chemical structure and potentially causes more side effects.

Testosterone treatment comes in these forms:

1. Injections

Testosterone injections are in liquid form and are injected deep into the patient’s gluteal muscle. Medical providers usually give testosterone injections two to ten weeks apart. Testosterone levels continue to decline between the injections.

2. Skin patches

Testosterone treatment can come in the form of patches applied on the arm or upper body once a day. The patch releases testosterone, which enters the patient’s blood through the skin. It is removed after 24 hours and replaced by a new one.

3. Gels

Testosterone gels are rubbed on the upper body or in the nose. The skin absorbs testosterone, which enters the bloodstream. Patients are advised to cover the skin with the gel as soon as it dries because testosterone can transfer to others who touch the treated part of the skin and cause unwanted reactions.

4. Pills

Methyltestosterone is the only form of oral testosterone treatment today, but doctors rarely prescribe it because of an elevated risk of liver damage.

5. Subcutaneous pellets

Pellets or subdermal testosterone implants are novel testosterone products that last the longest. Medical providers insert them under the patient’s skin every four to seven months, and the implants release testosterone at a steady rate.

Benefits of Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone therapy can reverse the effects of hypogonadism. Patient experience shows it may also reduce symptoms of low testosterone caused by aging, such as low sex drive and energy, but studies have yet to confirm this.

The established benefits of FDA-approved testosterone therapy for hypogonadism include:

Testosterone Therapy Side Effects

There has been limited research on testosterone therapy, and the long-term effects of the treatment are unknown.

The therapy’s established risks and side effects increase with the patient’s age, making the treatment less suitable for age-related testosterone deficiency. The risks include:

If women or children get in contact with testosterone (e.g., via topically treated skin), they are at risk of experiencing acne and increased body hair. Children who get in touch with testosterone may suffer from aggressive behavior, early puberty, and enlarged genitals.

For men with hypogonadism, the benefits of testosterone therapy outweigh the potential risks. However, healthy patients with low testosterone levels should consult their medical provider about the best course of action for their symptoms. In some cases, a change in diet and an exercise regimen can improve energy levels, sexual drive, mood changes, and other signs of low testosterone.

Testosterone Replacement Therapy Cost

At Vibrant Vitality Clinic testosterone therapy costs $249.

Our medical professionals use bioidentical HRT and subcutaneous hormone pellet therapy to help patients achieve optimal hormonal balance for improved well-being.

Conclusion

Low testosterone levels can bring about many unwelcome changes that disrupt daily life. Testosterone therapy is an effective way to alleviate symptoms of this hormonal imbalance and restore essential physical and mental functions.

Contact the Vibrant Vitality Clinic medical specialists today to schedule a comprehensive consultation and determine if testosterone therapy is the right option for your needs.

IV Therapy for Athletic Performance

Physically active people, especially professional athletes, push their bodies to reach new levels of athletic performance. Physical activity gives them energy, but it also burns through their vitamin, mineral, and water supply more quickly..

The results of intense activity are often dehydration, fatigue, muscle spasms, muscle pain, aching joints and ligaments, and the inability to achieve desired results due to poor recovery.

IV therapy for athletes has become a popular method of replenishing lost nutrients and fluids after a strenuous workout. Let’s see how the treatment works and what benefits it can provide.

IV therapy to improve athletic performance

What Is IV Therapy for Athletes?

IV therapy for athletes is an intravenous administration of essential vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes to enhance athletic potential and aid in post-workout recovery. The intravenous delivery of nutrients is quicker and more effective than when these ingredients are ingested orally because IV skips the digestive system, where nutrients are broken down.

IV therapy for athletic performance lasts 30-45 minutes and requires regular sessions. The effects of the treatment last up to four weeks.

Ingredients of IV Therapy for Athletes 

The contents of an IV drip bag for athletes include a mix of essential nutrients and vitamins in a saline solution, specially selected to speed up recovery and boost performance. A popular choice is Myers’ cocktail, developed by the late Dr. John Myers to treat fatigue, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, and other medical conditions. 

The Vibrant Vitality Clinic has its own carefully developed, signature IV therapy for athletes. It contains the following ingredients:

Vitamin B complex

Vitamins thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacinamide (B3), dexpanthenol (B5), pyridoxine (B6), and cyanocobalamin (B12) work together to improve the patient’s energy levels and metabolism, maintain nerve and heart health, and support adrenal function.

Vitamin C

The building block of collagen and a potent antioxidant, vitamin C reduces inflammation and helps alleviate the pain in joints and ligaments resulting from physical strain.

Glutathione

Health experts consider glutathione the “master antioxidant” because it helps treat many serious conditions. This powerful substance decreases inflammation caused by free radicals during intense physical activity and suppresses muscle fatigue.

Magnesium chloride

This anti-inflammatory mineral aids in the production of red blood cells. It replenishes oxygen in the body during and after workouts, preventing or alleviating muscle spasms and cramps.

Calcium gluconate

This mineral is essential in supporting bone health. Athletes strain their bones more than the average person by running and lifting weights. They also loose this essential mineral through sweat. IV drips help replenish calcium levels to maintain healthy skeletal function. 

Benefits of IV Therapy for Athletes

Many athletes who regularly receive IV therapy testify to the treatment’s beneficial role in supporting their health and athletic performance. They claim the treatment provides the following benefits:

Patients report overall better health after IV therapy, including improved sleep and mood. Find out more in our IV Therapy benefits.

Is IV Therapy Healthy?

IV infusions are an established treatment in hospitals. They can improve a range of health issues that result from nutritional deficiencies often associated with dehydration.

Traditional IV therapy used in hospitals has been modified to include ingredients that can support athletes in their quest for athletic excellence. Medical professionals who administer IV drips to athletes report minimal side effects such as bruising and slight dizziness after the treatment. Overall, the treatment is generally considered safe.

Some sports institutions forbid the use of IV therapy for healthy athletes because it can mask the use of prohibited substances. Always check the regulatory sports body’s policies before competing to ensure you play by the rules.

Can I work Out After IV Therapy?

You can work out after IV therapy unless you experience light-headedness, nausea, or any rare side effects like infection at the injection site.

Many athletes schedule the treatment before an athletic event to boost their energy levels and ensure top performance.

Cost of IV Therapy for Athletes

The Vibrant Vitality Clinic offers IV therapy for athletes at $179.

We recommend regular weekly or bi-weekly treatments for best results.

Conclusion

IV therapy is a popular method of increasing energy before and recovering from injury and fatigue after a sports event. If you want to learn more, check out our Does IV Therapy Really Work article to learn more about this treatment.

Book a session at the Vibrant Vitality Clinic to experience the treatment’s energizing effects!

Perimenopause: Symptoms and Treatments

Menopause is a significant turning point in a woman’s life and is characterized by an absence of menstrual bleeding. It is preceded by a period of several years, during which a series of symptoms affect a woman’s physical and emotional state. This transitional phase before menopause is called perimenopause.

In this article, we explain what perimenopause is, how long it lasts, and which treatments can alleviate the most unpleasant symptoms.

Perimenopause symptoms and treatments

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a natural process that occurs in the years before menopause and is marked by changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle and hormonal levels, especially estrogen. These changes are manifested in a series of physical and emotional symptoms. During this phase, the functioning of the ovaries declines, periods become erratic, and chances of conception are lowered.

What Is the Age for Perimenopause?

Women usually enter perimenopause around the age of 45. In rare cases, women experience the first symptoms in their mid-30s, while some not until their 50s.

How Long Does Perimenopause Last?

Perimenopause usually lasts four years but can stretch to ten years for some women. When a woman does not have a period for 12 consecutive months, she has entered menopause.

Perimenopause Symptoms?

Hot flashes in perimenopause

Perimenopause symptoms are different for each woman, but most experience a combination of these conditions:

What Causes Perimenopause?

Most perimenopause symptoms appear because of the decrease in estrogen production caused by the declining ovarian function. This hormonal imbalance is responsible for hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bone loss, mood swings, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Some lifestyle and medical factors can increase the chance of entering perimenopause earlier in life.

Note: Read our article, and learn the differences between perimenopause and premenopause.

Perimenopause Treatments

Hormone therapy for perimenopause

Some women struggle with their perimenopause symptoms. Fortunately, there are treatments that help you go through this challenging period.

1. Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many women who enter perimenopause seek hormone replacement therapy to stabilize estrogen levels and relieve the symptoms caused by low estrogen. At Vibrant Vitality Clinic, we provide Female Hormone Replacement Therapy to help address the issues that arise during perimenopause and help patients smoothly transition to menopause.

2. Medication for Hot Flashes

The FDA has approved a low-dose form of paroxetine (an antidepressant) to treat hot flashes. Other antidepressants also help alleviate these symptoms (venlafaxine, citalopram, escitalopram).

3. Antidepressants for Mood Swings

A doctor can prescribe antidepressants if mood changes interfere with your daily functioning.

4. Vaginal Creams

Prescription or OTC vaginal creams can help reduce vaginal dryness and pain during sex caused by decreasing estrogen.

5. Diet Change

In many cases, a simple diet change can help alleviate perimenopause symptoms. Doctors recommend eating mostly fruits, vegetables, and grains, and eliminating foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats.

6. Calcium Supplements

Women in perimenopause who experience bone thinning need 1000-1200 mg of calcium per day taken through food or supplements. Medical providers also recommend 400-600 IU of vitamin D for better calcium absorption.

7. Regular Exercise

Health professionals recommend regular exercise for disease prevention to everyone, including women in perimenopause. Exercise helps maintain optimal weight and triggers the happiness hormone, helping to improve mood, sleep patterns, and overall wellbeing.

When Should You See a Doctor?

Common perimenopause symptoms are not a cause for concern. It is important to maintain regular check-ups with your gynecologist to keep track of any changes in your health and wellbeing.

If perimenopause symptoms cause pain, discomfort, or heavy bleeding, you should seek medical help. The medical provider will perform a blood test to ensure you have entered perimenopause and recommend proper treatment.

Conditions that require medical help include:

Conclusion

Though sometimes uncomfortable, perimenopause is a natural process that can’t be avoided. The best way to go through perimenopause is to be informed about the symptoms and the treatments and lifestyle changes that help mitigate the most unpleasant effects. This knowledge will facilitate a smoother transition to the next chapter in your life.

Low Sex Drive in Women: Symptoms and Causes

How often a person feels the desire for sexual intercourse depends on many things and no two people are alike. Libido fluctuates throughout our lives but if a lowered desire for intercourse affects your wellbeing there are ways to improve the situation.

Many things affect the desire for sex, from our physical and emotional well-being to lifestyle and stress. This article explores some of the reasons behind low sex drive in women and suggests how to turn the situation around.

Low sex drive in women

What Are the Symptoms of Low Sex Drive in Women?

There is no number that determines the optimal frequency of intercourse and you should never compare yourself to other couples. Use your own past experience as a benchmark when assessing your current sex drive. However, the following symptoms indicate a low sex drive in women:

Causes of Low Sex Drive in Women

Sex drive in women can fluctuate throughout life depending on the woman’s physical and psychological experiences. Events like pregnancy, menopause, relationship breakup, job loss, and difficult family situations can stifle a woman’s libido.

The causes of low sex drive in women generally fall into one of these groups.

Psychological Causes

Our emotional and mental well-being dictate our desire for sex. In many cases, these psychological factors weaken the libido:

Hormonal Changes

Hormones affect us on many physiological and emotional levels, including our sex lives. Women typically experience significant fluctuations in hormonal levels during pregnancy, nursing, and menopause.

Apart from estrogen and progesterone fluctuations, women also experience physical changes that can negatively affect their self-image and, consequently, sex drive.

A drop in estrogen levels during menopause can cause vaginal dryness and pain during sex, weakening a woman’s desire for sex.

Low thyroid function, often resulting from high cortisol levels or autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, can also decrease the libido.

Physical Causes

Low sex drive in women due to exhaustion

Physical causes that lower a woman’s sex drive are medications, medical conditions, and challenging life situations, including:

Where Can I Get Help?

If you feel that you don’t have enough sexual intercourse or your relationship suffers because of this, you should seek medical help.

Your medical provider will perform a series of tests, including lab and physical exams, to determine the underlying cause of your condition. Your doctor might determine you suffer from a condition called hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). After an assessment, your doctor will give you advice and possibly prescribe therapy.

How Do I Get My Sex Drive Back?

Enhancing your sexual desire is sometimes as easy as switching to different medication. Psychological causes, however, take longer to remove.

Your medical professional may recommend some of the following strategies for improving your sex life.

Medication

Medication for low sex drive

If medication you are taking is lowering your sex drive, your doctor will prescribe a drug without these unwanted effects.

Also available are pills and injections made specifically to boost libido, and doctors sometimes prescribe them to premenopausal patients.

If your low libido is caused by a health issue such as high cholesterol or diabetes, medication for these conditions should increase your sexual desire.

Sex Education and Counseling

Sex education and counseling can help patients whose low sex drive is caused by psychological factors. Individual or couple therapy can help identify and remedy the emotional causes of a decrease of sexual desire. Patients also receive helpful reading material and specific assignments for overcoming the issues that are causing the lack of sexual interest.

Hormonal Therapy

Decreased estrogen production in perimenopause is a common reason for low sex drive in women. Doctors recommend hormonal therapy because it balances the patients’ estrogen levels, increasing their sexual response and sensitivity.

At Vibrant Vitality Clinic, we provide female hormone replacement therapy for our patients with female sexual dysfunction and effectively solve their sexual problems.

Lifestyle Changes

Mindfulness for low sex drive in women

Not all patients with a low sex drive require medical help. Implementing certain lifestyle changes may help you increase your libido.

Conclusion

If you have a low sex drive and it negatively affects your life, consider getting treatment at the Vibrant Vitality Clinic. Our medical professionals have years of cumulative experience in helping women boost their sexual desire and improve their overall well-being.

Anti-Aging Hormone Therapy - Which Hormones Make You Look Younger?

Aging signs like fine lines and wrinkles, dry skin, decreased skin elasticity, and hair loss are also caused by changes in hormone levels. The good news is that you can rejuvenate your appearance with hormone replacement therapy.

This article explains which hormones make people look older and how anti-aging hormone therapy can help restore a youthful look.

Anti-aging hormone therapy

What Is Anti-Aging Hormone Therapy?

Anti-aging hormone therapy is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that improves the levels of those hormones which cause aging signs. Certain hormonal shifts accelerate the aging process and manifest as:

HRT is usually administered to women in menopause and men in andropause.

Can Hormone Therapy Reverse Aging?

Hormone replacement therapy can reverse aging signs by increasing epidermal hydration, stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, improving skin elasticity and thickness, and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Improved hormonal levels can also increase energy and alleviate mood swings, making you feel younger.

Which Hormones Help Maintain a Younger Look?

Hormone replacement therapy can be given as a pill, injection, or topical product. The treatment often includes a combination of different hormones, depending on which hormones the patient lacks or has in excess. The medical provider takes a blood test and assesses the patient’s hormonal status to create a comprehensive and targeted HRT treatment plan.

Our medical professionals at the Vibrant Vitality Clinic use specially formulated bioidentical combinations in their anti-aging hormone replacement treatments to address each patient’s specific health issues and skin concerns.

The following hormones are usually used in anti-aging hormone replacement therapy.

Estrogen

Estrogen is responsible for the functioning of our metabolism, muscle growth, energy levels, skin, nails, and hair. It’s generally considered a female hormone but is also present in low amounts in men.

Estrogen has over 400 functions in women’s bodies, and its deficiency can trigger numerous health conditions and accelerate aging.

In skin physiology, estrogen regulates:

Women typically experience estrogen deficiency in menopause. Lower levels of this hormone lead to thinning, sagging, and dryness of skin, more pronounced wrinkles, and pigmentation issues.

Female hormone replacement therapy balances estrogen levels and restores the hormone’s functions, preventing or reversing aging signs.

Progesterone

Progesterone is a “female” hormone involved in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting pregnancy. It is also present in men to a lesser degree.

Women experience progesterone fluctuations throughout life, with levels rising around ovulation and falling if the egg remains unfertilized. Prolonged progesterone deficiency leads to high cortisol and low estrogen. The resulting disbalance increases aging signs such as wrinkles, dry and sagging skin. Excessive levels of progesterone can cause sebum build-up and breakouts.

Anti-aging hormone treatments help balance progesterone levels, alleviating aging symptoms.

Testosterone

Like estrogen, testosterone regulates numerous bodily functions. In skin physiology, testosterone affects collagen and sebum production and, consequently, skin thickness and moisture levels. Loss of testosterone leads to dry and thinning skin, while excessive testosterone production can cause acne.

In menopause, women experience a rise in testosterone levels and a drop in estrogen, while men experience the reverse. Testosterone replacement therapies can help both men and women achieve optimal levels of this hormone.

Note: Learn more about what is Testosterone therapy and how does it work in our detailed article.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

HGH is usually used for treating dwarfism in children because it is responsible for muscle and bone growth.

Its levels decrease with age, causing aging signs such as wrinkles, thinning lips, and joint pain. Medical professionals recommend boosting HGH levels with exercise, a protein-rich diet, and getting enough sleep. Patients with human growth hormone deficiency can also benefit from HGH injections.

Cortisol

Cortisol is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands. People who go through prolonged periods of stress can also experience cortisol-induced collagen loss, resulting in dull, sagging skin. Cortisol levels can be regulated with anti-aging HRT treatments, resulting in a slowing down of skin aging.

Conclusion

Hormone replacement therapy positively affects our appearance because it helps prevent or reverse the signs of aging.

Consult an experienced medical professional before seeking hormone replacement therapy to learn which hormones you need to supplement to look and feel better.