Hormones

 

Our body is like one big machine with different parts which each has different functions for a common goal. For our body, the common goal of each part or system is to keep us alive and healthy, for a machine, it may be more complicated than that.  

Basically, we are familiar with the systems, then the body organs, if you’re quite the curious type, you may know of the functions of each part, but for non-medical people, it usually ends there. Unless you feel pain, rarely do you come see a doctor believing that if there’s no pain, there’s nothing wrong and we are perfectly healthy. This is where it all goes wrong.

It may not be necessary for us to bother ourselves with all the medical terms that exist in the dictionary, but it is always best to see a doctor once a year or at least every two years (if you are under 40) for a full check up because as the cliché goes, prevention is better than cure.

As you age, a more frequent visit to your doctor may be necessary especially once you start to show age-related diseases. During the prime of your life however, your early 20’s to late 30’s you may already feel some changes. For those who frequent the gym, you may notice that when you were in your 20’s, it was quite easier to tone down, then you reached your 30’s and your muscles just seem to stop growing. This is when you start to do research on what you can do or what can you take as supplement. This is also when you may come across the word, hormone.

Hormone is the chemical messenger in our body that coordinates between cells for a more specialized function, for example, one of the most common hormone that we hear in the market is the Estrogen which is normally present in women’s birth control pills.

Basically, Estrogen is a female hormone that is mainly produced in the ovaries functions to promote the development of secondary sexual characteristics, accelerate metabolism, and a lot more (which we will discuss on the page for Estrogen Hormones).

 

WHAT DO HORMONES DO?

There are probably hundreds of hormones in our body which all functions to regulate biological and chemical processes that go on in our system. Hormones are produced by different cells, glands, or organs in our body, depending on the specific functions of the hormones. Like other biological components of our body such as the blood, the chemical components like the hormones also need to be in specific levels within our system to function at its optimum level. Low or high levels of specific hormones, or hormonal imbalance, may disturb the internal homeostasis of our body, causing certain illness, disease, and premature aging.

Hormones are responsible for maintaining the balance in the functional units of our body, and it affects almost everything in our system including our mood, physical development, appetite, sex drive, immunity, memory, sleep quality, hair and skin quality, energy level, etc. Whenever the level fluctuates for certain hormones, their function is compromised; hence, some sort of chaos happens in the mind and body.

 

WHAT IS HORMONAL IMBALANCE?

Hormonal Imbalance happens when your body produces too much or too little of a certain hormone. For instance, Type 1 Diabetes or the Insulin Dependent Diabetes, where in the pancreas does not produce Insulin, the hormone that facilitates the absorption of glucose into cells, therefore, if glucose is not absorbed by the cells, they accumulate in the blood, causing high blood glucose level which can lead to other more serious complications.

Other manifestations of hormonal imbalance may not be as limiting as others, but, they are nonetheless less noticeable, like for instance, a man with lower than normal testosterone level will notice some sleep disturbances, lower sex drive, increased body fat and reduced muscle mass, and/or some depression. For women, one of the most noticeable symptoms of hormonal imbalance, especially with their sex hormone (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone), is weight gain, sleep disturbance, hair fall, mood swing, low sex drive, low energy, and anemia. Other hormones will affect the body in other ways so the key is just to be sensitive with your own body. If you notice changes, chart it, modify your life style, and if it still doesn’t improve, see your doctor for a hormonal screening test.

 

WHAT IS A HORMONE SCREENING TEST in Thailand?

Hormone Screening Test is test that measures the levels of specific hormones in your body. In our clinic, Yoskarn Clinic, Prof. Somyos Kunachak usually recommends this to patients who are wondering why they are having certain symptoms they can’t point out, or for those patients who want to keep their health at optimum level.

There is no special preparation for the test and patients can come in and have their blood drawn then return for the result in a few days. Once the result is out, Prof. Somyos Kunachak will recommend hormone therapy should you need one.

WHAT CAN OUR CLINIC OFFER?

Aside from the test, our center is also authorized to distribute bio-identical hormonal replacement drugs depending on the result of your hormone screening test. For those planning to have surgery with us, the test can be done during your pre-operative preparation, then we’ll have your result during your follow up visits.

All our patients are also encouraged to stay in our affiliate hotel, Aphrodite Inn, for convenience. Aphrodite Inn sits right beside our clinic, in the center of the shopping capital of Bangkok, so patients who are not doing surgery can enjoy the accessibility of our location as shopping malls, restaurants, and tourist spots are just within walking distance or a few kilometers from our clinic.

Patients who stay in Aphrodite Inn also enjoy the benefit of having our medical within reach anytime.

Aphrodite Inn is also a recipient of tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award for consecutive years so you can rest assured that all our guests and patients are well taken cared off.

WHAT ARE BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES?

Bio-Identical hormone therapy or what is also popularly known as natural hormone therapy are synthetically produced hormonal replacement medications that are identical to the molecules of our body’s natural hormones. With this, our body utilizes the hormones in the same way it utilizes endogenous hormones in our body, therefore, patients who are taking it gets the maximum benefit without the side-effects.