St. Petersburg Health & Wellness

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement
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Hormones are the signaling molecules that regulate the body’s cellular metabolism and function. Many of them actually enter the nucleus of the cells and turn on and turn off specific genes. They are profoundly important. The hormones include insulin, cortisol, thyroid, and sex hormones among others. Bio-identical hormone replacement is the term most often used to mean replacement of the sex hormones for both men and women. Estrogen has over 400 functions in the body including preservation of memory and there are more testosterone receptors in the male heart than any other organ in the body. So you can see that “sex hormones” do much more than determining a person’s sex or sex life. That is the reason there are so many symptoms that develop as our sex hormones decline after age 40.

Some of these symptoms of are:

Women / Menopause:

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Anxiety
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Loss of sexual interest
  • Hair growth on face
  • Painful intercourse
  • Panic attacks
  • Strange dreams
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Vaginal itching
  • Low back pain
  • Bloating, flatulence, indigestion
  • Osteoporosis
  • Aching ankles, knees, wrists, shoulders, heels
  • Hair loss
  • Frequent urination
  • Snoring
  • Sore breasts
  • Palpitations
  • Varicose veins
  • Urinary leakage
  • Dizzy spells
  • Skin feeling crawly
  • Migraine H/A
  • Memory lapses
  • Weight gain

Men / Andropause:

  • Loss of drive and competitive edge
  • Loss of sense of well being
  • Loss of interest
  • Decreased libido
  • Decreased sexual function
  • Decreased intensity of orgasm
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Decreased hair density
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Diminished memory
  • Loss of muscle mass & strength
  • Joint pain & muscle stiffness
  • Osteoporosis
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Insomnia

Both male and female hormones are important in maintaining heart and brain health.

Why is bio-identical better?

Bio-identical means that the hormone replacement is identical to the one your own body produces. So, why is that important? The first rule in cellular metabolism is: form = function. The form or structure of the molecule is everything. It determines what the molecule does – its function. Synthetic hormones or non-bio-identical hormones such as those obtained from horse urine have been shown to have significant side-effects that are detrimental. Dr. Cole uses only bio-identical hormones (Estradiol, Estriol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA) to replace your own natural, declining hormones.

If you are having symptoms of hormone deficiency, have questions, or would like to make an appointment, please call Dr. Cole.

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Meet Our

Providers & Staff

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Les Cole, MD, ABAARM, ABIHM

Doctor of Functional & Metabolic Medicine

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Kathie Gonzales, ARNP

Family Nurse Practitioner

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Jayla Blair

Medical Assistant
Patient Care Coordinator

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June Drennon

Clinical Thermographer