Are you experiencing fatigue, muscle aches and weakness, joint pain and stiffness, depression, low sex drive, mood swings, and/ or skin dryness? These could be indications that your hormones are out of whack and that you need to see a hormone doctor.
A hormone doctor is essentially an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the endocrine system—the network of glands that secrete hormones which your body needs to function optimally.
Let’s explore the various conditions a hormone doctor treats and learn how they can help you with your hormonal issues.
What a Hormone Doctor Does and Treats
A hormone doctor can be a family medicine physician, OB/GYN, internal medicine physician, or (pediatric) endocrinologist. Depending on the cause of the hormonal imbalance, a hormone doctor can administer treatment alone or may coordinate a patient’s care with other medical professionals to address a vast variety of conditions that are either a direct result of or triggered by hormonal issues, such as the following:
- Adrenal gland insufficiency
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Inherited metabolic disorders (e.g., Gaucher’s disease, glucose galactose malabsorption hereditary hemochromatosis, maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), etc.)
- Low testosterone (male hypogonadism
- Male breast enlargement (gynecomastia)
- Menopause symptoms
- Metabolic syndrome – encompasses five conditions that occur together, increasing a person’s risk of developing stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Pituitary and growth disorders (e.g., hypopituitarism, giantism, dwarfism, etc.)
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Thyroid disorders (e.g., hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)
How a Hormone Doctor Can Help You
Your hormone doctor will do a thorough evaluation of your condition to pinpoint the cause and to determine the most appropriate treatment option for you. For instance, if your hormone doctor confirms that you have low estrogen levels as a result of menopause, they may recommend hormone therapy to replace and regulate the estrogen levels in your body and help address the symptoms.
Hormone therapy comes in various forms: injectable hormone pellets, oral medications, patches, and topical creams. Your hormone doctor will recommend the most suitable option for you based on your individual condition.
