Hi, I'm Marcella Hill.
I shared my Hormone Therapy story on social media June 2022 and it gained over 9 million views in 24 hours. The following is what I've learned through my personal experiences with hormone therapy along with my global community of over a million women.
This journey requires women to start listening to themselves, get to know themselves, fall in love with themselves, trust their intuition and care for their bodies as though it is the greatest love of our lives.
Living in a body that matches our soul requires investment of time, resources, money, and energy. WE are the greatest investment we can ever make. Feeling good in your body is not EXTRA!
I wrote the Amazon Best Seller, Wake Her Up before I knew about Perimenopause and hormone therapy. It's been wild to realize that what I wrote was more true than I understood at the time.
"If you think something's missing, it's YOU."
What are Hormones?
Hormones are chemicals that send signals to blood, organs, skin, muscles and other tissues to tell them what to do and when to do it. Hormones are essential for life and our health. Some hormones include: Testosterone, Progesterone, Estrogen, Thyroid, Cortisol, Vitamin D
Dr. Michelle Sands offers a FREE E-BOOK, Hormone Harmony, that includes all the basics we should know, plus a guide on how to naturally adjust hormone levels. Download it here for FREE Hormone Harmony
What is Hormone Therapy?
Hormone Therapy, also referred to as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), or Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is the process of adjusting the hormones your body needs such as, Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Thyroid, Vitamin D, & Cortisol. A hormone therapist should understand how to adjust your levels until you feel good.
Hormone Therapy Methods
Nutrition & Exercise Dr. Mindy Pelz teaches how to balance hormones through diet and exercise in her book Fast Like a Girl.
Non prescription supplements Radiate Wellness offers affordable, non prescription creams that the Wake Her Up community has found very effective.
Prescription Hormone Replacement Therapy Find a recommended Hormone Therapist through the Wake Her Up directory
BHRT vs. HRT
Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones naturally made in our body. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a term used by clinics to clarify that they do not use synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is made by compounding pharmacists in customized dosages based on the individual needs of the patient.
Most hormone therapy prescriptions are bioidentical. Progestin is an example of a synthetic hormone replacement medication. There are many opinions and contradictions about BHRT vs. HRT. After watching thousands of women try to find relief of Perimenopause symptoms, my opinion is anything is better than nothing.
Available forms of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Creams
Pellets (Listen to the Wake Her Up podcast to learn more)
Pills
Injectables
Lozenges (Troches)
Patches
Gels
Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
I didn't know body aches and low libido could be caused by the same thing. I thought restless sleeping was due to a busy lifestyle. I had no idea that all my symptoms were being caused by hormonal imbalance. - Marcella Hill
There are over 100 symptoms! Hormones effect everything even our personality! Checkout all the symptoms over at our favorite supplement and research company Morphus.
Brain Fog
Low Libido (more like 0 Libido)
Body Aches
Vaginal Dryness (everyone should have Vaginal Estrogen)
Itchy Ears
Fantom Smells
Dry Scalp
Frozen Shoulder
Low Stamina
Feelings of Depression
Inability to Focus
Touch Sensitivity
Irritable (aka hate everybody)
Sleep Disorder
Tired all the time Basically if your whole life feels like it's falling apart and you're over 35...then you are in Perimenopause!
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
I didn't know what to expect. At minimum I hoped that I would have an increased sex drive. I did not expect that it would change my entire life! - Marcella Hill
Increased libido
Reducing itchiness
Vaginal lubrication
Reducing joint & bone pain
Boosting energy levels
Creating better sleep
Healthier metabolism
Increased muscle mass
Enhancing mental focus
Vibrant skin
Balancing mood FYI...the symptoms of LOW Testosterone are the same as HIGH Testosterone. Keep that in mind when adjusting. You might jump from too low to too high and think it didn't do anything. The magic is in finding the right levels for your body.
How Fast does Hormone Replacement Therapy work?
I wish it worked by the time I got home from my first Hormone Therapy appointment. it would've been nice to walk in the door and finally felt like "getting it on"! But, that's not how this works. -Marcella Hill
Most women notice a change after 3 months. It can take 6-12 months for full benefits to take effect. Everyone will have their own journey. Give yourself time to figure out what feels optimal for you.
My personal timeline of Hormone Therapy
(I'm doing Testosterone Pellets and Progesterone)
Day 2 - Slept through the whole night
That continued nightly!
Day 8 - Experiencing generally happy energy throughout the entire day
Day 30 - Follow up bloodwork indicated I could use a booster insertion of additional Testosterone
Month 3 - Body aches had significantly diminished and I started running again!
Month 4 - Second treatment. Sex Drive kicks into overdrive! My body heats up when he walks in the room.
Month 5 - No more need for lube during intercourse. And NO MORE ITCHY LEGS or scalp!
1 year - I feel like I have a whole new body!
2 years - Still feeling all the benefits. HRT has given me the energy and brain health to start living a healthier life style. I have energy to prepare and eat real food, exercise, and explore new hobbies.
I go to Avanti Medical Center in Lehi Utah (if you go, tell them Marcella sent you for a special gift)
I also use JOI Women's Wellness for Tirzepitide, NAD, Peptides and bloodwork. (10% off with code WAKEHERUP)
Normal vs. Optimal Hormone Levels
Many doctors will test your hormone levels and tell you that your hormones are in normal range. The normal range for Testosterone for women is between 15-70. A majority of women do not feel good within normal range. NORMAL IS NOT GOOD. Most women start feeling good with Testosterone above 100, according to a recent poll within the 45K Wake Her Up Facebook community.
What are the side effects of BHRT?
I was so desperate to try anything that could help me feel better that I didn't consider any side effects of hormone therapy. I figured if I'm willing to put Diet Coke and Movie Theater Popcorn into my body then putting something in my body that comes with hope for feeling alive again seemed like a good idea. - Marcella Hill
Facial Hair - (I have an extra chin hair to pluck (worth shaving a beard to feel this good)
Water Retention - (I started taking Apple Cider Vinegar to help with water retention)
Weight Gain - (I've gained a few pounds, but now that my body doesn't hurt I can actually care for my body properly)
Breast Tenderness
Acne
Does Hormone Therapy Cause Cancer?
I didn't know the enormous concern about cancer linked with hormone therapy. After speaking with several doctors and BHRT providers, it was still not clear as to where this belief came from.
This is the best I have seen it explained:
"It's hands down the biggest screw up of the entire medical field in the last 25 years.
"I won't be able to think of a bigger act of incompetence
than what happened with the women's health initiative in the late 1990's"
- Dr. Peter Attia
Non Prescription Supplements for Balancing Hormones Use code WAKEHERUP for discounts
DHEA - helps to increase libido (SEXY from Radiate Wellness will do it for you)
Fiber- Reduces bloating (trust me, just start taking it now)
Vaginal Estrogen - Reduces the frequency to pee & UTI's. Increases lubrication.
DIM - Helps to regulate estrogen
Magnesium - Helps with everything! Why didn't someone tell us we should be taking this?
Where to find a Hormone Therapist?
This is why Wake Her Up exists. When women started asking me where to go I went looking for a directory. All the directories that exist are not specific to women's hormone care. Most directories will list every provider that goes through their certification, not necessarily a provider I would want to send my friends to. We created the Wake Her Up directory from women recommending their provider. The directory includes different methods and approaches. It's not perfect, but its way better than google or any of the other directories that exist. These providers will help you. And to back that up, we have a community of over 45K women that all talk, and if they don't like a provider on the list, we simply remove them. This is truly built by the women FOR the women. - Marcella Hill
Where to find support through your Hormone Therapy journey?
I started the Wake Her Up community when I launched my book. It didn't have anything to do with hormones. It was a place to find support in awakening your soul. It has now reached over 45,000 women across the globe to educate, support, and share recommendations for everything we all need during this midlife transformation. From Marriage advice to where to put testosterone cream, we cover it all!
I'm so glad you are here. You EXIST and you deserve to feel Awake & Alive at every age. I'm so excited to see what happens when we Wake HER Up and turn HER back on!
LET'S GO!
♥Marcella Hill
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