Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

    Hormones regulate and coordinate activities in the body. Our female hormones start to slow as early at 35 years old. Peri-menopause is defined as the period before menopause, which can be 1-10 years prior. During this time woman can start to feel symptoms of this hormonal decline, such as mood, swings, irritability, hot flashes/night sweats, menses changes, decreased libido, etc. If you are still having a period, blood hormone levels can't determine if you are in peri-menopause. It is based on your symptoms. Menopause is defined as a year without menses because of a decline in hormones produced by the ovary. The main estrogen in menopause is produced by our fat cells. How you transition into menopause is very individualistic, although it is sometimes similar to your mother's or sister's experience.

   Bio-identical hormone therapy uses hormones that have the same structure as the ones made by our bodies. They are derived from plant resources and processed by a lab. They are customized to treat your symptoms and needs. Bio-identical hormones include: estriol, estradiol, estrone, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEAS. They come in topical, vaginal creams, or oral preparations. Bio-identical hormones are considered to carry the same risks as the pharmaceutical HRT (increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, heart attack, and blood clots).

   In our office a consultation on bio-identical HRT will include a health/family history, discussion of symptoms, and blood work to evaluate hormone levels (if needed). We will also make sure you have an updated pap smear, mammogram, DEXA. lipid panel, CBC, thyroid, and CMP. It can take 2 weeks for you to feel improvement when starting or adjusting the bio-identical prescription and up to four weeks for full effect. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to assess your symptom relief and when needed, dosing adjustments.