Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) involves replacing hormones that decline with age with identical molecules made from plant sources that function identically to the hormones produced in the body. The goal is to restore optimal hormonal balance and alleviate undesirable symptoms of hormonal imbalance like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, anxiety, fatigue, and more.
BHRT at the Optimize Hormones provides customized treatment plans with bioidentical hormones like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, and others based on your unique lab testing and symptoms. Read on to learn all about bioidentical hormones and their many potential benefits.
Hormone levels like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, etc., start declining typically in your 30s and 40s due to natural processes, and this decline accelerates as you age. Some potential reasons include:
This slow but steady hormonal decline is felt differently by each individual. Some have no or minimal symptoms, while others struggle with multiple moderate to severe symptoms that worsen over time, impacting their quality of life.
Do you identify with some of these common symptoms of hormonal deficiency?
If you experience a combination of these symptoms that interfere with your well-being, BHRT may help provide relief when tailored specifically to your needs!
Now that you know why balancing hormones matter, let's go over some basics about bioidentical hormone replacement:
Our experienced practitioners emphasize balanced restoration, not aggressive anti-aging or fitness uses of these powerful hormones.
At the Optimize Hormones, your certified hormone specialist will:
We partner with you for the safest, most effective path to restoring not just hormones but energy, mental clarity, and an empowered sense of self!
Beginning BHRT at our Optimize Hormones follows this proven process:
Your initial meeting establishes trust, identifies issues & goals, reviews medical history, and lays the foundation for customized care.
Comprehensive testing provides objective data, detecting deficiencies and confirming clinical suspicions about areas needing balancing.
The healthcare provider analyzes your labs, symptoms, and goals to create an integrated treatment regimen specific to your situation.
Follow-up visits involve evaluating the response to date through symptoms and objective testing, making dosage tweaks as needed.
Working together with our knowledgeable practitioners provides the optimal route to successfully restoring your vitality and reigniting your zest for living!
For menopausal women, custom compounded bioidentical estrogen can provide immense relief by directly replacing what the body no longer makes adequately on its own.
With oral tablets, transdermal creams, or subcutaneous pellets, estrogen helps alleviate hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary changes, joint pain, and other menopause-related issues.
Estrogen plays many protective roles for feminine health like:
Optimize Hormones offers all FDA-approved bioidentical estrogen options including:
| Estrogen Formulation | Description |
|---|---|
| 17 beta-estradiol | The exact match for the most common endogenous human estrogen |
| Bi-est formulations | A balanced combo of 80% estriol with 20% estradiol to more closely replicate natural cycles |
| Tri-est | A blend of the three main estrogens: estradiol, estriol, and estrone |
We will help determine which preparation and delivery method best fit your body and lifestyle.
Another pivotal sex hormone for women is progesterone, which normally peaks after ovulation each month to prepare the uterus for supporting a fertilized embryo.
With perimenopause then menopause, progesterone levels fluctuate irregularly and then drop off without ovulation triggering its release.
Many women notice these unwelcome changes:
Bioidentical progesterone helps counterbalance estrogen's effects on the uterus lining to restore more normal cycles and prevent overgrowth issues.
Beyond regulating menstruation, progesterone provides these metabolism and wellness benefits:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Weight loss | Fosters fat burning |
| Sleep | Promotes deeper sleep |
| Anxiety relief | Relieves anxiety and balances mood |
| Blood sugar regulation | Increases insulin sensitivity |
| Hormone building block | Serves as a building block for other hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol |
With oral capsules, sublingual drops, or transdermal creams, progesterone works synergistically with balanced estrogen to enhance women's health during the second half of life's journey.
We mostly think of testosterone and DHEA as "male" hormones, but women also require these androgen hormones in smaller yet vital amounts. With menopause, levels of key androgens fall just like estrogen and progesterone, leading to adverse effects that supplemental bioidentical restoration can improve:
And that's not all - DHEA also functions as a precursor, supplying raw materials for downstream production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in women.
That's why balanced bioidentical hormone restoration allows women with low androgen levels to feel stronger, sharper, and more empowered from their 30s through 60s and beyond! Our experienced practitioners help women reclaim their feminine vitality safely and effectively.
Now let's discuss the vital role balanced testosterone plays for men's optimal functioning. Normal testosterone concentrations give men their masculine traits and characteristics:
Over time, testosterone production decreases 1-2% annually. Lifestyle influences like high stress, poor sleep, obesity, and certain medications hasten this decline.
Many men notice unwelcome signs like:
Restoring balanced bioidentical testosterone levels relieves symptoms by replacing what the body fails to produce adequately on its own. Benefits include:
Oral capsules, subcutaneous pellets, or weekly injections allow getting back to 100% on your own terms. Our experienced men's health experts tailor regimens to your unique needs for safe, ideal outcomes.
Here's what sets apart the Optimize Hormones clinic for bioidentical hormone therapy:
The Optimize Hormones goal? Returning your body to a balanced state for looking and feeling your best well into your 70s, 80s, and beyond!
The FDA regulates medications, not compounding pharmacies. So while the individual hormones used like estradiol, testosterone, etc., have undergone FDA trials and are approved, the unique combinations we formulate are not put through lengthy clinical trials. However, decades of international research back the safety and efficacy of bioidentical hormone restoration therapy.
Most plans with out-of-network coverage provide some level of reimbursement for lab testing, physician consults, and hormone prescriptions. The Optimize Hormones will supply any details needed for submitting claims forms.
Most patients report initial improvements in energy, hot flashes, sleep, etc., within the first 1-2 months. Optimal benefits for symptoms may take 3-6 months as hormone levels build. Enhanced skin, body composition, and other benefits accrue over time.
Clinical research shows bioidentical hormones carry fewer risks than synthetic hormone replacement or birth control medications when managed properly under medical supervision. However, patients should understand potential side effects like fluid retention, migraine, libido changes, etc., and their management.
The Optimize Hormones practitioners carefully screen patients prior to starting therapy. Cancers fueled by excess estrogen like breast and uterine cancers are contraindications. However, some research suggests bioidentical testosterone and estrogen may help prevent these diseases when used at physiologic doses.
We hope this helpful guide has shown you how restoring optimal hormonal balance through bioidentical hormone replacement can substantially improve well-being, vitality, and quality of life.
The experienced practitioners at the Optimize Hormones craft uniquely tailored regimens designed to meet your specific needs safely and effectively.
If you're interested in learning more about how BHRT can benefit you, we encourage you to book a complimentary consultation with one of our experts. Together, we can develop a personalized plan to help you feel your best at every stage of life.
