Bioidentical Hormones FAQ

Bioidentical hormones are compounds that exactly match the natural hormones your body makes when it is in balance. Intermittent testing is required to monitor your needs as menopause progresses.

Yes. We calculate the dosing of your bioidentical hormone mixture based on your unique hormone levels. To be truly bioidentical, we want to check your levels to make sure they are in balance. Insurance will typically pay for blood testing.

When hormones are absorbed rather than swallowed, they go directly to the tissues and are not altered by the liver. This is called the “first pass effect.” Bypassing the gastrointestinal system also avoids many possible side effects. We use pellets as a convenient and measurable way to provide hormone replacement.

There are no studies to prove that bioidentical hormones are safer than standard hormone replacement pills. However, hundreds of thousands of women have been treated successfully and with fewer side effects.

Certain women should not undergo hormone replacement therapy of any type until detailed studies on safety have been performed. You are not considered for bioidentical therapy if you have a personal history of breast cancer or stroke or if you have a blood clot.

No, but they are legal to prescribe. This therapy has been used since the 1930s and bioidentical hormones are legal to prescribe and use in the United States, although the FDA has not given its specific approval. The lack of FDA approval is because there are no official placebo-controlled studies to prove whether bioidentical hormones are safer than standard hormone replacement therapy.

No. Insurance companies do not pay for bioidentical hormones because they are not FDA approved. Your insurance will cover issues related to underactive thyroid problems.

In the beginning of your therapy, you will need frequent testing to check that each hormone component is in proper balance. Once you are feeling well and tests show a proper balance, your visits can be less often – usually only once a year.

You will see improvement within the first 2-3 weeks of therapy, but it will take up to 8 weeks to feel the full effect. We want to achieve balance with the lowest dose of each hormone, which is the recommendation of the FDA and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Fatigue, foggy mind, poor sleep and weight gain are common symptoms of adrenal fatigue. The adrenal gland produces cortisol, which controls our response to stress. During times of high stress, whether short or long term, your ability to produce the proper levels of cortisol can be affected. Sound nutrition, exercise and short-term cortisol supplementation can reverse this condition.