Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) involves using medications to supplement hormones when your body is not producing enough on its own. As we age or due to medical conditions, our hormone levels can become deficient leading to unpleasant symptoms. HRT can help provide relief.
Both men and women may benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT). For women, perimenopause and menopause brings declining estrogen and progesterone leading to hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood changes, sleep problems, and bone loss. HRT replaces these hormones bringing relief.
In men, testosterone levels decline about 1% per year after age 30. This can cause low energy, reduced muscle mass, weight gain, irritability, erectile dysfunction, and depression. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can turn back the clock restoring testosterone levels.
Other hormone deficiencies can also occur at any age due to medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, pituitary gland dysfunction, cancers, or injuries. Replacing these hormones helps patients feel better.
The goal of HRT is to supplement your body’s natural hormones that are lagging.
For menopausal HRT, estrogen and sometimes progesterone are provided through patches, gels, sprays, pills, vaginal rings, or pellet implants to ease menopause symptoms.
For testosterone replacement (TRT), testosterone is administered through injections, gels, patches, or pellets to restore normal testosterone levels improving energy, sex drive, and vitality.
Other hormones like thyroid, growth hormone, cortisol, and DHEA may also be replaced depending on your blood tests and symptoms.
HRT requires regular blood testing to ensure optimal and safe hormone levels. Dosing is adjusted based on your response and blood work rather than using a “one size fits all” approach. The goal is to find the lowest effective dose providing symptom relief and restoring hormone balance.
Relieving unpleasant menopause or andropause symptoms are some of the main reasons people seek HRT. But studies show benefits go beyond symptom relief including:
For transgender patients, HRT is critical for developing secondary sex characteristics matching your gender identity leading to profound benefits for mental health and quality of life.
Overall, countless men and women find HRT provides significant symptom relief while also protecting long term health, vitality and improving longevity.
The first step before starting any HRT protocol is getting baseline blood testing of your hormone levels along with a full medical history and physical examination. This information along with considering your symptoms will guide your custom treatment plan.
Here is an overview of common HRT protocols we offer at Renew Hormone Institute:
Systemic estrogen HRT delivers estrogen throughout your entire system for complete symptom relief. Various forms of systemic estrogen include:
For patients with an intact uterus to prevent endometrial hyperplasia and cancer risk, systemic estrogen requires the addition of adequate progestin discussed next.
When prescribing systemic estrogen replacement, adding a progestin remains imperative for endometrial safety unless you have undergone a hysterectomy.
Progestin options include:
We thoughtfully discuss all these options to find your optimal and safest progestin regimen as part of combined systemic estrogen therapy.
For bothersome vaginal dryness/pain with intercourse, we often start with prescribing local vaginal estrogen creams, tablets or rings rather than systemic HRT to avoid endometrial overgrowth requiring additional progestin protection:
Starting with local low dose vaginal estrogen therapy avoids giving systemic hormone doses higher than your body requires. We monitor your response and will increase to systemic HRT only if needed for global menopausal symptom relief.
Testosterone deficiency in men requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to restore strength, energy, virility and vitality. Forms of testosterone replacement (TRT) include:
We thoughtfully consider your needs, preferences and insurance coverage to find your optimal TRT protocol and will monitor your response and make dosage adjustments as needed.
Suffering from unpleasant menopause or andropause (low T) symptoms significantly reduces quality of life while allowing prolonged hormone deficiencies risks further health deterioration.
Unfortunately, many people endure hormone deficiency symptoms for years before properly getting diagnosed and treated. Reasons for delayed treatment include failing to recognize subtle onset of symptoms, not realizing treatment options exist, wrongly believing symptoms are “just part of aging”, lack of access to knowledgeable practitioners, and concerns over real vs perceived risks of hormone therapy.
However, advances in bioidentical hormones, newer delivery methods, precision testing and better monitoring now provide safe customized treatment plans for both men and women with few contraindications.
We now know postponing necessary HRT leads to unnecessary progression of:
Therefore, promptly diagnosing and properly treating hormone deficiencies with expert medical guidance provides the best opportunity to avoid rapid health declines while supporting active longevity. If you are suffering from possible menopause, andropause or other hormone disorder symptoms, please reach out today to explore your treatment options. Our caring staff looks forward to helping you regain your vitality and maximize healthy years ahead.
At Renew Hormone Institute, we only focus on regenerative hormone restoration and optimization allowing us to provide cutting edge expertise.
We stay up to date with the latest medical advances in our rapidly evolving specialty because optimizing hormone balance remains critical for supporting best health at any age.
Our modern clinic offers a warm, welcoming environment focused on your comfort, privacy and safety.
We perform all sensitive exams and specialized procedures like testosterone pellet insertions or PRP for sexual enhancement here on site without needing referrals to other facilities.
Our on site blood draw lab allows fast, convenient processing of your testsosterone and hormone panels with results quickly available for expert interpretation at your next visit.
Hormone restoration plans focus on your unique needs not generic recommendations.
Starting with your symptoms and precise lab testing helps identify your specific deficiencies for customized treatment plans.
Rather than “one size fits all”, your doses start low and titrate based on your ongoing needs and feedback. We avoid excessive doses staying within safe ranges that relieve symptoms and restore balance.
You work directly with your practitioner rather than staff for a personalized concierge approach.
Hormone replacement therapy was originally developed in the 1930s to help relieve menopausal symptoms in women. However, it was later discovered that the therapy could also help prevent bone loss and fracture, and potentially reduce the risk of colon cancer in both men and women. The range of benefits beyond menopause symptoms was unexpected at the time.
Achieving your optimal hormonal balance requires an ongoing partnership between you and your Renew Hormone Institute practitioner tailoring and adjusting your treatment plan based on regular follow up and testing.
We monitor your response at 1-3 month intervals to:
We also provide lifestyle optimization counseling and referrals to help you:
We maintain close relationships with outstanding local practitioners to provide comprehensive supportive care optimizing your results:
Rebalances muscles and movement patterns, restores pain-free function. Helps create metabolically efficient physique responding optimally to HRT changes.
Provides mental health, relationship and mindfulness tools for managing life’s stresses and transitions while on HRT promoting resilience.
Expertly combines acupuncture, massage, meditation, sound baths and other holistic modalities amplifying benefits of HRT at all levels.
We gladly coordinate referrals to these and other practitioners catering to HRT patients here in our Hicksville community.
Please reach out today to explore whether hormone replacement therapy provided by Renew Hormone Institute can help you regain vibrancy improving symptoms, quality of life and supporting healthy longevity.
