Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hormone Therapy Safe?
Yes, under the care of expert physicians who utilized advanced diagnostic testing and the latest medical research, Hormone Therapy is indeed safe. In fact, thousands of clinical studies have been conducted on the safety and efficacy of safe, responsibly administered Hormone Replacement Therapy. All HRT Wellness Physicians are highly trained Medical Doctors, each specializing in the treatment of adults over the age of 30 who are experiencing hormone deficiencies/imbalances.
When Should I Consider Hormone Therapy?
Those who suffer from a hormone imbalance should seek advice at any time but typically, hormones start to decline in the mid-to-late twenties. By age 35 declines are sufficient that symptoms may be evident. The best time to start replacing hormones is between age 35 and 40. However, it is never too late.
The optimal age for treatment varies for each individual. Some are affected at a younger ages due to adverse health conditions that impact hormone balance. Symptoms of andropause, perimenopause and menopause, which occur around middle-age are usually the reason that individuals seek treatment through hormone balance.
Many find it beneficial to have their hormones tested in their 20s or 30s and establish an optimal baseline of what their normal is. With an established baseline, you can take steps to monitor and maintain balanced hormones. In the event of an imbalance at any point, your physician may refer to your baseline and develop a treatment plant to restore an optimal baseline.
Will my insurance cover my treatment?
In most cases, the answer is no.
Unlike Eastern medicine practices, Western medicine ignores the importance of endocrine system maintenance and hormone balance, choosing instead to treat the symptoms of hormone deficiency versus the causes. As is typical with insurance companies, they follow narrow criteria to qualify a patient for Hormone Replacement therapy, and anything falling outside of those parameters, is considered an elective treatment and will not be covered.
How are therapies administered?
The short answer is that it depends. For some hormones, there are one or two optimal and safe methods of delivery. In other instances, client preference may come into play. You will be informed as to what the pros and cons are of any particular method of delivery, so that you and our doctors can decide what makes the most sense for you. Regardless, our doctors will not allow you to do something that isn’t safe.
How long must I commit to hormone therapy?
Your commitment to hormone therapy should last as long as you want the results. If this thought is daunting, consider that men and women of previous generations had the same age-related challenges that we face today. They could not, however, do anything about it. When you consider the improved quality of life that hormone therapy affords, not to mention a longer life, making the commitment becomes easier.
Is there any danger in starting and stopping treatment?
There is no danger in starting or stopping treatment. If you stop, your internal feedback system will likely revert to where you were when you started. It often takes about three months for the body to feel the full effects of hormone replacement therapy.
What does the $89.95 fee include?
The $89.95 fee is a 1-time fee (NOT recurring). It includes a comprehensive hormone blood test at your local Quest Diagnostics location. The fee also includes your Doctor consultation. You will NOT receive any additional bills from Quest Diagnostics or any of our Doctors.
What does the $229 monthly fee include?
This fee includes: Your medications, unlimited access to your HRT Doctors from 9am-6pm, free blood test every 6 months, free access 24 hours a day x 7 days a week x 365 days a year to our General Practice Doctors in our family telemedicine plan.
Do your plans require a contract?
No. We do not have contracts. You can start or stop your hormone therapy whenever you’d like with no penalty at all.
Are there any hidden fees?
No hidden fees. We disclose our fees on the pricing page and have no hidden fees.
How do I meet my Doctor?
We are a telemedicine practice which means that you will meet your Doctor via a video call within your patient portal.
Male
What is Andropause?
While women experience Menopause, all men starting around the age of 30, will experience a male form of Menopause, also known as Andropause. Testosterone levels deplete overtime, and inevitably men start experiencing the symptoms of aging.
What are the Symptoms of Andropause or Male Testosterone Depletion?
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Muscle Loss
- Weight Gain
- Gynecomastia
- Hot Flashes
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Lower Sex Drive
- Hair Loss
- Urinary Problems
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Night Sweats
- Hypogonadism
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Thyroid Health
What are the risks of Testosterone Replacement in Men?
Some patients could experience side effects and many of them are linked to dosage which may need changing over time. It is always recommended that you communicate side effects to your physician to be promptly addressed. These effects may include:
- Increase in red blood cells – This can be beneficial patients with anemia (low blood counts). However, it can cause blood vessel blockage and lead to a heart attack or stroke.
- Irritability – Some men and women have reported increased aggressiveness or irritability at the start of testosterone hormone therapy. These issues are generally resolved as levels become balanced.
- Prostate effects – Prostate issues can arise with higher levels of Testosterone. If you have an enlarged prostate, referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), testosterone may worsen your symptoms, particularly if you are more than 50 years of age. If you have a history of prostate cancer, you cannot receive testosterone therapy.
- Infertility – This is common in young men when sperm production is reduced but usually reversible after stopping testosterone therapy.
- Sleep apnea – This is a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep. Although uncommon, it is a reported side effect.
- Fluid retention – Although uncommon, you must use caution if you have a history of heart failure or kidney disease.
- Other – Acne, oily skin, increased body hair and flushing have also been reported. Occasionally, hormone therapy patients will complain of itching or redness at the injection or insertion site, bit these symptoms diminish as the body adjusts to treatment.
What are normal levels of Testosterone?
Testosterone levels (also known as T levels) between 350ng/dL and 1000ng/dL are considered normal, however you may still fall within this range and still be considered to have low T. The brain, pituitary gland, hypothalamus and the testicles work together to keep testosterone in the normal range. If testosterone levels are below normal for your body, the brain signals the testicles to produce more. When testosterone levels are adequate, the brain signals the testicles to produce less. If one of these areas is not functioning properly it is likely to reduce testosterone production.
Is Testosterone therapy effective at treating infertility?
No. It can have the opposite effect. Introducing additional testosterone can reduce the amount of sperm the body produces. Other treatments can help the body to produce more sperm.
Is there a correlation between testosterone levels and the amount of body hair?
Body hair is mostly tied to genetics and hereditary backgrounds. Men with Low T can experience a reduction in hair but testosterone therapy does not stimulate hair growth in areas you previously did not have hair.
Will my Hormone Replacement be synced with my menstrual cycle?
The female body’s hormones surge and ebb as a part of a natural rhythm, controlling all endocrine function, predominantly a woman’s health for reproduction. It is the circadian clock in our cells that measures one 24 hour spin of the planet. For 28 days the moon tracks the repeat of that cycle, and so does the body.
HRT Wellness uses the female body’s natural rhythm of hormone production to establish the proper doses of estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone that mimic the natural hormones which would be produced by your body if you were young. The topical creams and their amounts vary throughout the 28 day cycle to restore the hormone levels of a woman in her prime because young women, for the most part, don’t have heart attacks, breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, or type 2 diabetes.
Does HRT Doctors work with BioIdentical Hormones?
100% of our female medical protocols are bioidentical hormones. Bioidenticals are hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make naturally in their bodies. They’re not found in this form in nature, bu are made from a plant chemical extraction process.
What are the symptoms of Hormone Imbalance?
Some patients could experience side effects and many of them are linked to dosage which may need changing over time. It is always recommended that you communicate side effects to your physician to be promptly addressed. These effects may include:
- Increase in red blood cells – This can be beneficial patients with anemia (low blood counts). However, it can cause blood vessel blockage and lead to a heart attack or stroke.
- Irritability – Some men and women have reported increased aggressiveness or irritability at the start of testosterone hormone therapy. These issues are generally resolved as levels become balanced.
- Prostate effects – Prostate issues can arise with higher levels of Testosterone. If you have an enlarged prostate, referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), testosterone may worsen your symptoms, particularly if you are more than 50 years of age. If you have a history of prostate cancer, you cannot receive testosterone therapy.
- Infertility – This is common in young men when sperm production is reduced but usually reversible after stopping testosterone therapy.
- Sleep apnea – This is a condition that disrupts breathing during sleep. Although uncommon, it is a reported side effect.
- Fluid retention – Although uncommon, you must use caution if you have a history of heart failure or kidney disease.
- Other – Acne, oily skin, increased body hair and flushing have also been reported. Occasionally, hormone therapy patients will complain of itching or redness at the injection or insertion site, bit these symptoms diminish as the body adjusts to treatment.
What are the risks of Hormone Replacement in Women?
- Urinary incontinence – Use of estrogen plus progestin can increase the risk of urinary incontinence.
- Dementia – Use of estrogen plus progestin can increase the risk of developing dementia among postmenopausal women age 65 and older.
- Stroke, blood clots, and heart attack – Women who either combine hormone therapy treatments or take estrogen alone have an increased risk of stroke, blood clots, and heart attack.
- Breast cancer – Women who take estrogen plus progestin may be at a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Irritability – Some women have reported increased aggressiveness or irritability at the start of hormone therapy that includes Testosterone. These issues are generally resolved as levels become balanced. If this is a concern, please advise your HRT Wellness doctor,and have Testosterone removed from your treatment plan.
What role does Testosterone play in women?
Although only a small amount is required for women, testosterone plays a role in a women’s sex drive as well as the ability to build and retain lean muscle mass.
I have had a hysterectomy; do I qualify for the program?
Our entire bodies need estrogen and progesterone. The cycle supports our bones, our brains, the myelin coating of our nerves, our hearts and many other systems. Many of the women in HRT Wellness have had various forms of hysterectomies. Some still have ovaries and some do not. Women without these organs tend to need more hormone replacement because of what is missing. A woman without a uterus follows the cycle of the moon (lunar calendar) for her monthly rhythms. She has her day 12 peak on the full moon.
I have an IUD, is that okay?
Unfortunately, we cannot treat anyone with any type of IUD, including ones that are free of hormones. You can opt to remove your IUD and wait 60 days before signing up with our program and completing your blood test. However, if birth control is important you will need to consider your plan for this.