Feel Like Yourself Again: The Power of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
Bioidentical hormones are man-made hormones derived from plant sources, specifically yams. They are molecularly identical to the hormones that your body produce. Traditional hormone therapy uses synthetic hormones, that are often “similar to what your body makes, but not exact. Bioidentical hormones are an exact structural match to your body.
Hormones work in a “key and lock” system. The “Lock” are the receptors that the cells in your body have on them. The “Key” are the hormones, and when you use the correct “key” that is the match to the “lock” it turns smoothly and does its job without any friction. Synthetic hormones are like “skeleton keys”, they can open the door, but the may need to be jingled or can get stuck, which is why people experience more side effects with them.
At Tennessee Wellness Collective, we use a customized treatment plan for each of our patients. We do this through a complete health history and an extensive lab review. T We give the bioidentical hormone therapy (BHRT), in the use of pellets. These pellets are tiny cylinders (the size of a grain of rice) inserted under the skin that release a steady stream of hormones for 3-6 months in our patients.
The benefits of BHRT encompasses many quality-of-life improvements.
Energy: lifting brain “fog” and chronic fatigue
Mood: Reducing irritability, anxiety, and depressive symptoms
Physical: stopping hot flashes, night sweats, and improving libido
Long term health: supporting bone density and heart health
The process patient can expect from our office include the following:
Comprehensive blood work: We do a complete blood work analysis that includes your hormone levels to see exactly where your imbalances are.
Custom Compounding: A pharmacy creates a dose that is specific to your body, rather than a one size fits all approach.
Ongoing optimization: We monitor your symptoms and labs to tweak your dose as you begin to feel better.
Fequently asked questions:
What exactly does “bioidentical” mean?
The term bioidentical means that on a molecular level, the hormones are the exact replica of ones that your own body create. Traditional hormone therapy uses synthetic hormones, which are often made from animal sources or chemicals that are similar, but not identical to your body, tending to lead to unwanted side effects.
How is Bioidentical hormone therapy different from a standard hormone prescription therapy?
Standard hormone therapy is usually a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Bioidentical hormone therapy is custom tailored to the patient. We do this through taking comprehensive blood analysis to identify specific deficiencies one may have. Then, a compounding pharmacy creates a dose that is specific to the patients body’s needs.
Why choose pellets over creams or pills?
Pellets are inserted under the skin, which provide a steady, consistent, release of hormones 24/7. The release of the pellets is based off cardiac output, much like ones natural body system. This eliminates the “roller coaster” effect (spikes and crashes) that can often be felt with daily pills or creams that can rub off.
How long does it take to feel a difference?
While every patient is unique, most people begin to feel the effects in their energy and sleep within 7 to 14 days. The full physical and mental benefits typically tend to peak around 4 to 6 weeks.
Is the pellet insertion painful?
Not at all. The procedure takes less than 5 minutes. We use a local anesthic (lidocaine 2%) to numb a small area on the glute (for women) and the love handle area (for men). The pellet (which is the size of a grain of rice) is then inserted in those areas. Most patients stat the numbing medication is the worst part and all they feel is a little pressure if that. You will leave a pressure bandage and steri strips over the incision, but can return to your daily routine immediately.
How often will I need treatments?
For women most patient find that they last between 3-4 months. For men most patients fine they last between 5-6 months. Both depend on how active a patient is and how quickly one metabolizes the hormones. We monitor you labs to ensure your levels stay in the “optimal” zone.