Hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), involves using medications or supplements containing hormones to treat common issues caused by hormone imbalances or deficiencies. HRT and BHRT can provide immense benefits for both men and women by helping restore optimal hormone levels, thereby alleviating unpleasant symptoms and promoting better overall health and wellbeing.
Both men and women may develop hormonal imbalances as they age, causing undesirable effects like fatigue, weight gain, decreased libido, and more. Women approaching perimenopause and menopause often have declining estrogen and progesterone levels leading to hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, mood changes, and loss of bone density over time. Men over age 45-50 frequently contend with decreasing testosterone, resulting in low energy, emotional changes, reduced muscle mass and strength, erectile dysfunction, decreased motivation, and inability to focus.
Fortunately, customized bioidentical hormone therapy can successfully restore lacking hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone to much more youthful levels under medical supervision. Treatment helps alleviate unpleasant symptoms for enhanced quality of life. Below we delve deeper into key aspects of hormone optimization at our clinic catering to residents in the Schriever area.
Here at Butterfly Hormone Center, we specialize in advanced testing and personalized programs for hormone replacement and balancing. Our detailed blood, saliva, symptom, and lifestyle assessments allow us to pinpoint current hormone levels and what customized combination and delivery method of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and other bioidentical hormones will likely work best for the unique needs of each individual.
We then closely monitor progress during therapy through follow-up testing and exams, making prudent adjustments along the way. The goal is to safely achieve an optimal balance for feeling and functioning one's best. We also provide recommendations on nutrition, supplements, fitness, and stress reduction to help our patients get the most out of their treatment.
Below we will walk through key topics related to understanding and utilizing hormone therapy effectively.
Carefully-managed programs centered around bioidentical hormone replacement provide a multitude of worthwhile improvements beyond just alleviating common symptoms linked to deficiencies and imbalances. Customized therapy with properly prescribed testosterone (TRT) for men and estrogen, progesterone, testosterone combinations for women enables one to look better, think clearer, sleep sounder, relate happier, and live fully again!
The right supervised regimen of women's hormone therapy offers profound enhancements within a few months:
Similarly, properly-prescribed testosterone therapy delivers profound enhancements:
In a nutshell, properly administered hormone replacement offers something for everyone through substantially improving numerous aspects of health and quality of life!
Determining current hormone levels and whether treatment is warranted begins with comprehensive assessments by one of our experienced practitioners. We gather extensive background information and order the appropriate combination of blood tests, saliva assays, ultrasounds, etc. to uncover the likelihood and causes of any deficiencies or excesses. Oftentimes this will also point toward genetic predispositions individuals may have toward hormonal issues.
Common reasons both men and women develop imbalances include:
We then meet with patients to review findings, explain the science behind what is occurring in their body, provide customized treatment recommendations, and describe realistic expectations if hormone therapy is indeed appropriate.
Below we overview key hormones we commonly prescribe.
Four essential hormones we frequently supplement based on diagnostic results are:
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone responsible for female characteristics and reproductive capabilities. Common symptoms of low estrogen in women include:
Benefits of properly-managed estrogen therapy include reducing or eliminating the above symptoms for enhanced quality of life. Estrogen also aids memory and focus while helping preserve bone, heart, and brain health.
At Butterfly Hormone Center, we closely monitor patients via blood tests, exams, ultrasounds when necessary, and follow-up visits to ensure customized estrogen therapy remains safe and efficacious over the long run.
This key hormone works together with estrogen during a women's reproductive years for regular periods and to support pregnancy. Normal progesterone levels start declining during perimenopause and menopause when estrogen output also begins dropping off.
Symptoms may include worsening PMS issues, fatigue, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain. For women taking estrogen replacement, adding bioidentical progesterone negates potential side effects from estrogen alone on uterine tissue. We provide both pills and topical creams.
Careful monitoring ensures optimal balancing between the two hormones for safe, long-lasting therapy promoting feminine health. Follow-ups also help promptly adjust prescriptions based on any emerging symptoms.
Some key facts regarding this vital hormone:
Hence we often prescribe customized testosterone therapy within complete programs to restore lagging levels. Available options include gels, pellets, patches, tablets, carefully-monitored injections, and creams to reestablish youthful functioning. Follow-ups then allow adjusting dosage to avoid potential side effects. Testosterone works wonders but requires proper administration and supervision!
DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone. This prohormone precursor gets converted primarily into testosterone and estrogen within tissue cells. DHEA supplementation can provide a variety of benefits including:
We often add DHEA into customized programs when appropriate to amplify positive effects. As with all hormone therapy, prudent medical monitoring remains crucial for efficacy and safety.
While bioidentical hormone replacement provides immense symptomatic relief and protective health benefits, certain lifestyle measures profoundly amplify favorable outcomes:
Nutrition: We advise eating wholesome Mediterranean style diets high in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, fish, lean meats, olive oil, and dairy. These provide optimal antioxidants, fiber, plant compounds, protein building blocks, and healthy fats for combating inflammation and supplying necessary micronutrients that make hormones work better. We also recommend specific supplements as warranted for boosting therapy results.
Exercise: Engaging in consistent moderate physical activity (ideally 30-60 minutes daily) potently complements hormone therapy through burning fat, building calorie-burning muscle, improving energy, moods, sleep quality and mental sharpness. We suggest finding enjoyable activities readily woven into normal routines like walking, cycling, swimming, light strength training, yoga, etc. We also provide guidance on certain fitness centers, parks, walking trails, swim clubs, gyms, etc. in the local Schriever area that patients find accommodating.
Stress Modulation: Allowing too much ongoing stress into our lives sparks hormonal chaos causing numerous health issues. Learning effective coping strategies for properly dealing with life’s inevitable stresses amplifies the benefits of therapy. Useful skills include getting enough sleep, yoga, mindfulness meditation, talking with friends, enjoyable hobbies, laughter and humor, counseling when needed, etc. to regularly counter the effects of stress.
Relationship Happiness: Having satisfying connections with others sustains us during good and bad times. Make nurturing key relationships a priority for enhancing moods, life purpose and hormone balance.
In summary, combining proper nutrition, activity, stress modulation, and meaningful bonds with others synergistically empowers hormone therapy for realizing one’s fullest potential. We offer ongoing guidance to help patients achieve this goal.
Given the variety of protective health benefits and improved quality of life hormone replacement therapy affords, it becomes imperative for both men and women to address emerging deficiencies promptly through testing and proper treatment rather than allowing issues to spiral.
As women undergo the transition toward menopause, their ovarian reserve and associated estrogen/progesterone production continually declines. Allowing hormonal decreases to persist long term significantly raises risks for heart disease, osteoporosis/fractures, diabetes, obesity, dementia, anxiety, depression and other issues. Timely testing and therapy provides substantial risk reduction and symptom relief.
Furthermore, beginning treatment during the earliest stages of perimenopause when women often initially notice subtle changes like irregular cycles, trouble sleeping, hot flashes, etc. enhances the likelihood of restoring optimal long term balance, function and health. We specialize in closely supervised programs tailored to each woman's needs whether just entering periomenopause or many years into menopause. Acting promptly remains key while closely monitoring progress for safe, effective care.
Most men begin experiencing gradual testosterone decreases after age 30 by 1-2% per year. Levels may decline by 1/2 to 1/3 over decades; speed varies by individual. Allowing progressive "Low-T" to go undiagnosed and untreated long term significantly increases risks for cardiovascular disease, obesity/diabetes, osteoporosis, depression/anxiety, erectile dysfunction, chronic fatigue and reduced longevity.
Testing and therapy early within the falling range makes restoring peak levels easier before deficits grow too severe. We tailor treatment based on initial degrees of deficiency and risks factors while closely tracking response. Again prompt diagnosis and proper management remains essential for ensuring normal male hormonal functioning for as long into life as feasible.
Hormone therapy can help transgender individuals match their physical characteristics with their gender identity. While the emotional benefits are well-known, research has also shown that it can yield unexpected physical health improvements like better blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
When pursuing hormone testing and potential therapy to alleviate deficiencies, choosing knowledgeable, meticulous practitioners becomes vital for safe, effective care. Here at Butterfly Hormone Center serving Schriever and the surrounding area, we pride ourselves on remaining at the cutting edge of precision diagnosis and personalized treatment based on the latest scientific advancements specific to bioidentical hormone restoration science.
Our practitioners possess extensive specialized training in hormone testing interpretation, bioidentical balancing methods, follow-up protocols, lifestyle optimization guidance and related topics. We only utilize compounded prescriptions from thoroughly vetted high-quality pharmacies to carefully prescribe/provide estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and more in safe forms and doses designed to uniquely fit each individual.
For women, this includes estradiol, estrone, estriol blends, progesterone creams, and testosterone components when needed. For men, testosterone creams, gels, tablets, pellets or supervised injections prove optimal based on preferences and required strength. We also incorporate prescription folates, B vitamins, antioxidants, CoQ10 and select other supplements to amplify positive effects.
Our caring staff handles administrative tasks, field questions, explain insurance particulars, ease scheduling/appointment changes and support both practitioners and patients however possible. We appreciate building ongoing relationships with people focused on restoring and sustaining optimal wellbeing as they traverse changes across adulthood into later years. Everyone works as a coordinated team.
Our knowledgeable practitioners remain dedicated lifelong students regarding the latest science and best practices surrounding precision hormone restoration. We regularly attend advanced medical conferences, continually research emerging diagnostic and treatment evidence, seek advanced certifications, and network with top specialists across the country to maintain our reputation for clinical excellence catering to local needs.
Current topics we diligently follow include appropriate testing recommendations based on risk profiles, improved assay accuracy/consistency, creativity and prudence in customized bioidentical balancing methods as more delivery options emerge, optimizing complementary lifestyle measures for amplifying therapy results, and fine-tuning follow-up protocols to ensure efficacy and safety as patients progress through treatment over months to years.
We then distill such in-depth expertise into simplified guidance and care customized for the unique needs of each person who entrusts us with helping them regain health, vitality and quality of life as they navigate changes across the lifespan.
Rather than taking a rigid "one-size fits all" approach with bioidentical hormone therapy like some clinics, we pride ourselves on tailored precision per individual factors like age, risk profiles based on health histories, lifestyle habits, genetic predispositions, treatment goals, and personal preferences.
No two people share the exact same optimal balance points and methods for restoring hormone deficits. We combine advanced testing interpretation with seasoned clinical judgment to prescribe each patient a personalized regimen adapted across time for effectiveness and safety. Follow-ups also allow prompt dosage adjustments if needed.
Meticulous customization proves essential to excellent care and outcomes. At Butterfly Hormone Center, no effort gets spared to optimally restore and sustain hormone balance for alleviating deficient symptoms and amplifying health - now and across the years ahead. We support patients like members of our own families.
To accommodate often busy treatment schedules, we offer early morning, lunch hour and early evening appointment times several days per week. We also occasionally schedule weekend hours and remain on-call nights/weekends for any pressing issues requiring attention before the next regular visit.
Our comfortable office setting provides a welcoming environment conducive to productive consultations, exams and discussions regarding therapy specifics, progress checks, lifestyle fine-tuning etc. We want patients to feel cared for, understood and supported each step of the way. Their health and satisfaction with personal care remain our top priorities.
Adjunctive Testing Facilities
For patient convenience in our shared medical complex, we arrange discount testing agreements with affiliated labs, imaging centers etc. to ease diagnosis, therapy monitoring, and associated diagnostic screenings. We also network with a variety of local wellness businesses that complement hormone therapy through services like fitness training, massage, counseling, nutritive supplements, dermatology, and medical weight management. Patients find having access to this comprehensive array of offerings "under one roof" highly useful.
We strive to make therapy as seamless and streamlined as possible while optimizing results. Ongoing education and consistent access proves vital. Our compassionate staff and clinicians always stand ready to field questions, explain treatment nuances, describe expectations, ease uncertainties, solve issues and support people through the optimization process for happier, healthier and more vibrant living ahead!
If you have any symptoms or health changes suggesting hormone imbalance, we encourage you to request a consultation to explore whether our personalized therapy services might help restore your wellbeing.
