Q: Are bioidentical hormones FDA approved?
A: The FDA regulates individual hormones like estrogen and testosterone, but does not approve custom compounded BHRT therapy. Still, bioidentical hormones have decades of clinical use showing safety when properly dosed and monitored.
Q: When is the best age to start hormone therapy?
A: Symptoms rather than age should drive initiation of treatment, but general guidelines are early 30s for DHEA, late 30s-40 for testosterone in men, and late 40s-early 50s for estrogen and/or testosterone in women. Starting sooner leads to better health in later years.
Q: What are the main health risks with bioidentical hormones?
A: There are minimal risks of major side effects like blood clots or stroke in patients without predisposing conditions when doses restore normal hormone levels. We monitor patients closely to avoid oversupplementing any hormones.
Q: Will medical insurance cover bioidentical HRT?
A: Some components like testing, physician consults, or generic hormones may be covered, especially if patients have documented deficiency diagnoses. Otherwise, out-of-pocket payment is required since therapy is customized. Cost depends on what's specifically prescribed.
Q: Is lifelong therapy necessary?
A: Treatment duration depends on the patient's clinical progress and hormone test results over time. We've found patients who establish healthy lifestyle habits while on HRT can reduce dosing required to maintain balance. The goal is to optimize hormone levels naturally.
Q: Are there integrative therapies that can support hormone therapy?
A: Yes, absolutely - we offer patients customized nutrition plans, fitness recommendations, targeted nutraceuticals, stress adaptation techniques, and acupuncture that complement HRT to enhance response. An integrative approach is ideal.
Hopefully, these answers help explain some basics around bioidentical hormone replacement. Please reach out with any other questions - we are happy to guide you!