Integrative Treatment Protocols
We craft comprehensive protocols addressing:
- Diet & Nutrition - Meal plans and quality supplements
- Exercise - Matching activity recommendations to hormone levels/symptoms
- Stress Management - Relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes
- Toxin Reduction - Limiting plastics, chemicals, and other hormone disruptors
- Bioidentical HRT - Customizing delivery methods and dosing
This integrative approach optimizes treatment response!
HRT Delivery Method Pros & Cons
Various methods effectively deliver supplemental estrogen, testosterone, and other hormones. Here's a comparison of the pros and cons of each approach to consider.
HRT Delivery Methods
Route: Oral Tablets
Convenient dosing
- Harder to customize doses
- Pass through liver
Route: Skin Patches
Easy to use
- Some skin irritation
- Requires shaving
Route: Gels (skin)
Good absorption
Flexible dosing
- Potential transfer to others
Route: Under Skin Pellets
Steady delivery
- Insertion procedure
- Unable to adjust dose
Oral tablets like estrogen/progesterone pills are familiar and convenient. However, passing through the digestive tract and liver before reaching circulation makes precise dosing tricky.
Topical skin patches deliver hormones well, easily adhere to most areas of the body, and doses can be readily adjusted by changing patch strength/frequency. Some irritation can occur. Shaving the area is needed for good adherence.
Customizable topical gels also effectively permeate into circulation. By varying the pump dosage, specific amounts can be reliably delivered. However, caution is required to avoid transferring hormones to partners/children with close contact. Washing hands helps.
Under the skin pellets offer steady long-term delivery without frequent dosing. However, the minor procedure is needed to insert the pellets initially. And the continuous release rate can't be modified until pellets are replaced after 6 months.
In collaboration with one's doctor, the advantages and disadvantages of each method can be weighed to meet an individual's needs and preferences. We offer all of these delivery routes so patients can realize the full benefits of treatment.
Lifestyle Tips for Best HRT Results
While balanced hormone levels translate to feeling healthier, certain lifestyle measures optimize treatment response. Here are practical suggestions:
Nutrition: Follow a Mediterranean-style diet - high in veggies, fiber, healthy fats with lean meats/fish. This anti-inflammatory diet benefits hormonal health. Supplements like DHEA, zinc, and magnesium also help optimize levels.
Exercise: Include a mix of cardio, strength training, and HIIT workouts appropriate for your fitness level. This builds lean muscle mass which benefits metabolic health.
Stress Management: Unmanaged stress raises cortisol which can blunt treatment effects. Practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, etc.
Quality Sleep: Get 7-9 hours nightly. Hormones like testosterone replenish most during deep sleep. Maintain good sleep hygiene habits for optimal rest.
Toxin Reduction: Avoid endocrine disruptors like BPA plastics, parabens in cosmetics, phthalates in scented products, etc. as these derail hormonal balance.
While we customize therapy to your needs, optimizing lifestyle habits accelerates and amplifies the benefits! Our experts offer detailed guidance.
The Impact of Low Testosterone
While some diminish the effects of waning testosterone as men age, sound research shows otherwise. The wide-ranging symptoms and long-term health risks are far more serious than many realize.