Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
When your hormones decline, whether it’s perimenopause, menopause, andropause, low testosterone, or thyroid changes, the impact can ripple through every part of your life: sleep, mood, weight, energy, libido, brain function, joint pain, anxiety. Hormone replacement therapy, done thoughtfully, can restore what’s been quietly slipping away. We use bioidentical hormones whenever possible and build your protocol around your test results, your symptoms, and where you are in life.
What you should know about HRT
What HRT can replace
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormone, DHEA, and adrenal support — used individually or in combination depending on your needs. We use bioidentical forms (molecularly identical to what your body makes) whenever possible.
Who’s a candidate?
Women in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause; men with low testosterone (andropause); women and men with thyroid changes that haven’t responded to lifestyle alone; and anyone whose hormone testing shows clear deficiencies driving symptoms.
What our approach looks like
We start with comprehensive hormone testing which usually includes the DUTCH test plus a full thyroid and sex hormone panel. This way we know exactly what’s deficient and how your body is using and clearing what’s there. From those results we build a customized protocol, retest periodically, and adjust over time.
Restoring balance, not just chasing symptoms
Conventional medicine often treats hormone imbalance like a list of symptoms to suppress antidepressants for mood, sleep aids for insomnia, and extra coffee for fatigue. In functional medicine, we ask the deeper question: which hormones are low, why are they low, and how do we restore the levels your body actually thrives at?
We also consider how your body is using or not using the hormones that you make. Are you deficient because you are not using them properly or is it because you are just not making them. Differentiating between the two helps us determine the root cause and best direction to take when deciding on your protocol and treatment plan moving forward.
Bioidentical hormones, which are made to match your body’s own molecules, tend to be better tolerated and metabolized more cleanly than synthetic versions. They’re also dosed individually based on your test results, not a generic prescription. Alongside replacement, we look at the upstream factors that affect how your body makes and clears hormones including your gut, your liver, your stress response, your nutrient status.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can also be used by transgender individuals. Beyond Your Health is not currently accepting patients of this type. Thank you!
Common Questions about HRT
For most people, yes it is safe. When HRT it’s prescribed thoughtfully, monitored carefully, and based on real data it is very safe, and often beneficial to your overall health now and in the future. Modern research on bioidentical hormones has dramatically shifted the picture from older concerns about synthetic HRT. We’ll review your personal and family history, run appropriate testing, and weigh the benefits and risks specific to you before recommending any protocol.
Many studies are now emerging showing the benefits of HRT which include reduced rates of cardiovascular disease, dementia and can even lower cholesterol.
Additional resources:
• https://menopause.org/
• Dr. Mary Claire Haver: Board-certified OB/GYN and author of the New York Times bestseller The New Menopause, which champions science-backed hormone options and dismantles midlife healthcare myths. [1, 2]
• Dr. Avrum Bluming & Carol Tavris: Authors of Estrogen Matters, a widely discussed book defending HRT and detailing the medical misinterpretations of the early Women’s Health Initiative studies. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Dr. Louise Newson: A GP and menopause specialist leading the movement internationally, host of the Dr Louise Newson podcast, and founder of the Balance hormone health app. [1, 2]
Bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical to the ones your body naturally makes and your receptors recognize them and process them the same way. Synthetic hormones are similar but structurally different, which is part of why some older synthetic HRT formulations had side effects bioidentical formulations generally don’t. We use bioidentical whenever possible.
That depends on your body, your symptoms, and your goals. Some people use HRT for a defined window during a major transition like perimenopause; others stay on a maintenance dose long-term because the quality-of-life benefits are significant. We retest periodically and adjust over time, there’s no one-size-fits-all.
We love making people feel BETTER!
With highly trained practitioners, including a Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in clinical medicine. We consider the whole person and focus on uncovering the cause of your symptoms.