Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for aging and menopause

The bioidentical hormone pellets we offer in Traverse City and Petoskey have the same chemical structure as the hormones produced by our own bodies. This makes the use of bioidentical hormones significantly safer than the use of oral synthetic hormones. Of particular note is estrogen used in BHT.  Much controversy surrounds the use of estrogen replacement in women, but it stems from a 2002 study that reported a small increase in breast cancer and cardiac risk with the use of a brand of 100% synthetic estrogen. Additionally, the research was conducted on women who’d started synthetic hormone therapy derived from animal sources in their mid 60s, long after menopause, and the primary mitigating factor in the 2002 study was isolated to the use of synthetic progestin. Unfortunately for women, those conclusions led an entire generation of physicians to avoid hormone replacement therapy, and this legacy still stands today.

Researchers today agree that starting estrogen therapy on the onset — or immediately after — the menopause years, has protective effects on the cardiovascular system, on reducing development of coronary plaques, and lowering mortality.

Further, bioidentical estrogen, which is what we utilize in our BHT pellets, has been shown in studies to be safe when used in conjunction with bioidentical micronized progesterone.

Testosterone isn’t just for men. It’s often wrongly assumed to be related solely to sex drive, aggression and muscle development, but it’s a critical hormone for women that starts to decline after the mid 20s, and by the age of 40, is down 50% from its peak, youthful levels.

Imbalanced testosterone affects everything from weight gain, to energy, to thinning and shedding hair, to diminished interest and enjoyment in sex. Women with suboptimal testosterone levels report feeling irritable, depressed and anxious.

When we optimize testosterone to more youthful levels via BHT (that’s been carefully calibrated based on every patient’s blood labs), women report increased energy, libido, ability to concentrate, and an overall renewed “zest for life” that has them feeling — well— normal again for the first time since their hormones began to plummet.

After menopause, estrogen levels plummet and can leave women with symptoms of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, decreased sexual function, mood disorders, decreased bone mineral density, and increased body weight just to name a few. Even women who aren’t yet in menopause, experience similar symptoms during perimenopause, usually between the ages of 40-50. We decide on whether you are a candidate for estrogen replacement after running some labs. Estrogen is only replaced once you are fully menopausal.

When we replace estrogen to optimal levels, it can reverse these disruptive symptoms.  Years of scientific research has shown that optimal estrogen has additional protective benefits against heart disease, osteoporosis, stroke, and Alzheimer’s.

And because the estrogen we use in BHT is bioidentical, it’s much safer and more tolerated by the body than oral synthetic estrogen, which remains the default go-to bandaid hormone solution all-too-many practitioners prescribe.

Progesterone is an amazing hormone that— when optimally balanced — can dramatically improve a woman’s sleep (a common complaint in many women after age 40 is insomnia or insufficient sleep). Progesterone is the one hormone in our BHT regimen that’s taken orally, and in some patients, it’s used in conjunction with estrogen therapy to help reduce certain health risks after menopause such as abnormal bleeding. Balanced progesterone levels have been shown to be protective against endometrial cancer, because it helps prevent a build up of endometrial (uterine) cells.

It’s also a game changer for the brain, helping enhance memory and cognition. Progesterone is the only hormone we replace orally and we can safely replace progesterone before menopause to help with sleep and anxiety.

The tough thing about life after 40 is sometimes hormonal symptoms and change happens so gradually, you can’t see how “off” you’re feeling until you look back and realize you used to have more energy, clarity, interest in life, and control of your bodily functions.

That’s why we recommend women come in for a consultation and blood tests by age 45 — when perimenopause starts to kick in. At RegenCen, we’ve administered BHT regimens to women as young as 37 who — whether from life-altering events like chemotherapy, or the simple earlier onset of menopausal symptoms like urinary incontinence or hot flashes — want a better quality of life.

If you’re in the thick of menopause, or even past it, BHT can help you better good as you age. Hundreds of studies have shown that optimizing your hormone levels can help improve your health outcomes and increase lifespan.

At RegenCen in both Petoskey and Traverse City, we offer estrogen and testosterone bioidentical hormone replacement by using pellets. Pellets contain time-released estrogen and testosterone and are placed just under your skin in the hip to deliver more youthful levels of hormones.  Compared to daily or weekly patches or creams, pellets are low-maintenance and deliver consistent hormone doses at all times. This quick and safe out-patient procedure lasts about 3 months for women and 5-6 months for men.

Initial visit: You’ll Meet with a female Physician Associate who collects a detailed history and discusses your symptoms and concerns.  After your consultation, we'll give you a lab order for hormonal testing.

Visit #2: We review your the lab results from your bloodwork, which detail your current hormonal levels and deficiencies. With that information, we determine the appropriate hormone levels to balance your body’s unique needs, and administer pellet insertion and/or a prescription regimen.

Visit #3: After the pellets are inserted, we’ll monitor your progress through bloodwork that shows your hormone levels as well as your symptom improvement.

In the week prior to your follow-up visit in Petoskey, Traverse City, or Naples, you’ll need to have another set of bloodwork drawn. At your visit, we’ll review the results from your bloodwork, discuss improvements in symptoms that you’ve experienced, and move forward with the appropriate treatment regimen for you, which may include adjustments to the original pellet doses and plan. 

Typically women need to come in 3-4 times a year to maintain optimal levels.

Hormonal pellet insertion is quick and easy and done just with local anesthetic.

It varies from patient to patient but many patients report similar experiences as their hormone levels are optimized. Because hormones are such a fundamental part of our every day bodily functions, there may a “transition time” where your body adjusts to the BHT. Often patients report a rather rapid increase in a positive mood, interest in life, interest in sex, and ability to focus. Energy for exercise and day to day life improves.

Usually sooner but by the 3-month mark, women report reduction in hot flashes, sluggishness, vaginal and overall skin dryness, and insomnia as well as improved bladder control. They also tell us their partners are happier, too, because BHT helps overall moods, spark their libidos, make orgasms easier, and generally make their sex lives a whole lot more fun again.

Rarely. Come see us for a consultation. We treat women on customized bioidentical hormone therapy even decades after the change. There are safe, effective ways to give bioidentical hormones to virtually all women, at any age.