When hormones fall out of balance, your body lets you know - loud, clear, and disruptively. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps many people feel like themselves again. Here’s how to figure out if it’s right for you, and what to expect if you decide to pursue it.

What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?

HRT, also known as hormone optimization therapy, supplements or replaces hormones your body no longer makes enough of. It’s commonly used to treat:

• Women in perimenopause or menopause
• Men with low testosterone (Low T)
• People with hormone imbalances that affect mood, energy, sleep, or libido

If your hormones are out of balance, you’ll feel it. You may deal with brain fog, low sex drive, hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, irritability, anxiousness, mood swings, or unexplained weight gain. HRT can bring relief by helping your body get back on track.

Before you start this treatment, however, you’ll need a full evaluation, including labs and a review of your medical history, to determine if HRT is a good fit.

Types of HRT and Delivery Methods

There are different types of hormone therapies depending on your needs:

• Estrogen-only therapy: Typically for women without a uterus
• Estrogen + progesterone therapy: For women who still have a uterus, to protect against uterine cancer.
• Testosterone therapy: Often used for men with Low T and sometimes for women with specific symptoms.

How you take HRT also varies. If hormone treatment is determined to be right for you, your provider will help you choose based on what fits your lifestyle and health profile; common delivery methods include pills, patches, gels or creams, injections, and subcutaneous pellets.

For patients who have issues with pellets or injections, there are a couple other options. Some BHRT treatments can be administered via a troche, or a mouth lozenge. Kyzatrex, meanwhile, is an oral form of testosterone replacement therapy that is only used in men. Good candidates are those who cannot tolerate the pellet procedure, have a phobia of needles, or are looking for an option that maintains a daily testosterone rhythm and have a mild to moderate decrease in testosterone levels.

Poor candidates would be those with extremely low levels of testosterone, difficulty with oral medications (ie. swallowing pills, GI upset from medication, or difficulty remembering to take medications.)

At Align Medical Center, we recommend using bioidentical hormone replacement pellet therapy. This method has the significant benefit of allowing a patient’s body to absorb the right level of hormones at the right time in the most efficient way possible. These pellets are small capsules (about the size of a grain of rice) that contain bioidentical hormones, which means hormones that are the exact molecular structure of those the body produces naturally.

What Are the Risks and Considerations?

Hormone replacement therapy can be a life-changing treatment for many, but it does come with risks worth discussing, including blood clots, certain cancer risks, and possible side effects such as bloating or mood changes.

That’s why it’s critical to work with a provider who knows what they’re doing. At Align Medical Center, we don’t jump straight to treatment. We look at your full medical history (including detailed lab tests of our own, as mentioned) and consider your lifestyle before making any recommendations. If HRT is a good fit, we build out your unique plan and monitor you regularly. Safety and long-term health always come first.

How Personalized HRT Makes a Difference

In addition to the various effects offered by different delivery methods, HRT does not work the same for everyone. That’s why personalized care matters.

At Align Medical Center, we start HRT consultation with detailed lab work, then track symptoms closely. If HRT is recommended, you’ll get a plan based on your body, not just a template, and we adjust the treatment as your needs shift. From there, regular check-ins help us fine-tune your dosage and delivery method.

Real, holistic support, completely customized to your life - offered through Align Medical Center.

HRT: Talk to a Provider Who Listens

Hormone replacement therapy might be the reset your body needs, but it starts with the right guidance. If you’re feeling off and ready for answers, we’re here to help you figure out what’s next. Reach out today to schedule a consultation with Align Medical!