Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) involves using hormones that are molecularly identical to those naturally produced in the human body to treat hormone imbalances and deficiencies. As we age or go through major life stages like perimenopause, menopause, and andropause, our hormone levels fluctuate and often decline, leading to unpleasant symptoms.
Bioidentical hormones can be custom-compounded in pharmacies to match a patient's individual hormonal needs and deficiencies. They are made from plant sources and are biochemically equivalent to our endogenous hormones, meaning they can bind to hormone receptors and mimic natural hormone activity in the body.
There are many potential benefits to using bioidentical hormone therapy:
In order to determine if a hormone deficiency or imbalance is causing bothersome symptoms, specialized lab testing is necessary. At our clinic Vitality Hormone Clinic, we use advanced methods of hormone testing such as:
This state-of-the-art testing provides us with the most precise information possible about your hormone balance status so we can develop a customized treatment plan to restore optimal levels.
Some of the key hormones we frequently test for imbalances include:
Estrogen is responsible for female sexual development and function. It exists in three primary forms:
Declining or fluctuating estrogen is responsible for most menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary issues, and emotional changes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Estrogen deficiency can also contribute to problems like osteoporosis, heart disease, and altered brain function in women.
Careful monitoring and optimization of estrogen levels with bioidentical estradiol and/or estriol is crucial for supporting women's health as they age.
Progesterone plays an important role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. It balances and opposes estrogen's effects in the body. Progesterone levels that are too low can lead to issues like:
Bioidentical progesterone creams help correct progesterone deficiency and promote optimal feminine health.
Testosterone is a key sex hormone in both men and women. It exerts powerful anabolic effects and influences:
Testosterone levels peak in early adulthood then gradually decline over time. Boosting falling testosterone back up to more youthful ranges with bioidentical testosterone therapy can help alleviate low testosterone symptoms like:
Careful testosterone testing and physiologic restoration of levels can dramatically improve health and vitality as we age.
The thyroid gland produces metabolic hormones called T3 and T4 that control the body's energy production, heart rate, temperature regulation, growth, and much more. Low thyroid function, or "hypothyroidism," is an extremely common issue, especially in women over 35 and those with autoimmune diseases.
Symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency include:
Treating low thyroid hormone with bioidentical T3/T4 supplementation can successfully resolve these symptoms and help people feel more energetic, sharper, and healthier.
DHEA is an adrenal steroid hormone that acts as a metabolic precursor to estrogen and testosterone. DHEA levels normally peak by age 25 then decline over the lifespan. Supplementing low levels of DHEA with bioidentical forms has been found to:
At Vitality Hormone Clinic in St. Louis, all of our practitioners specialize in bioidentical hormone balancing protocols. We take an integrative, functional medicine approach to hormone restoration that addresses root causes of imbalances as well as using BHRT to alleviate deficiency symptoms.
Some key parts of our process include:
We begin with our proprietary Vitality Hormone Clinic assessment that gathers your current and past health history along with checking for nutrient deficiencies, gut issues, toxin exposures, stress levels, sleep quality, lifestyle habits, and more that can all impact hormone health.
Then we conduct specialized lab testing like salivary profiles, blood and urine hormone levels, and genetics.
Next we take this data-rich assessment and formulate a precision treatment plan custom-tailored to correct your individual deficiencies, imbalances, and downstream dysfunction using bioidentical hormones.
The methods we use may include:
We recognize that each person’s needs are unique, so no two treatment plans ever look the same at Vitality Hormone Clinic.
Approximately 4-6 weeks after initiating bioidentical hormones, we recheck labs and symptoms to see how you are responding. We may tweak dosages or delivery methods of BHRT at this point or modify other aspects of the protocol like diet, nutrients, stress lowering methods, etc.
We continue this process of lab monitoring, symptom tracking, and treatment adjusting every few months until the optimal restoration of hormone levels and resolution of troublesome symptoms are achieved. Most patients feel significantly better within 6-8 weeks but complete equilibrium can take 3-9 months.
Vitality Hormone Clinic provides cutting edge bioidentical hormone balancing and revitalization programs to help patients overcome the many challenges that hormonal decline and dysfunction create.
We have extensive experience working with the following bioidentical hormones:
Bioidentical estradiol and estriol can be dosed together at ratios specific to your needs. We offer estrogen as:
Testosterone is available at Vitality Hormone Clinic as:
Progesterone deficiency has profound effects on the body. We provide:
DHEA supplementation to bring levels back up to youthful ranges occurs via:
We also formulate customized bioidentical thyroid hormone, melatonin, and other solutions to suit each patient's needs.
Bioidentical hormones are not necessarily safer or more effective than synthetic hormones for treating menopause symptoms. However, some women report preferring them because they more closely mimic the body's own hormones. More research is still needed to fully understand the risks and benefits compared to standard hormone therapy.
St. Louis has four distinct seasons that each pose unique factors to consider when it comes to hormone health. Tailoring aspects of bioidentical regimens around seasons and local lifestyle can enhance positive outcomes.
The new growth and sunlight during spring make it an ideal time to initiate hormone balancing programs because energy levels rise naturally. Excellent outdoor options for movement like walking Forest Park or bike riding through Tower Grove help combat sluggishness some patients experience when starting treatment. Enjoying the budding greenery while managing any initial treatment detoxification is also more pleasant in springtime.
We recommend tapping into uplifting springtime energy by:
The vibrant momentum of summer's long days offers the perfect setting to establish hormone re-harmonizing routines. Patients with substantial lifestyle factors negatively affecting hormone health make meaningful change more seamlessly during summer.
Get on track with BHRT success during summertime by:
As the weather cools during autumn months in St. Louis, this seasonal transition time gives patients space to integrate the initial benefits of therapy and tune-in to long term wellness practices for fortifying hormone health like:
The stillness of winter provides the perfect conditions for recentering and committing to BHRT for the long haul. Use the introspective inwards focus common during winter to:
Implementing bioidentical hormone restoration programs in alignment with St. Louis seasonal shifts allows patients the highest chance of excellent clinical outcomes, ease of use, and markedly improved quality of life.
Hormone-related symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and sleep disruption in perimenopause or menopause often prompt women to initially seek help. However, the overarching progressive behind-the-scenes destruction caused by hormone dysfunction gets largely overlooked.
Unaddressed estrogen deficiency sets in motion pathophysiologic changes like:
Likewise, the underestimated harms of low testosterone in aging men encompass:
Early intervention for restoring hormone balance is crucial because prolonged deficiency allows for amplified tissue damage, entropy, and disease processes. By addressing warning signs promptly, patients have increased probabilities of excellent response to treatment and enhanced healthspan.
Our clinic exclusively focuses on precision testing, state-of-the-art protocols, cutting edge therapies and holistic hormone health restoration for total vitality. We don't treat every condition under the sun - only hormonal problems using leading edge solutions. This razor sharp specialization makes our expertise unparalleled.
No pre-fab treatment plans or one-size-fits all approaches occur at Vitality Hormone Clinic. Senior clinicians take extensive histories, order in depth testing, assess therapeutic lifestyle habits, mimic natural hormone rhythms with dosing, and modify protocols based on follow up lab data, symptom surveys, and patient feedback. Every aspect stems from the specific needs of each individual.
While weabsolutely utilize bioidentical hormones skillfully and appropriately when indicated, BHRT never stands alone in our clinics. Potent regenerative supplements strategically selected, stress modulating techniques, gut healing modalities, clean anti-inflammatory eating templates, and more all integrate into our butget programs for amplifying improvements.
We don't just promise life changing transformations - we guarantee results backed by real science and visible lab changes. Patients repeatedly describe our care as "transformative, ” “life-saving,” and “miraculous” regarding enhancements to energy, sleep, mental clarity, emotional stability and enjoyment of life. The empirical lab value improvements and symptom score reductions our patients experience are measurable and profound.
If your unbalanced, declining or dysfunctional hormones are interfering with optimal health and quality of life, we encourage you to explore Vitality Hormone Clinic unique specialty care during a comprehensive consultation. Our goal is for patients to thrive, not merely survive, their hormone health journeys. We hope you'll join our community of people discoveringboundless energy and elevated livelihood!
