Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
At Ontario Regenerative Medicine, we help you rediscover a life of strength, balance, and vitality.
Is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) right for me?
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) involves assessing and optimizing a woman’s hormonal health by administering bioidentical hormones to correct detected imbalances. As women age, the production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone decreases, leading to various symptoms and health issues.
Are you experiencing…
✔ …hot flashes or night sweats?
✔ …reduced sex drive?
✔ …mood swings, anxiety, or depression?
✔ …persistent fatigue or decreased energy levels?
✔ …vaginal dryness or discomfort during intercourse?
At ORM, we can help with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
What is HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the assessment and optimization of a patients’ hormonal health, and the prescribing / administration of bioidentical hormones to correct any detected imbalances.
About Bioidentical Hormones
Bioidentical hormones are structurally similar to the hormones naturally produced in the body, and while they are not made by the body, the body responds to them as it would to a person’s naturally occurring hormones. With advancing age there is a depletion of the usual hormone levels, resulting in undesirable symptoms and health issues. Our bodies recognize bioidentical hormones and respond to them in the same manner they would to their own hormones due to their identical molecular structure.
As women age there is a reduced production of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone . In designing a HRT program, each woman’s hormone levels for estrogen, progesterone and testosterone will be optimized with bioidentical hormones to reverse the negative impacts experienced with the reduction of functional levels of hormones in their bodies.
Learn about the role each hormone plays in women’s health and how HRT at Ontario Regenerative Medicine can support your hormone health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the assessment and optimization of a patients’ hormonal health, and the prescribing / administration of bioidentical hormones to correct any detected imbalances.
What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are structurally similar to the hormones naturally produced in the body, and while they are not made by the body, the body responds to them as it would to a person’s naturally occurring hormones. With advancing age there is a depletion of the usual hormone levels which results in undesirable symptoms and health issues. Our bodies recognize bioidentical hormones and respond to them in the same manner they would to their own hormones due to their identical molecular structure.
How soon will I see results from Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Some patients begin to notice improvement within 24-48 hours, while others may take several weeks or more to first notice changes. These benefits will increase over the next few months as your body adjusts. Diet and lifestyle, along with hormone balance are critical for optimal health.
How are hormone levels monitored throughout treatment?
Hormone levels will be evaluated before therapy is started. This may include an FSH, estradiol, and testosterone level testing for women. Men require a PSA (prostate specific antigen), estradiol and testosterone levels testing. Additional testing is completed to assess your liver function, kidney function, total blood count, blood glucose level, thyroid function and vitamin levels. Using this blood work, assessing your questionnaires and completing the consultation, a individualized bio-identical hormone treatment plan is devised.
For all patients, follow up blood work is obtained to further optimize your hormone levels and well being approximately 6 to 8 weeks after each dosing during the first year.
Men must notify their primary care physician they are on HRT and see them for routine medical examinations and assessment of their prostate health (PSA test and physical examination).
Female patients are advised to continue their monthly self-breast examinations and obtain a mammogram and/or pap smear as advised by their gynecologist or primary care physician.
What are Hormone Pellets?
Pellets consist of bio-identical hormones that have been pressed or fused into very small solid cylinders. These pellets are approximately the size of an uncooked grain of rice. The majority of pellets are made by compounding pharmacists and are delivered in sterile glass vials. They undergo rigourous testing for sterility and potency at independent facilities. Learn more about hormone pellets here.
Are Hormone Pellets safe?
The hormone pellets available at Ontario Regenerative Medicine are sterilized by a third party company using eBeam sterilization technology. Once they are sterilized, they are routed to another company for potency testing, and lastly they are sent to another third party company for sterility testing. Learn more about hormone pellets here.
Why choose Hormone Pellets?
Pellets have the ability to deliver consistent, healthy levels of hormones for approximately 3 months in women, and 4 months in men. Pellet implants provide the ideal constant levels of hormones levels. Pellets avoid the fluctuations of hormone levels associated with other methods of delivery, an important aspect in maintaining optimal health and disease prevention. Additionally, bio-identical pellets do not increase the risk of blood clots like conventional or synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Learn more about hormone pellets here.
Can anyone receive HRT?
Individuals who have a diagnosable hormonal disorder or deficiency can receive HRT. Individuals who have a history of symptoms related to andropause or menopause may also benefit from HRT, but their symptoms must be confirmed by a blood test.
Is the HRT pellet implant comfortable?
The administration of a local anaesthetic prior to the insertion of the pellet ensures the process is extremely comfortable. Once inserted, you will not feel the pellet under your skin.
Does the HRT pellet need to be removed?
There is no procedure to remove the HRT pellet. Pellets provide your body with the prescribed hormones over the course of 3 to 4 months, and completely dissolve prior to the insertion of replacement pellets.
Are there any side effects or complications from the insertion of the pellets?
Complications related to the insertion of pellets are extremely rare and may include minor bleeding or bruising, discolouration of the skin or a minor infection. These are all rare and are easily addressed. In rare circumstances there may be the extrusion of one of the pellets.
After the insertion of the implants, men and women can return to regular activities immediately. Vigorous physical activity, hot tubs and swimming should be avoided for 5 to 7 days. Early significant physical activity may cause ‘extrusion’, which is the process by which a pellet works its way out of the site of placement. In cases where a patient is diabetic or has had a joint replaced, antibiotics may be prescribed as a precautionary measure.
What if my primary care physician or my gynecologist says that there is ‘no data’ to support the use of pellet implants?
Unfortunately, it is often easier for busy practitioners to dismiss the patient, than it is to question their beliefs and do the research. Patient’s need to make an informed choice. There is data to support the ‘long term’ safety of bioidentical hormones delivered by pellet implants. You can view a multitude of studies supporting the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy in the “Case Studies” section of our website.
Do pellets have the same danger of breast cancer as other forms of hormone replacement therapy?
Bioidentical testosterone pellets do not carry with them the increased risk of breast cancer associated with oral estrogens. There is research that supports bioidentical testosterone pellets decrease the incidence the rate of breast cancer and indicates testosterone is breast protective.
Testosterone, delivered by pellet implantation, has been shown to decrease breast proliferation and lower the risk of breast cancer, even compared to patients on conventional hormone replacement therapy. Studies have shown that bioidentical testosterone balances estrogen and is breast protective. The same cannot be said for oral, synthetic methyl-testosterone found in Estratest®. The body converts this to a potent synthetic estrogen, which stimulates breast tissue.
In the past, testosterone implants have been used to treat patients with advanced breast cancer. In 1940, it was theorized that treating patients with testosterone implants earlier, at the time of diagnosis, would have an even greater benefit, preventing recurrence. Androgens have also been shown to enhance the effect of Tamoxifen® therapy in breast cancer patients. To review studies that support these statements, please refer to the articles listed as references below.
References
1. Glaser R, Wurtzbacher, D, Dimitrakakis C. Efficacy of Testosterone Therapy Delivered by Pellet Implant. Maturitas 2009, 63(Suppl 1);283. To read this study, please click HERE
2. Dimitrakakis C, Bondy C. Androgens and the breast. Breast Cancer Research 2009;11(5):212. To read this study, please click HERE
3. Traish AM, Fetten K, Minor M, Hansen ML, Guay A. Testosterone and risk of breast cancer: appraisal of existing evidence. Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation. 2010; 2 (1): 177 To read this study, please click HERE
Will hormone therapy with pellets help with hair loss?
Hormone deficiency is a common cause of hair loss, and treatment with testosterone implants can help to re-grow hair in many women. Hair often becomes thicker and less dry with pellet therapy.
How long until a patient feels better after pellets are inserted?
Some patients begin to notice improvement within 24-48 hours, while others may take several weeks or more to first notice changes. Diet and lifestyle, along with hormone balance are critical for optimal health.
EMBRACE YOUR BEST SELF
From hormone optimization to cartilage regeneration, we create personalized treatment plans based on thorough testing and monitoring.
We treat our patients for their unique needs and symptoms, rather than simply viewing lab results. We go beyond the numbers to alleviate our patient’s symptoms and get them back to living the lives they want to live.
