Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

What are Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical Hormones are identical in their molecular structure to those made by a man or woman’s body. Hormones control almost all functions in the body. For instance, your sex and brain function, growth, and the breakdown of food. Therefore, when hormones are out of balance, uncomfortable symptoms can occur. Bioidentical hormone therapy consists of replacing the specific hormones within the body to achieve the desired outcome. These include Testosterone, Estradiol, Progesterone, Thyroid, and DHEA.

Am I a candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?

Dr. Veerula will request lab testing to determine your current hormone levels. Once results have been received, he will discuss with you and determine the next steps. Hormone imbalances affect both men and women. Out-of-balance hormones can cause symptoms like low energy, anxiety/depression, poor libido, forgetfulness, headaches, vaginal dryness, irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats just to name a few.

For women, it can be during Peri-Menopause (Premenopause), Menopause, and Post-Menopause that they experience mild to extreme hormone fluctuations. It can begin as early as their late 30’s and last thru post-menopause. For men, they can experience loss of muscle mass, low sex drive, depression/anxiety, lack of focus, erectile dysfunction, and more. This usually starts around the ages of 40-45 and decreases each year, this is called Andropause. These changes can negatively impact a person’s quality of life.

Will my insurance cover pellet hormone therapy?

Generally, health insurance will cover the cost of office visits and laboratory tests for evaluation of hormone-related symptoms. However, insurance will not cover compounded bioidentical hormone pellets or pellet insertion.

How are Bioidentical Hormones Administered?

Bioidenticals are offered in the form of creams, troches, capsules, patches, injections, and pellets. Dr. Veerula prefers pellet therapy due to the consistent level of hormones pellets offer, which in turn benefit the patient. Medical literature has shown that pellets deliver a consistent level of hormones into the bloodstream, avoiding the fluctuations that occur when using creams, pills, or patches. The direct delivery into the bloodstream avoids changes in the liver seen with oral hormone therapy and eliminates the production of increased clotting factors. In women, bioidentical hormone pellets last 3 to 4 months; in men, 4 to 6 months.

Providing an optimal level of hormones can reduce or eliminate disruptive symptoms from low hormone levels. Don’t continue to suffer the symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

References

Glaser R, Dimitrakakis C. Testosterone Therapy in Women: Myths and Misconceptions. Maturitas, 2013 Mar;74(3):230-4. Abstract: “Although testosterone therapy is being increasingly prescribed for men, there remain many questions and concerns about testosterone (T) and in particular, T therapy in women. A literature search was performed to elucidate the origin of, and scientific basis behind many of the concerns and assumptions about T and T therapy in women. This paper refutes 10 common myths and misconceptions, and provides evidence to support what is physiologically plausible and scientifically evident: T is the most abundant biologically active female hormone, T is essential for physical and mental health in women, T is not masculinizing, T does not cause hoarseness, T increases scalp hair growth, T is cardiac protective, parenteral [non oral] T does not adversely affect the liver or increase clotting factors, T is mood stabilizing and does not increase aggression, T is breast protective, and the safety of T therapy in women is under research and being established. Abandoning myths, misconceptions and unfounded concerns about T and T therapy in women will enable physicians to provide evidenced based recommendations and appropriate therapy.”

Bianchi VE. The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Testosterone. The Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2018 Oct 22;3(1):91-107. “Low Testosterone level has implications for metabolic health in both males and females and should be considered a risk factor because of its correlation with metabolic syndrome and all-cause mortality.” 

Glaser RL, Dimitrakakis C.  Reduced breast cancer incidence in women treated with subcutaneous testosterone, or testosterone with anastrozole; a prospective, observational study.  Maturitas, 2013; 76(4):342-9. “Testosterone and/or Testosterone+Anastrazole, delivered subcutaneously as a pellet implant, reduced the incidence of breast cancer in pre and postmenopausal women”

Glaser R, Dimitrakakis C, Trimble N, Martin V.  Testosterone pellet implants and migraine headaches: a pilot study.  Maturitas, 71 (2012) 385–388. “Continuous testosterone was effective therapy in reducing the severity of migraine headaches in both pre- and post-menopausal women.”

Savvas M, Studd JW, et al. Increase in bone mass after one year of percutaneous estradiol and testosterone implants in postmenopausal women who have previously received oral estrogens. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1992 Sep:99(9):757-60. “Subcutaneous estradiol and testosterone implants will result in an increase in bone mass even after many years of oral estrogen replacement therapy.”

Glaser R, Kalantaridou S, Dimitrakakis C. Testosterone implants in women: Pharmacological dosing for a physiologic effect. Maturitas 74 (2013) 179–184. “Pharmacologic dosing of subcutaneous T, as evidenced by serum levels on therapy, is needed to produce a physiologic effect in female patients. Safety, tolerability and clinical response should guide therapy rather than a single T measurement, which is extremely variable and inherently unreliable.” This means that it is important to treat the patient for symptoms, rather than rely solely on lab reports as a guide for hormone dose adjustments.

Glaser R, York AE, Dimitrakakis C. Beneficial effects of testosterone therapy in women measured by the validated Menopause Rating Scale (MRS). Maturitas, 2011 Apr;68(4):355-61. “Continuous testosterone alone, delivered by subcutaneous implant, was effective for the relief of hormone deficiency symptoms in both pre- and post-menopausal patients.”

How to find us

To obtain optimal Hormonal Balance and improve your quality of life, please call our office at 260-999-6924 to make an appointment.

Our Mission Statement

Fort Wayne Integrative Medicine exists to provide a relationship-focused setting in a healing environment. We provide integrative therapies for patients in order to engage the whole person in reaching their full capacity for health and well-being.