We partner with compounding pharmacies to provide Bioidentical Hormones Replacement Therapy (BHRT). We offer natural progesterone, estrogen, DHEA and other hormones through different routes of delivery including topical, injections and implants. Each patient’s care is individualized and carefully monitored and dosing titrated based on symptoms and blood levels f hormones.
. It refers to the use of hormones that are identical on a molecular level with hormones that are found within the body. This contrasts against synthetic hormones which are artificially made- hence they can be patented and sold by big pharmaceutical companies. As BHRT is natural, it cannot be patented and is generic, and thus offers a less expensive alternative to hormone replacement therapy. There have been critics to BHRT saying that it has not been validated in clinical trials. One of the reasons is that big pharmaceutical companies only sponsor products they make and have patents for. Many patients testify to the benefits of compounded medications like their BHRT.
Specific hormones used in Bioidentical Hormones Replacement Therapy include estrone, estradiol, progesterone testosterone, DHEA and testosterone. Custom-compounded BHRT is a practice that must be closely monitored by a trained physician to be successful. In addition to monitoring symptoms, blood levels should be determined as well as careful breast & prostate monitoring. Safety is very important and not all physicians have the training in this emerging field. Some of the criticism of BHRT stems from the sometimes lack of supervision with the delivery of BHRT.
At the Opal Medical Clinic, we combine our years of clinical skills with state of the art laboratory tests to obtain an accurate diagnosis of menopause or andropause syndrome. The Opal Medical Clinic opened in 2007 and is one of the first expert led Clinic in the country to offer diagnosis and treatment of straightforward or complex BHRT issues. Our bioidentical hormone therapy doctors in houston have trained many physicians and pharmacists in BHRT. Also, our patients come from not only Houston but outside not only the state but the country as well. We offer careful planned and customized treatments after careful discussion with the patient. We also use reputable compounding pharmacists, some of whom have offered this form of therapy for decades.
Are your hormones out of balance?
Unbalanced hormones can make life difficult. Too much hormones or too little hormones can impact how we feel, think and act. For example, if you can remember your own puberty and hormones surge, it could have made you a very different person than today. Hormones affect many areas of your health. Not only can it affect mood, metabolism, sexual and reproductive function, it may also affect your heart, bones muscle and brain. If your hormones become unbalanced, whether due to menopause or loss of ovaries from surgery, you may end up feeling like a stranger in your own skin. BHRT is a customized may of restoring your balance.
Different types of hormones
The most important hormones made by the ovaries are known as female sex hormones (sex steroids) – and the two main ones are oestrogen and progesterone. The ovaries also produce some of the male hormone,testosterone. In general, women produce 10% of testosterone produced by men. The adrenal glands produce DHEA and DHEA-S. These hormones can be compounded and delivered through compounding.
Hormone therapy designed specifically for your body
HRT is most often prescribed to ease the symptoms of menopause, but it also can be used to treat a variety of conditions that women of all ages may experience, including:
- Moodiness
- Weight gain
- Sleep disturbances
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Decreased libido
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Vaginal dryness
- Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Infertility
- Post-partum depression
- Endometriosis
- Fibrocystic breasts
These conditions affect many women, especially in the perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal years. As the number of women seeking hormone-related treatment has grown, so has the mass production of pills, patches and creams by the drug industry. However, each woman’s body is different and has its own unique needs, but commercially manufactured products tend to be “one-size-fits-all,” and do not always account for the differences between individuals. No two women are alike, of course, and we assess the patient and work with local compounding pharmacists to provide these from of specialized care.
At the Opal Medical Clinic, we carefully assess symptoms and measure blood levels of hormones to help us assess the need for each patient. We work with compounding pharmacist is to prepare customized medications for patients. The advantage of compounded BHRT is that it can be adapted specifically to fit each individual’s body and hormone levels. BHRT utilizes hormones that have the exact chemical structure as the hormones in the human body. The body recognizes them and allows them to mimic the function of the hormones the body produces on its own.
Working closely with a woman, we can help a woman start and maintain a hormone replacement regimen that brings her hormones back into balance and closely mimics what her body has been doing naturally for years. Depending on your need, we will advise which types of preparations is best suited for you. For example, we can deliver the medication in these forms:
- Capsules
- Topical or vaginal creams, gels, and foams
- Suppositories
- Sublingual drops or troches
Once the therapy is begun, we will continue to monitor, measure and assess improvement in symptoms. We will also communicate with the compounding pharmacist to ensure that the BHRT is working correctly, and adjust the dosage if necessary, ensuring that the medication is just right for her body.
If you need to be assesses, please contact us at Opal Medical Clinic, located in Houston, Texas. Our phone is (713) 401 9396 and our website at www.opalmedical.com has more information.
Also Read
Are bioidentical hormones approved by the FDA?
What are the risks of bioidentical hormones?
What is the difference between HRT and bioidentical hormones?