Every person is unique, so your experience with hormone replacement therapy may be different from someone else’s. Generally, you will see changes physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually when starting BHRT. You may even feel more confident along the way!

While the results will differ from person to person, and depending on which hormone you take and your dosage, you can expect to start noticing changes within the first couple weeks or months. For some patients on bioidentical progesterone or estrogen treatments, results can be noticed in as little as 2 weeks.

You’ll likely see relief in frustrating symptoms of menopause. Women have reported improved sleep, less joint pain, better mood, and recovered concentration. Additionally, they have more energy, fewer hot flashes, and reversal in the changes around their vagina related to dryness and discomfort during sex.

Bioidentical Hormones are manufactured in a compounding pharmacy lab from plant sources that identically match the molecular structure of the hormones that our own bodies produce. This is what separates Bioidentical from synthetic hormones.

The Bioidentical hormones fit perfectly into all the receptor sites on the cells to provide the cell with specific instructions whether it’s a bone cell or heart cell. And, yes, we need the sex hormones in every cell of the body for optimal functioning. For example, progesterone and testosterone are the primary fat burners in our cells. When we become deficient in progesterone and testosterone as we age, we tend to gain weight. The synthetic hormones do not fit correctly onto the cell receptor sites, which may give the cell “different” instructions which may cause hormone imbalance. Examples of synthetic hormones include the birth control pill, progestin and conjugated estrogen.

Generally speaking, there are less side effects compared to synthetic derivatives. For most, the positive benefits far out-weigh any negative symptoms. However, dose related symptoms may occur. It is a matter of modifying the particular hormone dose to achieve the desired results. Thrivelab provides patients with a continuum of care that makes feeling better easy. When hormones and other treatments are administered correctly—and correctly is the only way we do things—there should be no side effects.

Some will immediately experience results while others may need several weeks or months to fine-tune their solution. It is not unusual for patients to report feeling improvements in many symptoms within the first week or two. However, our goal is long-term symptom relief and improved quality of life for each patient. This requires a cautious, evidence-based, and patient centered treatment strategy with a primary focus on patient input. Most patients stabilize within the first couple of months, but our personalized approach enables adjustment any time. Your provider will create a plan specifically for you, monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments. 

If you are considering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), you may be experiencing symptoms that may be keeping you from feeling like yourself. Those symptoms may be the earliest signs of aging, such as foggy thinking, sleeplessness, muscle loss, or low energy.

Furthermore, conditions of aging like menopause in women can cause hot flashes, mood swings, and weight gain while even post-menopausal women experience symptoms including but not limited to hair loss and low libido. Aging also has an effect on men known as andropause, which is caused by fluctuation of testosterone levels.