Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if my hormones are out of balance?

If you are consistently just not feeling well, having hot flashes, night sweats, unable to lose weight through diet and exercise, experiencing decreased/no sex drive, then your hormones are probably out of balance.

Can hormones help with the fatigue I feel and the extra weight I've put on?

Balancing your hormones will help you to feel more normal so that you feel more like exercising and dealing with problems of overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. Restoring hormone balance can also help with the functional hypothyroidism (a frequent cause of weight gain) that occurs when women experience estrogen dominance.

What does "balancing your hormones" mean?

Restoring an appropriate ratio of progesterone to estrogen will often help to balance your hormones but it is sometimes necessary to add testosterone and DHEA as well. Adrenal and thyroid function are the foundation for balancing your sex hormones and should be looked at as part of the process.

How long will it take and how will I know when I'm there?

How long this process takes often depends upon how long you've been out of balance and the severity of your symptoms. Some people experience almost immediate relief and others take a while longer. For the most part, you will know when you are balanced by alleviation of your symptoms.

I've had a hysterectomy and my doctor tells me I don't need progesterone. Is this true?

In point of fact, you have receptors for progesterone throughout your body. While progesterone is the "progestational" hormone that ensures carrying a pregnancy to term, it also contributes to getting a good night's sleep, as it works at the same receptor sites in the brain as the newer antidepressants. Along with testosterone it helps to regulate the "osteoblast" site of the bones to promote new bone growth. It down-regulates the proliferative effects of estrogen, promotes cell differentiation, and makes testosterone receptors more effective to the effects of one's own testosterone levels.

What can I expect at a consultation appointment?

The first visit with Becky can be expected to last between 30 and 60 minutes. During this time she will go over your history (submitted confidentially online) and talk to you about symptoms, goals, and objectives. There will be a discussion of saliva testing to measure bio-available hormone levels in a take-home test kit. Based upon the results of the test, Becky will make recommendations to your physician for bio-identical hormone replacement.

What is saliva testing?

Hormones are transported in the body bound to protein. Measurement of total hormones in a blood test is a reflection of protein bound hormone. In saliva, hormones appear only in the "free" or bio-available form. This number represents 1-2% of the total but is the amount that is available for utilization by your target tissues/organs.

I've been taking synthetic hormone replacement/birth control. Do I have to go off of it before doing a saliva test?

You only need to report the hormones you are taking on the requisition form but do not need to stop taking them until you are ready to switch to bio-identical hormones.

How soon can I get started?

While it is natural to want things to happen right away, it would be unwise to start on hormones if your own body is still producing adequate levels. For this reason, I recommend saliva testing to determine which hormone levels are deficient. Based upon the results, I can then make recommendations to you for what replacement you need. In this way, the hormone replacement is customized to your body rather than assuming "one size fits all".

Once I've started on bio-identical hormones how long must I be on them?

This is an individual lifestyle decision. Bio-identical hormones are benign when taken in physiologic (as opposed to pharmacologic) doses. They are supplementing what your body needs and not trying to override your body systems as synthetic hormones do. Take them as long as you feel you need them. If you can't tell if your hormones are working stop taking them and see what happens. Perhaps you no longer need them to feel well. In other words, periodically re-evaluate your need for the hormones. Have regular checkups with your physician to ensure your hormones are working optimally.