Introduction
Hormone replacement therapy is the medical management of symptoms related to menopause and low testosterone in women and men, respectively. The hormones typically used in hormone replacement therapy are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses manufactured compounds with the same chemical and molecular structure as hormones that are produced in the human body. They are synthesized from steroids derived from plants. Bioidentical hormones can be used in either registered pharmaceuticals or custom-made compounded preparations. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration and numerous medical organizations indicate the use of hormone replacement therapy to alleviate symptoms of menopause in women and low testosterone in men. Evidence suggests that hormone replacement therapy is best indicated and has the most benefit when initiated within ten years of menopause.
Bioidentical hormone replacement carries similar risks and benefits to traditional HRT, but when compounded, can be administered in various transdermal routes, which may carry higher safety profiles and reduce unnecessary risk. During your initial consultation with Atlantic Age Management, Dr. Wright will comprehensively review evidence-based medicine regarding hormone replacement therapy, indications for its use, risk and benefits of individual hormones, and potential administration routes that include traditional and bioidentical hormone therapy that is conventionally manufactured or compounded.
Atlantic Age Management only uses compounding pharmacies that strictly comply with regulatory standards of the pharmaceutical industry, including the FDA, DEA, and state pharmaceutical boards. The ingredients and compounds are tested randomly and continuously by an independent laboratory from sourcing to distribution. Atlantic Age Management performs routine bloodwork on all our patients to assess for safety and efficacy of prescribed hormones keeping in mind that the lowest possible dose to achieve symptom relief is desired. We do not recommend saliva testing as a reliable measure of hormone levels in the body.