Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy can relieve uncomfortable symptoms caused by perimenopause, menopause, or low testosterone. At Excellent Ultimate Medical Center in Belle Glade, Florida, board-certified family medicine and women’s health nurse practitioner Tania Richie, NP, and the team, prescribe hormone replacement therapy to adults. Treatment can improve your quality of life and help minimize the effects of the natural aging process. Call the office to request an in-person or telemedicine hormone replacement therapy consultation, or request your appointment online today.

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy uses synthetic hormones to restore your body to balance. 

Men and women experience hormonal fluctuations because of the natural aging process. These fluctuations are normal, but they can trigger troubling or distracting symptoms that affect your sleep, mood, and general well-being. 

Hormone replacement therapy may help minimize these side effects and reduce your risk of more serious health problems. 

Who can benefit from hormone replacement therapy?

Consider hormone replacement therapy at Excellent Ultimate Medical Center if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Vaginal dryness
• Reduced sex drive
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Loss of muscle mass
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight gain
• Urinary problems

A hormonal imbalance may cause thinning hair, weak bones, or difficulty concentrating.

Am I a candidate for hormone replacement therapy?

Your Excellent Ultimate Medical Center provider reviews your medical records, asks about your symptoms, and completes a physical exam. Then, they order lab tests, including blood work and urinalysis, to assess your hormone levels.

If your tests show a hormonal imbalance and you’re in relatively good health, you qualify for treatment. If you have a history of blood clots, high cholesterol, or reproductive cancer, your provider recommends a different treatment approach.

How do you take hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy is administered in several ways. Depending on your symptoms, age, and medical history, the team may recommend:

• Oral tablets
• Hormone creams or gels
• A vaginal ring
• Hormone skin patches
• Injections

Sometimes, hormone therapy uses implantable pellets. Your provider places the pellet beneath your skin, and it slowly releases hormones into your bloodstream. 

How long does hormone replacement therapy take?

The time that hormone replacement therapy takes depends on the severity of your symptoms and their effect on your quality of life. Most people experience a significant improvement in their symptoms within two or three weeks, but it may take longer.

Your provider slowly weans you off the hormones if it's time to stop to ensure your safety.

Is hormone replacement therapy safe?

Hormone replacement therapy is safe and usually well-tolerated. It’s normal to have mild side effects at first, like acne or bloating, but these symptoms should improve within a week or two when your body adjusts to the new hormone levels. If they continue or worsen, contact the Excellent Ultimate Medical Center team.

Call Excellent Ultimate Medical Center today to see if you’re a candidate for hormone replacement therapy, or request your appointment online today.

*Individual results may vary.