Biodentical Hormone Replacement for Women

Find Your Balance

At a certain age, some women begin to experience negative changes in their body, mood, or behavior that they simply attribute to menopause. Because women have accepted these symptoms as part of the aging process, they may not know that what they are experiencing as a result of changing hormone levels is treatable, and does not need to be tolerated as an unpleasant part of life.


Indigo MedSpa offers Customized Hormone Therapy, or Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy as an available treatment option for women who are peri-menopausal or experiencing symptoms of menopause.

Peri-menopause typically occurs around the age of 46, but can occur anywhere between the ages of 35-55. It is the period between onset of change in hormonal secretions and actual onset of menopause (15 yrs possible). Hormone secretions begin to fluctuate during this time, creating a mix of normal and abnormal menstrual cycles.

Symptoms of menopause may include the following:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings
• Memory lapses
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Anxiety/Nervousness
• Weight gain
• Decreased Libido
• Panic attacks
• Palpitations
• Bloating
• Vaginal itching
• Lower back pain
• Indigestion
• Hair loss
• Frequent urination
• Headaches
  
  

To learn more about what Indigo MedSpa can do to treat your hormone-related symptoms, or to find out if Customized Hormone Therapy is right for you, call 616.336.7662 or click on book a consultation to set up your consultation today. Through symptoms-based testing, personalized treatment and follow up care, your body can feel its best again.

What Are Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical hormones, sometimes referred to as "natural hormones", are molecularly (biochemically) identical to the hormones made in your body. These include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol. Bioidentical hormones are manufactured in a lab and are available by prescription through a compounding pharmacy. Bioidentical hormones are derived from natural sources such as the wild yam.

Traditional hormone therapies hormones such as Prempro, Estratest, Provera and Premarin are not identical to human hormones. Premarin and Prempro are made from pregnant mare urine and are not identical in either structure or activity to the natural hormones that they emulate.

What Are the Risks Involved?

European medical studies suggest that bioidentical hormones are safer than synthetic versions. However, long-term studies regarding the safety of bioidentical hormones have not been completed. Each individual patient needs to consider the benefits along with the risks of any type of hormonal therapy.

Goal of Hormone Therapy

The object is to balance hormones:

• To alleviate symptoms caused by natural decrease in production of hormones by the body with age.
• Replace hormones at low conservative levels to the extent to provide the positive benefits of hormonal therapy in the heart, brain and bones.
• Imitate the body's natural processes as much as possible, without causing harm.

In order for Customized Hormone Therapy to be effective, it needs to be addressed in the context of the whole person and the person's lifestyle. In conjunction with hormone therapy, the following lifestyle habits should be maintained:

* Healthy Diet
* Plenty of water intake
* Regular exercise
* Reduce or Manage stress
* Nutritional supplementation
* Avoid contaminants and toxins

In the News

Recent interest in bioidentical hormones has peaked since Oprah Winfrey talked about bioidentical hormones, in January 2009, and how they've made a big improvement in how she feels. Winfrey, who turns 55 this month, writes in February's edition of O, The Oprah Magazine that she felt "out of kilter" and had "issues" for two years that she suspected were hormonal. Upon a friend's recommendation, Winfrey went to a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Winfrey writes that the hormone specialist told her that her "hormonal tank was empty" and gave her a prescription for bioidentical estrogen.

"After one day on bioidentical estrogen, I felt the veil lift," Winfrey writes. "After three days, the sky was bluer, my brain was no longer fuzzy, my memory was sharper. I was literally singing and had a skip in my step."

Winfrey isn't recommending bioidentical hormones for every menopausal woman. Instead, she urges women to "take charge of your health" and says it's time to "start the conversation" about menopause and bioidentical hormones.

How Can Indigo Help?

If you are experiencing unpleasant symptoms and feel that your hormone levels may be unbalanced, Indigo offers testing and personalized hormone therapy prescribed by Dr. Stephen Prefontaine, which can help treat this imbalance and help you feel like yourself again.

Will treatments be covered under my insurance?

Indigo MedSpa does not participate directly with insurance companies. We strive to be an advocate for our patients, and our philosophy is such that the patient and physician should be the ones deciding what is best for the patient, not someone working at an insurance company. Although we do not accept insurance as payment, our services may be covered by your insurance company. To help with your reimbursement process, our Indigo staff will provide you with an encounter form at each office visit. You may submit these to your insurance company for direct reimbursement to you. To learn if you are a good candidate for hormone therapy, book your consultation today by calling 616.336.7662 or click on the "book a consultation" link.