The clinical FAQ for bioidentical hormone replacement — for women in perimenopause and menopause, for men with hormone decline, and for patients evaluating routes, dosing, and long-term plans. Each answer is medically reviewed by Dawn Philp, FNP-BC.
For broader hormone-therapy questions, see the Hormone Therapy FAQ. For the BHRT service itself, see the BHRT page.
Bioidentical hormones are molecules identical to what your body produces. Synthetic preparations bind the same receptors but differ in metabolism and side-effect profile.
Read the full answer →Symptomatic hormone deficiency confirmed on labs. Perimenopausal/postmenopausal women, men with low testosterone, and selected thyroid/adrenal/DHEA cases.
Read the full answer →Transdermal creams, patches, oral capsules, sublingual troches, subcutaneous pellets, injections, vaginal preparations. Route depends on hormone, goals, and clinical context.
Read the full answer →Conservative baseline informed by labs, symptoms, age. 8-12 week follow-up labs confirm levels and guide adjustment. Personalization is continuous across visits.
Read the full answer →Water retention, mood shifts, acne, breast tenderness, hematocrit elevation (testosterone), breakthrough bleeding. Most are dose-responsive and resolve with adjustment.
Read the full answer →Initial symptom improvement in 2-4 weeks. Full balance — biomarkers + symptoms + side-effect profile aligning — usually 3-6 months of calibration.
Read the full answer →Upload existing bloodwork. Our clinical team reads it through the CLARITY framework — free.
Get Your Free Lab Review →One consultation. Your biomarkers map the protocol.
Book Your Consultation