BioTE Hormone Therapy

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BioTE Bio-identical Hormone Replacement

Optimizing your hormones can help you return to feeling vibrant, sexy and healthy again. Both men and women experience hormonal changes throughout their lives. As these hormone levels decline, it can have a serious impact on your quality of life which is why Dr. Naglieri not only offers BioTE to her patients but has been using it herself for many years. Under the expert care of Dr. Naglieri, the team at River Hills Family Medicine helps patients return to an overall sense of health and well-being.

BioTE is bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) that delivers a customized dose of biologically identical hormones through subcutaneous pellets. The pellets are plant-based and match human hormones, unlike synthetic hormones which are engineered.

What are the symptoms of hormone imbalances in women?

Many women think that menopause is the only loss of hormones that a female will experience in her lifetime. This is simply not true. In fact, women can begin experiencing symptoms of hormone changes at a seemingly young, often in their thirties. They commonly attribute the changes they are feeling to motherhood, getting older or being busy, overworked and overstressed! Decreased levels in hormones can cause:

Fatigue
Depression and anxiety
Low libido
Brain fog/mental confusion
Poor sleep
Night sweats
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Decreased performance at work

What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance in men?

Men experience a natural, gradual decline in testosterone levels which may cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The symptoms can certainly be frustrating and affect your life in many ways. Some symptoms hormone imbalance in men include:

Fatigue
Poor sleep
Loss of muscle mass/ weight gain
Brain fog/mental confusion
Decrease sexual performance/low libido
Depression and anxiety
Decreased productivity at work
Lowered self esteem

What are the benefits of BioTE bio-identical hormone replacement therapy?

Most noticeably you will feel an improvement in your energy levels, sleep quality, mood, sexual dysfunction, cognition, and hot flashes. Optimizing your hormones should help you have improved workout performance and weight control. The long-term health benefits to hormone therapy includes reduction in age-related disease such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

How do you get started?

Simply schedule a consultation with one of our providers to discuss your symptoms. Because we are primary care providers first and foremost, our goal is to treat the complete-you. We take great care in discussing many aspects of your life to help you achieve the best outcome for a happier, healthier you.

At that visit, we will order appropriate lab work which you can have done the same day at CPL which is conveniently located next door to River Hills Family Medicine.
Once we receive the results of your labs, we meet for a hormone follow-up visit where the provider carefully walks you through your lab results, educates you on any abnormalities and how they translate to your decreased sense of well-being. We then formulate a customized plan to help you feel better and improve your overall quality of life.

What is the BioTE procedure like?

In the placement of your subcutaneous pellets, we first customize your dose based on your age weight and starting hormone levels. While laying on your side, we use a small amount of local anesthesia to numb your gluteal area and then place your hormone pellets just under the skin. The tiny incision is kept closed using a steri-strip. No stitch is required. The procedure takes about 5 minutes for women and a little longer for men.

When will the pellets start working?

Most patients report improvement in their symptoms within 7-10 days.

What is the downtime after a pellet insertion?

For women, 5 days of no swimming or baths (ok to shower) and 5 days of no heavy glute workout or running. For men, the same is true for 7 days. We also recommend that men avoid wearing their wallets in the same-sided back pocket, long motorcycle rides and long (overseas) flights for 7 days.

Are there any side effects?

There may be a little bruising or discomfort at the incision site, more common in males. Acne may occur, but is very treatable and dose can be adjusted if this is a concern. Hair growth may be faster. Individual concerns can be addressed at your consultation.

How long do the pellets last?

Although individual absorption rates vary, women usually get symptomatic relief for 3-4 months from their pellets while men usually get relief for 5-6 months. If you exercise routinely or are in the heat often, you may get on the lower end of these timelines as absorption is based on cardiac output.

How do we monitor effectiveness?

We measure labs at 6 weeks after your pellet for women and then 4 weeks after your pellet for males and then generally once per year after that. We like to see you back in the office after those labs to make sure you are experiencing significant improvement and symptomatic relief.

Is BioTE covered by insurance?

The office consultations and lab work are covered by most insurances. BioTE bio-identical hormone pellet therapy is not a covered expense on any insurance plan and is an out-of-pocket yet affordable expense. We do not submit insurance claims for this service.

To purchase your DIM or other BioTe provider-recommended supplements, click the following image