Three Steps to Hormone Therapy That Work

You've identified your symptoms and discussed them with your doctor. Your self-care plan is in place as the foundation of your symptom management. You've done some research and decided you would like to try hormone therapy - but before you take any pills, apply patches, or rub in creams, you need the answers to some questions. What should you take? How much should you take? When should you take it?

Answering these questions involves three simple steps:

1. BASELINE TESTING Measuring your hormone levels before starting hormone therapy is essential for determining your unique hormone profile. We also recommend a baseline measurement of your rate of bone loss for use in developing a self-care or prescription plan for preventing osteoporosis.

2. INDIVIDUALIZED HORMONE PRESCRIPTIONS When individualizing your prescription, there are many options to choose from. Should you choose natural or synthetic hormones? Which dosage form is best for you? Our staff of nurses and pharmacists is here to help you and your healthcare provider understand your options and make those critical decisions.

3. FOLLOW-UP TESTING Periodic saliva hormone and NTx urine rate of bone loss testing are the most accurate and convenient ways to monitor how well your hormone therapy prescription(s) are working. These tests show if your medications have brought your hormone levels and rate of bone loss within the optimal range. If you are experiencing symptoms of overdosing or underdosing, follow-up testing takes the guesswork out of finding where adjustments need to be made.