At Balanced Medical Solutions, we believe that all of our patients should be able to feel healthy and energetic, no matter what their age or stage of life. Energy and focus are closely connected to hormone balance, so any shifts in testosterone, estrogen, progesterone or other hormones can affect how healthy and energetic you feel.
Hormonal imbalances are common in men and women over the age of 40 and can show up as fatigue, low motivation, sexual dysfunctions like low libido and ED and any number of other symptoms. If this sounds familiar, we can help with our bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in Hayward, CA.
request an appointmentWhy Hormone Balance Is So Important
Hormones control many of the body’s basic functions, including energy production, metabolism, sleep cycles, sex drive and mental clarity. When levels rise or fall outside a healthy range, you may begin to feel persistent fatigue, reduced focus or changes in mood or libido that do not have an obvious cause. Even small imbalances can disrupt how efficiently your body operates.
Common symptoms of hormone imbalance include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Mood swings or irritability
- Brain fog
- Weight gain, especially around the abdomen, despite healthy habits
- Low libido
- Poor sleep
- Erectile dysfunction (in men)
- Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse (in women)
Take our free hormonal imbalance quiz to see if you may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance. For men, click here. For women, click here.
What Is BHRT?
BHRT stands for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, a treatment that uses hormones that closely match the structure of those your body naturally produces that are sourced from natural ingredients such as yams and soy. Because the molecular structure is the same as human hormones, these hormones interact with your body in a way that is similar to your natural physiology. BHRT can be delivered using numerous methods, which are chosen based on the patient’s needs and the type of hormone imbalance.
Common Hormones Replaced
Testosterone
In both men and women, healthy testosterone levels contribute to strength, sexual vitality and stamina. A diagnosis of low testosterone may explain increased abdominal fat, persistent fatigue and decreased sex drive, along with decreased muscle mass that is difficult to restore through exercise. Treatment for low testosterone, often called TRT or testosterone replacement therapy, restores healthy levels of this hormone. BHRT refers to TRT with bioidentical testosterone vs synthetic testosterone.
Estrogen
Estrogen supports bone strength, cognitive function, temperature regulation and sexual health. When low estrogen occurs, often during menopause, patients start to notice mood changes and sleep disruption, and women may experience vaginal dryness or loss of libido. With BHRT, estrogen levels can be increased safely in women through the administration of a small dose of bioidentical testosterone. A portion of administered testosterone converts into estradiol through aromatization, which increases estrogen levels in women in a safer and more natural way. Estrogen blockers are taken by men who receive testosterone therapy to ensure that they don’t get a spike in estrogen levels.
Progesterone
Progesterone helps regulate the menstrual cycle and supports the uterine lining. It also influences sleep patterns and emotional stability. This hormone can be administered using BHRT when lab testing and symptoms indicate a need for it.
Traditional HRT/TRT vs. BHRT: What Is the Difference?
Traditional hormone replacement therapy often uses synthetic or animal-derived hormones that are similar to human hormones but not structurally identical. These differences in structure can affect how the hormones interact with receptors throughout the body. These drugs often bind to receptors too strongly and cause more side effects. Unfortunately, the only reason that traditional hormone treatments are still used in the industry is the greater profit that can be had from medications like Premarin®. We believe strongly in providing our patients with the treatments that provide them the most benefit to them, which, in this case, is bioidentical hormones.
Why Natural Hormone Matching Matters
When the structure closely mirrors what your body makes on its own, the response tends to follow normal biological pathways. Even small molecular differences can influence how strongly a hormone binds and how long it remains active in the body. Careful hormone matching, combined with ongoing monitoring, helps support balanced levels while reducing the likelihood of unwanted effects.
Our BHRT Administration Options
Hormone Pellets
Hormone pellets are small, time-release implants placed just beneath the skin in the fatty tissue. They gradually release a measured amount of the prescribed hormones into the bloodstream over several months. Pellets can reduce fluctuations and make treatment for those who don’t want to remember daily pills or creams.
Hormone Creams
Hormone therapy can also be given as creams, which absorb into the bloodstream. It can be great for patients who do not want injections or pills. This product is applied regularly to areas with a lot of muscle to help the hormone to absorb effectively.
Hormone Injections
Hormones can be a convenient option because we can teach you to self-administer the bioidentical hormones at home. These injections are delivered either through intramuscular (IM) or subcutaneous injection, and we give you complete training until you are comfortable. Testosterone Cypionate is administered through injections, as are other types of hormone therapy.
Oral Hormones
In some situations, we may recommend oral administration of bioidentical hormones. For example, oral micronized bioidentical progesterone can balance estrogen and help prevent breast and uterine cancers and other diseases. Oral medications are easy to take at home, though it is important that you are able to stick to a regular administration schedule.
A Brief Look at Other Hormone Treatments
- Sermorelin: Often used to address growth hormone decline in men and women, sermorelin stimulates your body’s own production of growth hormone.
- Clomiphene: This oral medication encourages the body to increase its natural testosterone production by keeping estrogen from interacting with the pituitary gland.
- Anastrozole: Anastrozole keeps the body from converting testosterone into estrogen and is sometimes prescribed alongside TRT.
- Enclomiphene: Similar in purpose to clomiphene, enclomiphene is used to support endogenous testosterone production while preserving fertility in appropriate patients.
- Finasteride: Finasteride reduces the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which can be helpful for patients who have started to notice hair loss.
- Gonadorelin: Gonadorelin stimulates the pituitary gland to increase the production of the gonadotropin hormones LH and FSH, which can support testosterone levels, fertility, libido and help prevent testicular atrophy.
- HCG: HCG is an FDA-approved injectable hormone that mimics luteinizing hormone to stimulate the testes to produce testosterone and sperm, helping treat certain cases of hypogonadism.
- Ipamorelin: Ipamorelin is a growth hormone-releasing peptide that signals the pituitary gland to increase your body’s natural growth hormone production, which may support fat metabolism, muscle maintenance and energy levels as those hormones decline with age.
Schedule Your Hormone Evaluation in Hayward, CA
When properly monitored, BHRT can help correct measurable hormone imbalance and support steadier energy, improved metabolic function and better sexual health for both men and women. Treatment is based on lab testing, symptom review and ongoing follow-up so adjustments can be made if your levels change.
At Balanced Medical Solutions, we serve Hayward, CA, along with the surrounding areas in the San Francisco Bay area. We provide hormone replacement along with medical weight loss, sexual health services and regenerative treatments under physician supervision.
If you are ready to address persistent symptoms and explore whether hormone therapy is appropriate for you, schedule a consultation in Hayward today.
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