Can Bhrt Be Combined With Other Treatments
If youre suffering from other health concerns that arent related to hormonal imbalance, BHRT can be incorporated into your wellness plan and used alongside other treatments to help you feel your best. Many patients are able to achieve their fitness goals by combining BHRT with a healthy weight loss program, while others may benefit from adding PRP therapy or IV infusions to their holistic treatment plan. Bioidentical hormones can also be included as part of an anti-aging regimen to give your skin a healthy glow or used to alleviate the symptoms and side effects of certain medical treatments or pharmaceutical drugs. Whatever your needs, our team of doctors and scientific experts can recommend the right approach for achieving an optimal outcome and devise a personalized treatment plan just for you.
Interested in learning more about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy? Book a consultation with one of our BHRT therapy San Diego doctors. Our clinicians can answer any questions you may have and even suggest other treatment options based on your specific health and wellness goals.
Give Patients A Clear Understanding Of The Bhrt Treatment Process And Benefits
When it comes to the overall cost of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for patients, they should clearly understand everything about the therapy at the outset.
We suggest starting with these key talking points when explaining your services:
Wellness practitioners are already aware of such points. But your approach with the patients can change their minds.
Be sure to explain the steps that are involved in creating an individualized care plan, and what you have to offer that will help them become more empowered regarding their health.
Signs For Women To Consider
Your Periods Are Irregular
Since estrogen is a key component of healthy reproductive development in women, any change in levels will manifest during the menstrual cycle. About 25% of women are thought to experience irregular periods, and health experts suggest that you may be suffering from a drop in estrogen levels if you have periods that are lighter or heavier, longer or shorter, or more painful than usual.
You Have UTIs More Often
When estrogen levels drop, the lining of a womans urethra becomes thinner. This makes it easier for bacteria to get into the urinary tract. If you find that youre struggling with more frequent UTIs, the problem could be estrogen.
You Arent Enjoying Sex
Your Metabolism Has Slowed
As with men and testosterone, estrogen in women is important to keeping a healthy metabolism. When estrogen levels drop, women see a significant change in their energy levels. If this is happening to you, you may find that you suddenly feel no motivation to do things or that you struggle to accomplish routine tasks. You may also start to gain weight, even if your diet does not change. If you notice these changes, talk to us about whether BHRT can help.
You Experience Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Youre Having Mood Swings
Estrogen controls the mood by staying in balance with other hormones and helping in the production of natural chemicals that boost mood, like serotonin. When levels drop, it becomes harder to stay positive and calm.
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Will Medicare Cover Bhrt
Medicare is known for having limited prescription drug coverage under the original Part A and B plans. It will likely not cover hormone therapy at all under these plans. Although, if you have a Part D Perscription Drug Plan it will cover your prescription drugs including hormones.
If you are covered by an original Medicare plan, but still want coverage that will pay for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy you can opt for a private insurance plan, or add a stand-alone Part D Perscription Drug Plan to your existing one.
If BHRT is something you are considering you can ask your doctor for a list of medications that your plan does cover. If your doctor prescribes a medication or hormone that is not on the list you can ask for a substitute for it that it will cover.
How Much Does It Cost To Legally Change Your Gender
Unfortunately, healthcare costs arent the only costs related to gender transition. In order to change you legal sex , you will have to pay a fee in many states in order to have your legal name and gender changed. For example, in Massachusetts a legal name change costs $185. You should speak with your state government in order to find out how much they will charge. There are also some additional costs that you may or may not have to pay as part of changing your legal name and gender:
- A lawyers fee is youre having difficulty changing your name because of a criminal record.
- The cost of publishing your name change in a local newspaper, which many states require, but which can be waived by a judge.
- The cost of new legal identification documents, such as a new drivers license or passport.
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Can Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Help With Weight Loss
Yes, but not all hormones. Testosterone, growth hormone, and growth hormone releasing hormone have the greatest evidence burden for reducing fat mass and increasing muscle mass. However, there are many factors that determine the appropriateness and safety of these therapies for any individual patient.
How Much Does Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Cost
Hormones are chemical messengers that help our bodies function at their best.
When hormone levels fluctuate due to normal causes like aging or disease, our bodys ability to function properly is greatly reduced. For some men and women, hormone fluctuations can cause extreme discomfort and can negatively impact their overall quality of life.
This is where bioidentical hormone replacement therapy comes into play. BHRT is a personalized treatment option that uses standardized or personalized hormone treatments to balance hormones over a long period of time.
Keep reading to find out what this treatment can do for you and how much bioidentical hormone replacement therapy cost.
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Am I A Good Candidate For Bhrt
This is the ideal therapy for anyone suffering the negative effects of a change in their hormone levels. Your first step is to talk with us. Together, well go through your symptoms, and we will run tests as needed to discover whats going on in your body.
There are several signs that indicate you might benefit from BHRT.
Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe
In general, yes. A 2014 study showed bioidentical hormones have a better safety profile than synthetic hormones and a 2017 phase III study, the REPLENISH trial, produced an excellent safety profile. As with any therapy, there are risks of side effects but these can be mitigated with a personalized risk analysis based on personal and family history along with a regimented monitoring system.
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What Is The Procedure
A healthcare professional will consider factors such as hormone levels and body mass index when working out an appropriate dose of hormones to insert.
To insert hormone pellets, a healthcare professional will numb the skin and make a small incision, usually into the hip area. They will then insert one or more hormone pellets underneath the skin.
They will close the incision with Steri-Strips, a stitch, or both. A person will need to follow the healthcare professionalâs instructions after the procedure. Those with Steri-Strips may be able to remove them after 5â7 days.
The pellets provide a constant supply of hormones for about 3 months.
People wishing to use compounded bioidentical hormones may need to undergo a salivary test first to check their hormone levels. However, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , âsalivary testing does not currently offer an accurate or precise method of hormone testing.â
There is little scientific evidence to support the benefits of hormone pellet therapy. The FDA does not regulate compounded pellet therapy and has not approved it.
Providers of hormone pellet therapy suggest that the treatment will provide various benefits. These include:
- protecting against health conditions, such as heart disease and osteoporosis
There may also be advantages of a pellet delivery system, including:
The ACOG recommends FDA-approved hormone therapy, which includes:
Will My Insurance Cover It
Typically, hormone therapys true out-of-pocket expenses are difficult to pin down, as they vary wildly from patient to patient, provider to provider, insurer to insurer. You see, every treatment plan is individualized to your exact needs, so just as theres no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, the same is true for pricing.
If you lack the requisite health coverage, the prescription alone can cost anywhere between $30 to $50 for men, and $40 to $60 for women . This price is dependent on the treatment administered , the extent of the treatment required, as well as the type of artificial or bioidentical hormones used.
When you combine the cost of medication with the various other services and consultations, treatment can average anywhere between $250 $500 per month. Do note that your costs should fall over time. The initial outlay is often higher, as the amount of lab work and consultations required to track the root cause of your symptoms, and then tailor a plan to suit, are time-intensive tasks.
Lab work, for example, can cost upwards of $1,500 without financial help from your insurer, but providers like Genesys Medical Institute go that extra mile to ensure your health comes first by providing a FREE initial hormone evaluation, followed by a 45 minute review of labs for half the normal cost at just $75.
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Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Covered By Insurance
With hormones serving as chemical messengers in the body, their importance cannot be overstated. Thyroid, adrenal, and sex hormones are just a few of the hormone categories that play key roles in helping us to function at our peak. Whether due to normal changes in our natural lifecycle or as the result of a disease process , hormonal fluctuations and imbalances can greatly impact multiple body systems and overall quality of life.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a personalized treatment preferred by many patients over conventional hormone replacement therapyand interest is growing. But while you may be intrigued by the possibilities of BHRT, you may also be wondering if its covered by insurance.
How Can Bioidentical Hormones Help Me
Bioidentical hormones can be used to treat menopause symptoms for women and andropause for men. For most women it is used for treating perimenopause which is the period leading up to actual menopause.
BHRT could help with relieving:
- Reduced Migraines
Unbalanced hormones can have a great impact on your well being and BHRT is designed to help restore your hormones to optimal levels for a healthy and improved lifestyle. You may be asking, how much is the bioidentical hormone replacement therapy cost?
How Much Does Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Cost?
BHRTis actually an affordable treatment option for many men and women who have or are suffering from hormonal imbalances.
Here at Splendor of Youth Medical, our Dr. Quiroz is an anti-aging licensed physician who has extensive experience with treating both men and women through bioidentical hormone therapy.
We combine a comprehensive custom treatment plan, along with high quality ingredients that get compounded at one of our local partner pharmacies in Dallas . Each plan is tailored exactly for your body and needs, which is why we carefully take the time to understand your current condition to provide the most accurate and effective plan for you.
What is the cost of BHRT?Treatment plans usually vary but, the average cost for bioidentical hormones ranges from $250-$550 per month depending on lab tests, prescriptions and supplements.
What Is The Process Like?
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Patients Save Time Money And Relationships By Replacing Hormones In Various Ways:
- Save time spent in other doctors offices waiting for treatment for multiple symptoms.
- Save money on copays for the medications you will no longer need for blood pressure, cholesterol, dry eyes, osteoporosis, and anxiety/depression.
- Save your job by decreasing poor work performance.
- Save your marriage if health and sex are points of contention.
- Save money on weight-loss programs as you are finally able to lose weight.
- Delay plastic surgery to look younger as pellets immediately improve skin color, tone, and elasticity.
- Prevent Alzheimers Disease, and Dementiabetter than the expensive long term care insurance.
Are Bioidentical Hormones Safe
The WHI findings highlighted some of the serious risks associated with HRT. Since then, researchers have learned more about its potential benefits and risks.
Today, experts agree that most healthy women who are within 10 years of menopause can benefit from FDA-approved HRT to provide symptom relief. And there are ways to navigate some of these risks, like using the lowest dose for the shortest amount of time, and opting for local vaginal estradiol instead.
Your healthcare provider will weigh the benefits and risks of your specific situation to decide if hormone therapy is right for you.
As mentioned earlier, experts dont recommend compounded hormones. Thats because they havent been evaluated by the FDA. And because theyre made just for you, quality can vary by pharmacy. In fact, the FDA has tested compounded hormones from multiple pharmacies. The results showed hormone strengths ranging from less than 70% to almost 270% of what they should be.
This variability may cause the product to not work as well or cause more side effects. Yet, your healthcare provider may determine that a compounded hormone is right for you. If thats the case, its important to fill your prescription at an accredited compounding pharmacy they trust.
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What You Can Expect From Insurance Coverage For The Cost Of Testosterone Pellets
Insurance coverage is confusing. The ins and outs of whats covered, whats not covered, co-pays, percentages covered, deductibles, and so on, can make your mind reel. Knowing how much you will pay for a service is further complicated because insurance companies dont like to reveal prices or whether or not theyll pay for a specific treatment before getting the prescription.
So heres what you need to know about insurance coverage and BHRT.
- The amount that you pay in doctors visits, insurance costs, co-pays, and blood work is different depending on the type of hormone replacement therapy you get, so dont think that because your best friend paid $x.xx for BHRT, thats how much you will pay.
- Your labs may be covered by insurance, but many insurance companies cap the number of blood tests they will pay for in a given year.
- If your provider doesnt file with insurance companies, you may be able to pay out of pocket and apply for reimbursement from your insurance company.
- You can often use medical savings accounts to cover testosterone pellet costs.
- To get a solid understanding of out-of-pocket costs, youll need to know how often you need an application of the treatment.
- Sometimes paying 100% out of pocket can cost less than going through your insurance company, so its worth investigating how much your provider charges if you dont go through insurance.
- Unfortunately, men have a better chance at having testosterone pellet therapy covered by insurance than women.
How Much Does It Cost For Hormone Replacement Therapy
One of the hallmarks of aging is a natural decline in the production of hormones that help us maintain our health and lifestyles. For men, testosterone levels begin to taper near age 50, which can mean a sudden change in many of your normal habits and practices. Fortunately, the advantage of modern science means no man has to live with the symptoms of rapidly decreasing hormones. Know about hormone replacement therapy cost at Medical Transformation Center in Louisville, KY led by Dr. Paige. We believe your wellness can be protected and improved.
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Can Bioidentical Hormones Cause Spotting
Bioidentical hormone therapy in perimenopause can affect menstrual cycles, if they still are occurring, or can cause some bleeding to resume after menopause. Careful use of the proper combination of hormones and monitoring hormone levels can alleviate these issues.
Spotting typically occurs as a result of too many hormones in your prescription. Whichever method you choose, there is potential for minimal bleeding as there are elevated hormones circulating in your bloodstream. Dr. Reis will prescribe you a healthy range of hormones based on your individual assessment and offer ongoing advice in your BHRT journey.
Can You Gain Weight From Bioidentical Hormones
Bioidentical hormones have no direct effect on weight. They do not cause either weight gain or weight loss, but often people feel much better, which makes their weight loss regimen easier to follow and thus, more effective.
Regulated estrogen and testosterone levels that are a result of BHRT treatments have been proven to have numerous effects on the body including:
- Building and maintaining lean muscle mass
- Reducing fat storage
- Maintaining healthy bone density
- Regulating energy
When your body is deprived of a healthy amount of hormones found in younger body stages, fatigue increases that can potentially lead to weight gain. While BHRT treatment has no direct effect on weight gain and loss, it does serve as a prominent correlation between an individual feeling energetic or lethargic.
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