The Importance of Lab Testing Before Starting BHRT

Bioidentical hormones are produced from plants, making them a natural alternative to synthetic hormones.

And unlike synthetic medications, bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as your body’s hormones. As a result, bioidenticals trigger the same activities as the hormone your body produces, and you’re less likely to have side effects.

We can also give you a customized dose of BHRT in the form of a pellet. Pellets get placed under your skin, where they gradually release the hormones, ensuring optimal levels for several months.

There are four crucial reasons we run lab tests before you start taking BHRT:

1. Establish baseline information
Before we can prescribe BHRT, we must know your current hormone levels. After identifying your current levels, we can determine the extent of the deficiency and the amount of hormone you need to reach and maintain healthy levels.

2. Prescribe personalized dosing
BHRT enables us to create a personalized dose that meets each woman’s unique needs. You don’t need to worry about getting too little or too much. We can also easily adjust your dose as needed to support hormonal balance.

3. Find underlying conditions
In addition to testing your hormone levels, we may run lab tests to determine if you have any other conditions contributing to your hormonal imbalance, such as thyroid dysfunction or adrenal gland problems. Liver and kidney disease may also affect estrogen levels.

4. Screen for safety
To ensure you can safely take BHRT, we may run lab tests to identify contraindications, such as a blood clotting disorder.

Each woman responds to BHRT at their own pace, depending on variables like their metabolism, baseline hormone levels, and overall health.

However, most women’s symptoms start to improve within several weeks. Then, they achieve optimal well-being within a few months.

During the first few months of your treatment, we typically run lab tests at six weeks and possibly at three months. As long as you take BHRT, we perform yearly lab work. These tests are needed to verify that your hormone levels are balanced and stabilized.

In addition to lab testing, we monitor your symptoms to ensure they’re improving and watch for side effects.

For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Columbia, MD & Greenbelt, MD. We serve patients from Columbia MD, Greenbelt MD, Ellicott City MD, Jessup MD, Savage MD, New Carrollton MD, College Park MD, Beltsville MD, Bowie MD, and surrounding areas.