BHRT for Women

BHRT for women, short for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, is a way to correct female hormonal imbalances and deficiencies. As women age, they enter perimenopause and menopause, stages of life that can cause sudden unwanted changes like hot flashes, mood swings, sleep deprivation, and a decrease in libido. Drastic fluctuations in vital sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all contribute to these signs and symptoms. 

Besides menopause and perimenopause, other issues such as weight gain or loss, thyroid problems, and stress can affect hormone levels. BHRT incorporates the use of bioidentical hormones, so they are molecularly and chemically identical to the ones produced by your own body. With BHRT, you can effectively prevent common problems related to aging to feel more energized, youthful, and physically fit. A knowledgeable doctor can safely administer this treatment so long as hormonal levels are routinely monitored through blood tests. 

If you feel that you could benefit from bioidentical hormones, consider booking an appointment with Dr. Christopher Asandra, a specialist in anti-aging therapies for both men and women. In 2013, Dr. Asandra established his first clinic dedicated to sexual health wellness, and as of today, he has expanded to 12 locations throughout the United States. His philosophy is centered on ensuring that patients age gracefully and comfortably, prolonging quality years of life. 

To get started today, call his office in Beverly Hills, CA at (424) 542-8881 or his location in Newport Beach, CA at (949) 200-8317, and a staff member will help you schedule an appointment. You can also use our contact form available online, and you can provide details regarding your specific situation. 

Signs of a Hormone Imbalance 

Hormones don’t just impact sexual wellness- they are a part of our overall health and metabolism, influencing our moods and impacting our physiology as a whole. Women can begin experiencing signs of perimenopause in their late 30s, but most often, it begins after age 40. Perimenopause typically lasts around 4 to 8 years and is characterized by more irregular menstrual cycles due to less active ovaries, the tissues that produce and release eggs. This is usually the time when women’s risk for depression increases, as well as other lesser-known side effects like frequent headaches and increasing cholesterol levels. Those who have gone a full year without experiencing menstruation have officially reached menopause, the time in a woman’s life when estrogen levels are at their lowest. While these transitions in life are completely natural, it doesn’t mean that they’re easy to deal with. 

During this period of life, most women are burdened with: 

BHRT Impacts Your Health As a Whole 

While many seek BHRT as a means to combat the signs and symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, it can also help treat other health problems, such as insulin resistance, adrenal and thyroid disorders, a nerve condition called fibromyalgia, and even osteoporosis. Though research has proven that BHRT can mitigate these conditions, it shouldn’t be considered as a primary treatment. If you have had a hysterectomy– a procedure that involves removing female sex organs- you may want to consider BHRT as a way to get back to feeling like yourself again. 

Candidates for BHRT 

Bioidentical hormones are suitable for almost any woman who may need them, but there are some exceptions. Dr. Asandra will avoid prescribing this treatment to these kinds of patients: 

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation with Dr. Asandra, he will get valuable insight into your current mental, physical, and emotional state. Before considering a BHRT treatment, Dr. Asandra will first identify if your symptoms are related to a hormonal problem or another issue that requires a different form of treatment. He will take into account your age and lifestyle as well. To do this, he will conduct blood tests to take a look at your serum levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. 

BHRT is only suitable for women with a diagnosable condition or a lack of sex hormones- this therapy can be harmful if you don’t already have an imbalance. During this appointment, he will also go over the minor procedure required to inject estradiol, one of the most common and effective choices for relieving menopause symptoms. ⁽¹⁾ Dr. Asandra will create a custom treatment plan that minimizes side effects and maximizes positive results. 

To see how BHRT can make revolutionary changes in your life, call one of Dr. Asandra’s offices at (424) 542-8881 (Beverly Hills) or (949) 200-8317 (Newport Beach). You can also reach out online, and a staff member will help schedule your appointment at your earliest convenience. 

How Treatment Works  

According to your symptoms and current hormone levels, Dr. Asandra will likely focus on prescribing a specific amount of estradiol, the bioidentical formulation of estrogen. Research finds that estrogen can help slow down and prevent bone loss and assist in the prevention of coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. ⁽²⁾ More recent studies found that combining estrogen and progestin effectively eliminates the onset of hot flashes, a bothersome side effect of aging that can interrupt quality sleep. ⁽³⁾ Dr. Asandra stands by pellet therapy and intramuscular injections as a means of producing the best results with an estradiol prescription. 

Hormonal Pellets  

Depending on where he inserts the pellet, Dr. Asandra will first administer a local anesthetic near the hip area, lower abdomen, or upper buttock. He will then make a tiny incision in the chosen area and load the pellet into a device that will place it under the skin. He will insert part of the device and place the required dosage just under the skin. The pellets themselves are only the size of a grain of rice, so you won’t be able to feel it when the procedure is finished. To close up the incision, Dr. Asandra will use surgical tape and/or gauze- sutures aren’t needed for an incision so small. Pellet insertion is a minor procedure, so you should only expect to have some minor swelling and tenderness that will go away within a couple of days. Pellets are equipped with varying doses of estradiol, and your body will take the hormone as they dissolve slowly over the course of 3 to 6 months. 

Intramuscular Injections

With injections, you can get the same results as the pellet, but less commitment is involved since the effects only last about 2 weeks. These are ideal for women who want to avoid using creams or gels that can rub off on clothing or even accidentally transfer to others. 

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures 

Anti-Aging Skin Treatment 

Another common issue among menopausal and perimenopausal women is their loss of skin elasticity, glow, and overall health. With waning estrogen levels, the skin can experience dryness and form new wrinkles. Dr. Asandra recognizes that skin care is important, but sometimes, topical treatments aren’t enough. For this reason, he offers laser skin resurfacing, a minimally invasive way of provoking your skin’s natural regenerative abilities. With his advanced picosecond fractional laser, women can attain a more radiant complexion with less downtime compared to other lasers. The light pulses from the device create microscopic injuries to the skin, stimulating the production of fibroblasts– dermal cells that create collagen and elastin fibers necessary for youthful-looking skin. 

Cliovana 

With reduced estrogen, your libido can suffer and result in a less satisfying intimate life. Cliovana is a minor treatment that involves using gentle vibration and sound wave technology to create microscopic tissue injury in the clitoris, increasing blood vessel formation in the area and improving sensitivity. You can return to sexual activity immediately after this procedure which only takes a few minutes. 

Autologous Conditioned Plasma (ACP) Therapy 

For ACP therapy, Dr. Asandra will take a sample of your blood in order to isolate plasma growth factors and other bioactive proteins that have healing properties. After preparing the ACP into injections, he can apply it to the skin and hair, causing a boost in cellular regeneration. He can administer ACP to areas of the skin and hair, but it can also be useful in increasing sexual functioning for women. 

Cost of BHRT for Women in Beverly Hills 

The cost of your BHRT treatment will depend on your method of receiving hormones, the dosage required for your situation, blood tests, and any follow-up appointments with Dr. Asandra. During your consultation, he will give you an accurate idea of the total cost of your treatment plan. If you feel that BHRT may not be right for you, feel free to explore other procedures and treatment options mentioned on his blog. 

To speak with Dr. Asandra, call his office in Newport Beach, CA at (949) 200-8317 or his location in Beverly Hills at (424) 542-8881, and a staff member will book your consultation at a time and date most convenient for you. You can also inquire through Dr. Asandra’s contact form, and we will respond as promptly as possible. 

References

1. National Academies of Sciences E, Division H and M, Policy B on HS, et al. The Safety and Effectiveness of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Published July 1, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562865/ 
2. Delgado BJ, Lopez-Ojeda W. Estrogen. PubMed. Published 2023. Accessed October 19, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538260/#:~:text=Mechanism%20of%20Action 
3. Hipolito Rodrigues MA, Gompel A. Micronized progesterone, progestins, and menopause hormone therapy. Women & Health. 2020;61(1):3-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03630242.2020.1824956