Frequently Asked Questions

Bioidentical Hormones are hormones that are the chemical match to the hormones that your body produces naturally. These hormones require a prescription from a medical provider to ensure that they are being used safely and effectively

The Hormone Center predominantly uses topical administration of hormones in creams, although capsules are used as well. The creams are applied directly to the skin in very specific amounts to ensure the correct dose. The hormones are absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin

These creams are often dispensed in ‘clickers’ or syringes. Each click is 1/4mL (4 clicks is 1mL). Doses usually range from 1-4 clicks of cream per administration

You should use areas where there is thinner skin for better absorption. Examples are the forearms, under portion of upper arms, inner thighs, or behind the knees. Application sites should be rotated so that the sensory receptors do not dull

Your provider will give you specific instructions. For women with a menstrual cycle, you will apply the cream during specific days of your cycle. For postmenopausal women or men it is recommended daily 6 days per week (leaving Sunday for a ‘hormone holiday’)

Biest (Combination of estrodial and estriol) should be applied in the morning
Progesterone should be applied 1 hour before bed
Testosterone should be applied in the morning

Please wash your hands thoroughly after administration
Please wait 1 hour before allowing others to touch areas of administration
Do not shower after cream administration

Compounded thyroid medication and hyrdocortisone can be made by compounding pharmacists. This allows the providers to order the exact amount of medication desired without any fillers. Sustained release options are also available

We use medications that contain both T4 and T3. T4 is the precursor to T3 which is the active thyroid hormone. There are several commercial options available including armour thyroid, WP thyroid, and nature throid which can be filled at your regular pharmacy. When necessary, we also use compounded prescriptions of T4/T3

Traditional medicine usually only monitors TSH and T4 in the bloodwork. We use more detailed bloodwork to provide additional information into how the thyroid is truly working and base all of our dosing recommendations on that information and your clinical symptoms. Too much thyroid medication does have risks such as tachycardia (high heart rate) and osteopenia so we monitor these levels and symptoms closely. Too little thyroid also has risks including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, dementia, and depression. Synthroid contains only T4. If your body is unable to convert it to T3 then it is not addressing the issue.

Symptoms including heart racing/palpitations, chest tightness, jitteriness, anxiety, and insomnia
Should these symptoms occur, please call the office. Hold thyroid medication until you speak to someone from the office with additional instructions

Thyroid medication should be taken first thing on an empty stomach. You should wait for 1 hour before eating anything. Calcium and iron should be taken at least 4 hours after thyroid medication

Traditional commercial pharmacies do not offer compounding. We do use commercial pharmacies in addition to compounding pharmacies for conventional medications (and insurance coverage)

It depends on your insurance prescription coverage. The majority of insurance carriers are not covering these medications. Every pharmacy and prescription is different, but the price usually ranges between $40-$70 for a 30-90 day supply

Please call the main office and use the refill line to request all medication refills
Please note, refill requests will be processed in 72 business hours to ensure accuracy and safety. Compounding pharmacies usually require several days to make the preparation, so please be sure to request the refill with adequate time

The nurse is your primary point of contact between you and the provider between appointment times. As it is our priority that our providers have uninterrupted, quality time with the patient during their office visit, the nurse helps to facilitate with any questions or concerns in the interim. She can be reached via the Nurse line (option #5) of our office phone number or directly through email at amanda@hormonecenter.net

The answering service is available for emergencies only. All other questions or concerns will be addressed during regular business hours