Restoring hormonal health for optimal overall wellness, bio identical hormone therapy (sometimes referred to as body identical hormone therapy) employs a trio of biomarkers (urine, blood, and saliva) to establish a unique hormone prescription. These customised hormone replenishments rebalance the body and can also help protect against incoming health problems associated with ageing.
“Bio identical hormone therapy exemplifies a holistic patient-centred approach to medicine, where the foundation of functional integrative testing enables us to create a super-effective customised solution.”
Hormones are often referred to as the body’s chemical messengers, due to the fact that they work in concert to regulate a multitude of processes including sleep, growth, sexual function, reproduction, mood, and metabolism. However, they can easily fall out of their natural equilibrium, triggering a domino effect of ailments from tiredness to low sex drive.
Countering this, Bio Identical Hormone Therapy involves a marriage of expert clinical assessment and in-depth functional testing using urine, blood, and saliva analysis to establish an individual’s unique hormonal landscape. Equipped with this information, we’re able to custom create a hormonal prescription to fine-tune the body, helping patients to regain balance and strength in line with their ideal natural state. This enables both a healthier now and a future with diminished health risks, such as dementia, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease, among others.
The first is a Blood Panel, a relatively simple health-scoping investigation, used to create a clear snapshot of an individual’s physiological and biochemical state, establishing a route to better health. This discovery process establishes levels of vitamin D (actually a hormone, not a vitamin) as well as the status of the thyroid, sex (progesterone, testosterone, oestradiol, and oestrogen) and adrenal hormones. The test also spotlights cholesterol, full blood count, iron, diabetes risk, liver function, and other vitamin levels. Patients undertake a simple blood test at one of TLC’s partner laboratories, which is then analysed and interpreted in detail by our team.
The second is a combination of the blood panel described above and the more advanced Dutch Plus test, whose additional complexity lies in its exposure of not only a ‘static view’ of a patient’s state of hormonal health, but also an in-motion perspective on how the body is metabolising those hormones (i.e., what’s being generated, processed, eliminated and insights into the pathways the hormones travel through). Additional to the factors seen in the blood panels, this test also reveals levels of melatonin, DNA damage, vitamins B12 and B6, cellular antioxidant glutathione, and a critical focus on cortisol – the primary stress hormone. To undertake this test, for just one day patients are required to take a urine sample (which is dried) and saliva (which is frozen) via cotton rolls. Both sample types are taken at four intervals throughout the designated day.
The resulting treatment is a bespoke combination of molecular-mirroring hormones that can be administered as pills, patches, creams, gels, or injectable shots.
TLC is currently formulating personalised hormone-infused skincare creams (all are compounded on an individual basis) to deliver a daily boost of functional beauty. These contain a customised blend of active pharmaceutical ingredients, female sex hormone oestriol, retinoic acid (imperative for cellular growth and development), and other hard-working ingredients such as the moisture-grabbing hyaluronic acid and protective ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).
Hormonal optimisation: bio identical hormone therapy is part of a holistic process of discovery designed to deliver a 360° vantage point on an individual’s physical wellbeing.
This treatment is ideal for anyone seeking an in-depth perspective on their hormonal health to pursue a proactive approach to future wellbeing.
It’s particularly key for those experiencing the negative effects of perimenopause (hot flushes, sweating), menopause, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), andropause (a male condition with similar symptoms to the menopause), weight-gainc, exhaustion, low testosterone in men, anxiety, lack of libido, hormonal acne, hair loss (see also the TrichoTest® treatment) or low mood.
As a preventative measure, it also supports cognitive decline, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular disease.
Please note that all treatment responses are dependent on the individual patient.
Being in good shape hormonally will optimise the efficacy of all other TLC treatments.
However, for patients struggling with the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, such as loss of plumpness of sagging skin, additionally supportive treatments include Dermal Fillers – injectable hyaluronic or Poly-L-Lactic-Acid acids capable of restoring original bounce; Advanced Muscle-Relaxing Injectables that relax and rejuvenate the skin; and Desirial® – a specialist dermal filler that discretely restores tone, plumpness, hydration, elasticity, and sensitivity to the vulvovaginal area.
It’s important to note that the Dutch Plus testing, while offering an excellent window onto internal health, only provides a snapshot of a single day. For the most accurate results, it’s therefore advisable to undertake the urine, blood, and saliva testing on a typical day.
Three to six months following the initial treatment, we do a retest to assess the how well rebalancing is working.
Think of BHRT as hormonal optimisation, a treatment ideal for anyone seeking an in-depth perspective on their hormonal health, which will in turn help them to pursue a more proactive approach to their future wellbeing.
Here are a few final things that you might like to know before taking things forward. If you have any other questions we haven’t thought of yet, no problem! Please email us at hello@thelovelyclinic.co.uk and one of the team will get back to you as quickly as they possibly can.
You’ll attend a pre-testing consultation with us to review your medical history, discuss your goals, and subsequently agree on the most relevant type of testing. When the results of your ‘bio-marker’ (urine, blood, and saliva) tests are returned, we’ll meet again to agree a plan of action which may include supplements or administering Body Identical Hormones (see the full treatment description page for more on this). We generally advise that you undergo another round of testing after six months to assess how you’re feeling, the impact of the treatment and if we need to make any changes.
The testing gives us a detailed window into your internal health, and therefore allows for an individually-tailored programme of therapy. In addition to medications and supplements, you will also be provided with lifestyle management guidance, and ways to optimise your health and wellbeing.
Body Identical Hormone Therapy is essentially a pain-free process; it’s only the initial blood test that may cause a tiny bit of discomfort.
Hormone therapy can take as little as weeks for patients to experience a discernible benefit in the way they feel. Most of our patients report dramatic improvements within months of starting their programme, especially those experiencing peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms.
Hormone therapy can be life-changing, but the benefits depend on a range of factors including a patient’s genetic make-up and lifestyle including nutrition. As a result, we sometimes need to make regime adjustments to re-personalise the treatment; once stabilised, the hormone prescription is usually beneficial for many years. It is worth noting that side effects can include skin breakouts and breast tenderness among others; however, your reaction to the medication will be closely monitored and subsequently adjusted, which significantly lowers these risks. The issues associated with specific hormone prescriptions will be flagged clearly by your TLC doctor during your consultation.
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