Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Colorado Springs

Women usually begin to experience hormonal changes in their late 30s, and as a woman gets older, the hormonal changes can become more significant. Depending on the woman, symptoms can include reduced energy levels, lower sex drive, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, memory loss, joint pain, mood changes and insomnia.

Fortunately, Vanguard Intimate Women’s Wellness provides treatments to help address these symptoms and improve women’s physical and emotional well-being. The treatment we find to be most effective is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy

Traditional hormone replacement therapy has been used for decades to address the imbalance of hormones related to menopause. Hormone replacement therapy is medication that replaces the estrogen which declines with menopause.

Following treatment, women report relief of common menopausal symptoms, both physical and emotional. Some women experience these symptoms during all three stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Studies document the benefits of traditional hormone therapy in not only relieving symptoms, but also improving bone density.

Additional benefits may also include a protective effect on both the heart and bone to provide benefits against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses substances which are derived from plant sources that are chemically similar to the hormones naturally produced by the human body.

Patients who take BHRT are typically trying to relieve symptoms of menopause and/or hormonal changes such as:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Discomfort during sex due to vaginal dryness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Emotional changes (irritability, mood swings)
• Changes in sex drive
• Loss of energy or fatigue

Currently, national medical societies state that the risks and benefits of traditional and bioidentical hormones should be considered the same. A patient may wish to try BHRT if they feel that traditional therapies have not worked, desire a more customized compounded solution, or want a different dosage or delivery method for their hormone treatment.

Biote Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

Vanguard Intimate Women’s Wellness offers Biote® Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, which has developed a strong reputation and patient following with more than 2.5 million treatments as of the time of this writing.

As a Biote Certified Provider, Dr. Mikaelian has been trained on how to custom-compound BHRT pellets for her patients. The patient starts with a comprehensive consultation. If Dr. Mikaelian determines that Biote BHRT is a good option for the patient, they will then have blood drawn to determine current hormone levels. The results of this blood test will direct the personalized compounded hormone formula for the patient.

Once Dr. Mikaelian receives the results of the blood test, the patient will have their second visit. This quick in-office visit is when the Biote pellet is inserted through a small incision in the upper buttocks. The patient leaves with a small bandage over the insertion site.

This pellet-based hormone delivery method allows for a consistent and controlled release of the hormones over time. Some patients of Biote BHRT report improvements as soon as four weeks, with full optimization in six months.

Learn more about Biote.

Is This Treatment Covered by Insurance?

Most insurance companies will cover traditional hormone therapy but will not cover compounded bioidentical hormones. Insurance may cover the cost of the office visit and lab work used to determine dosage. The amount of coverage will depend on the patient’s insurance plan.