Hormone Replacement Therapy Specialist
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Terry L Franklin, M.D.
Primary Care & Functional Medicine Conveniently Located in Downtown Monterey, CA
Most people associate hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with women and menopause, but women aren’t alone, and estrogen isn’t the only hormone that becomes imbalanced. Men and women both experience a natural decline in many hormones as they get older, a problem that leads to a variety of health concerns. The exceptional team of Terry L. Franklin, MD, has extensive experience in hormonal imbalances. They’re currently the only provider in Monterey, California, offering BioTE® bioidentical HRT that’s fully customized to meet each person’s needs. To learn more about hormone replacement therapy, call or schedule an appointment online.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Q & A
When might women need hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy or HRT is often prescribed before and after menopause, providing relief from symptoms such as:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Painful intercourse
- Loss of sex drive
- Urinary incontinence
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Memory problems
When estrogen production declines, however, many body systems suffer. For example, without estrogen, your bones weaken, your skin produces less collagen, and your blood vessels lose elasticity. HRT prevents these chronic problems.
Estrogen isn’t the only possible hormone imbalance facing women. Levels of many hormones naturally decline as women get older and one in eight women develop a thyroid condition. As a result, you may need hormone replacement therapy to restore other hormones.
When do men need hormone replacement therapy?
Men also face the challenge of naturally declining levels of hormones as they get older. Around the age of 30, testosterone levels drop by as much as 2% every year, leading to symptoms such as:
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Loss of sex drive
- Erectile dysfunction
- Weight gain
- Loss of muscle mass and strength
- Loss of body and beard hair
- Difficulty concentrating
- Poor memory
- Mood swings
Men may also need hormone replacement therapy to restore levels of other hormones that go down with age, including DHEA, human growth hormone, and thyroid hormones.
What type of hormone replacement therapy might I receive?
After performing a physical examination and running blood tests to verify your hormone levels and determine the dose you need, Terry L. Franklin, MD, may prescribe BioTE hormone replacement therapy.
BioTE has several distinct advantages over other types of HRT, including:
Bioidentical hormones
BioTE is from bioidentical hormones, which have the same molecular structure as your body’s natural hormones. As a result, your risk of side effects is significantly lower. The hormones in BioTE are also from natural plant-based substances, so you don’t need to worry about reactions to synthetic hormones.
Customized dose in pellet form
BioTE comes in the form of a pellet, which contains the precise type and dose of hormones you need. Pellets are small capsules that Terry L. Franklin, MD, implants under your skin.
Steady, long-lasting treatment
After implantation of the pellet, it releases a steady dose of hormones. Your body doesn’t go through the fluctuations of other forms of HRT, such as pills that give you an initial boost, but then your hormone levels gradually diminish until you take the next dose.
Your pellet also lasts 3-6 months, and then you schedule an appointment to have your hormone levels checked and to get another pellet implanted. In the meantime, you don’t need to remember to take a daily pill.
To learn if you can improve your health and energy with hormone replacement therapy, call Terry L. Franklin, MD, or book an appointment online.
