Hormone questions, answered
Do I have to be in menopause to be evaluated?
No. Symptoms often start years before menopause or andropause, and you do not have to be through either one to be seen. Patients come in for fatigue that sleep does not fix, broken sleep, low drive, mood changes, brain fog, or losing muscle and gaining belly fat.
Is this decided by a blood test alone?
No. Labs guide the plan. They do not replace your provider’s review of your symptoms and history. The evaluation starts with your symptoms and your history, and lab work looks at the hormone markers that fit your symptom pattern. Safety is screened first, including clotting and cancer history, smoking and abnormal bleeding.
My labs came back normal. Is that the end of it?
Not always. If you were told that, the person saying it was reading a reference range. Normal means not flagged. It doesn't mean your body is working at its best. That's why symptoms get matched to labs, stage, and history, never the number alone.
Do you treat men with low testosterone?
Yes, when your provider finds that treatment is right for you. Hormone therapy for men means replacing testosterone with the same molecule your body makes. If testosterone is part of your plan, you’ll have a live visit with your provider, by video or in person, before the first prescription. Testosterone is a controlled substance, and some states require that live first visit. We help you book it.
What forms do the hormones come in?
Creams and forms you take by mouth come first. Injections are used only if you ask for them. We do not offer pellet therapy at all.
Do you test hormones with saliva or urine?
No. We do not offer them. The Menopause Society calls them unreliable.
How soon would I be seen again?
The first recheck is usually eight to twelve weeks in, so the plan can be adjusted based on how you feel, any side effects, and repeat labs. The first year needs closer monitoring. Once things are stable, visits can spread further apart.
Can I do this alongside a weight management plan?
Sometimes, and that is a clinical decision rather than an upsell. Hormones and metabolism are connected, and sleep, energy and muscle mass can be part of the same picture. Your provider will tell you whether treating hormones makes sense alongside what you are already doing, or instead of it.
Can I be seen by telehealth?
Telehealth medical care is currently available only to patients who are physically located in Texas, Colorado, Florida or Ohio at the time of their visit. You can also see us in person in Magnolia. Cypress is by appointment only right now.
Are compounded hormones FDA-approved?
No. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
What does it cost?
Care depends on what you actually need, so your provider reviews costs with you at your consult, before you decide anything. You have the right to know what your care will cost before you start, and you can ask for a written estimate at any time.
Your next step: a hormone consult
At your consult, we want to really understand what's been going on, what you've tried, and what hasn't worked. Then we'll look at what options actually make sense for your body and your goals. That way you're not guessing anymore.
It starts with a short hormone prescreen. Then you pick a time for your consult.
Want to talk to a person? Live support is always available when you ask, and you're welcome to visit us at one of our Houston-area offices.
Hormone therapy requires a medical consultation, a licensed provider and a prescription. Nothing is available without a prescription.
All prescription therapies require a medical evaluation. A licensed provider decides whether a treatment is appropriate for you. Not everyone is a candidate.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or quality.
Some hormone therapies are prescribed off-label. Your provider will tell you when that applies to your plan and why.