This is only true for the "post-menopausal female on HRT" range. This is probably due to the influence of HRT on hormone levels. For example, a female taking a topical testosterone cream could possibly show higher levels of testosterone than a male, because of how topical HRT can significantly elevate salivary sex hormone levels.

Your blood levels of estrone and DHT are checked after treatment to see if they are elevated. Some men still convert to these metabolites. If they are converting, we troubleshoot with natural supplements such as DIM and Saw Palmetto, or an aromatase inhibitor prescription.

Good hormone balance will greatly improve your libido. The addition of testosterone will change everything for the better!

That depends on how much you exercise and work out with weights, as well as your age. Testosterone decreases fat and increases muscle and lean body mass. Testosterone also increases your natural growth hormone and therefore will improve your stamina to work out and increase muscle mass.

Please bring your picture identification and your most current insurance card to your first visit.

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment.

How frequently you need to come to The Hormone Balance Center depends on the details of your care. For men with Low T, monthly visits are needed to maintain adequate hormone levels, but they’re usually very quick—much faster than the first visit. Remember, stopping treatment for Low T will mean testosterone levels will drop, and you’ll go back to where you started. For hormone replacement for women, the frequency of visits may vary, though Hormone Balance Center will need regular visits to monitor hormone levels.

Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment to restore hormonal balance and hormone levels for men and women experiencing symptoms. Hormone Balance Center’s approach is highly individualized and involves continual monitoring and variable dosing. Hormone doses are provided based on the needs of each person and varied as those needs change. Along with monitoring blood thickness and responding with treatments to thin the blood, these practices reduce the risks associated with the typical approaches to hormone therapy. Testosterone (men) is typically injected. Estrogen and progesterone (women) can be administered via a number of different methods.

Dosing is varied depending on each person’s needs. Also, because blood thickening is a central aspect in the risks of typical hormone replacement, Hormone Balance Center continually monitors patients with bloodwork. If thickening results from hormone replacement, The Hormone Balance Center takes action to reverse this effect.

If you’re a woman getting hormone replacement therapy, you won’t get injections, as women do much better with hormone creams and pellets, in our experience. If you’re a man, injections are likely to be your method of testosterone delivery. Yes, we provide at-home injections. Testosterone injections need to be deep and intramuscular, and our professionals will train you to ensure they’re done right and to avoid potential problems.

The benefits of testosterone replacement therapy—and when and how much they affect you—differ from one individual to the next. However, the first benefits men tend to see are improved sleep quality and increased libido, usually noticeable as soon as Week 4 of treatment. In subsequent weeks, most men report improved focus and clarity, increased energy levels, better mood and even improved muscle mass. It has, however, taken six weeks or more for some men to start noticing the benefits of treatment, so it’s important to not get discouraged.

Treatment for Low T is long-term, for as long as you want to feel great. Testosterone replacement therapy gives you the testosterone you need, but it doesn’t cause your body to produce its own testosterone. Treatment for low testosterone only provides benefit while you’re receiving replacement testosterone.

While nothing adverse will happen if you cease therapy, you will be returning your testosterone levels to where they were before beginning treatment. Or they could drop even lower. This means your symptoms will return. However, if you do cease treatment, you can always resume it later to restore your levels back to where you’re feeling great.

It’s impossible to know what side effects you’re likely to experience. But acne, bloating and temporary weight gain are common. We monitor hormone levels and symptoms continually throughout treatment to watch for and minimize, through adjustment of dose and other actions, any side effects.

Throughout treatment, we will monitor your estrogen/estradiol levels and your symptoms and direct you if a supplement or blocker is needed to decrease estradiol levels.

No, testosterone does not cause prostate cancer. However, pre-existing cancer could be exacerbated by testosterone replacement therapy, causing it to grow and worsen. That’s why we conduct a baseline PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test prior to treatment to evaluate your risk. We repeat this test every 6 months—and ask a series of urinary questions—to monitor for changes.

Ideally, yes. Increased testosterone levels will help to build muscle mass if you are putting in the work. Building muscle will help you burn fat. Keep in mind, though, that muscle weighs more than fat. This is why we like to complete a body composition analysis to see if you are gaining muscle mass or fat.

The purpose of coming into The Hormone Balance Center for injections is so we can closely monitor the benefits and side effects of treatment, such as gynecomastia (“man boobs”). We monitor labs and side effects closely to ensure that we can lessen the effects or prevent them, and as a result, it is extremely rare for men in our care to get gynecomastia.

Testosterone can indirectly affect your blood pressure by increasing your red blood cell count. We monitor this very closely. Should this happen, blood donation will usually correct this.

Synthetic hormones have been studied and shown to increase risk of cancers and blood clots. They are not the same molecular make up as what your body naturally produces; therefore, they bind to the receptor sites but work on negative feedback to shut off production of your natural hormones. It is not safe to take bio-identicals while on synthetic as it can put you at further risk for an adverse event. Also hormone levels can build up in the blood to unsafe levels and cause a worse hormone imbalance.

Weight gain (temporary) and bloating are extremely common in the first several weeks of treatment. As your body gets used to hormone changes and balancing, it is common to experience water retention and bloating initially. But don’t be discouraged—you’ll start to lean out over time. Other side effects can include mood changes and nipple sensitivity. Remember, too, that we run blood tests at specific treatment intervals to evaluate levels in the contest of symptoms in order to minimize side effects.

Testosterone can cause male characteristics in females. However, proper dosing and close follow-up significantly reduce your risk.

You may contact us directly in our clinic at +1 317-499-3143 , or you can send us an email at info@hormonebalancecenter.com. We'll keep you informed on the next steps!