Hormone replacement therapy

Why we start with evaluation and labs

Symptoms such as low energy, poor sleep or changes in mood have many possible causes, and hormones are only one. Treatment is considered only after an in-person evaluation and laboratory testing, and not on the basis of a form, a quiz or a phone call.

This is how the practice protects you. It also means the answer is sometimes that hormone therapy is not appropriate.

What the process looks like

A consultation covers your symptoms, history, medications and goals. Blood tests follow, and a second visit goes through the results. If treatment is recommended, the options, benefits, risks and alternatives are explained and you decide whether to proceed.

If treatment starts, it is monitored through follow-up visits and repeat labs, and the plan is adjusted or stopped if it is not helping or if it causes problems.

Benefits, risks and unknowns

Hormone therapy can help people whose levels are low and whose symptoms are related. It can also carry risks, which depend on the type of hormone, the dose, your age and your health history. Your clinician will go through them with you.

We do not promise particular results and we do not describe hormone therapy as a way to improve hair.

Hormones and hair

Hormones influence hair growth, and some hormone treatments can speed hair loss in people who are genetically prone to it. If you have thinning hair or are considering a transplant, tell your clinician before starting any hormone therapy so the two plans can be considered together.

That joined-up conversation is one reason a practice focused on hair restoration also reviews wellness needs, and it is why Dr. Contractor will tell you honestly what he thinks you need and what you do not.

Who this is and is not for

Hormone replacement therapy is for adults who have symptoms, abnormal laboratory results and a clinician who believes the benefits outweigh the risks for them. It is not for people who simply want to feel younger, and it is not something we start on the first visit.

Certain conditions, such as some cancers, clotting disorders or untreated heart disease, can make hormone treatment unsuitable. Tell your clinician about your family history as well as your own.

If you decide not to proceed, or the labs do not support treatment, you will be told so plainly. We would rather send you away with an honest answer than start a treatment you do not need, and you will always receive a copy of your results to take to your own physician.