Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Hormone Optimization

At River Health & Wellness, we offer patient-centric strategies to optimize hormones and extend healthspans for both women and men. We are also a Certified Provider of the BioTE Method of hormone optimization therapy.

What It Means to Be a Menopause Certified Provider

As a Menopause Certified Provider, I have completed advanced training and certification focused specifically on the care of women during the menopause transition and beyond. This credential means I have specialized knowledge in the latest, evidence-based approaches to managing menopause-related changes — including hormone therapy, non-hormonal options, sexual health, bone health, cardiovascular wellness, and overall quality of life.

Being menopause certified ensures that I can offer informed, compassionate, and personalized care for every stage of midlife — helping you understand your body’s changes, navigate symptoms, and make confident decisions about your health and wellness.

What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

The term bioidentical hormone therapy began as a marketing term for custom-compounded hormones. But most use the term to mean hormones that have the same chemical and molecular structure as the body’s natural hormones.

Bioidentical hormones do not have to be custom compounded. There are many well-tested, FDA-approved hormone therapy products that meet this definition and are commercially available from retail pharmacies in a variety of doses. This allows you and your doctor to customize your therapy.

The BioTE method of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy uses custom-compounded pellets (approximately the size of a grain of rice) that contain doses of testosterone and estrogen. These hormones are bioidentical to those already present in the body and work to restore hormones to optimal levels. The pellets are placed subcutaneously in the buttocks and release a continuous stream of hormones as the body needs them. Once inserted, the pellets dissolve slowly, so that they only need to be re-administered every 3-6 months depending on the patient.

The Importance of Hormone Balance

For men and women, the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone perform several important processes. Both men and women begin to produce less of these hormones as they age, which can start as early as someone's mid 20s or early 30s. Most women see a significant drop in estrogen and testosterone during menopause, while many men may experience a similar phenomenon relating to testosterone, known as andropause. Hormonal imbalances occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Hormones are important for regulating most major bodily processes. Because of their essential role in the body, even the smallest hormonal imbalance can cause side effects throughout the body.