Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced naturally in the human body. As we age, our hormone levels often decline, leading to unpleasant symptoms. Replacing these declining hormones with bioidentical hormone therapy can help alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.
Bioidentical hormones are sourced from plant compounds and are bioengineered to be identical to human hormones. This makes them act exactly like the hormones produced in our bodies without any synthetic side effects.
Some benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy include:
The first step before starting hormone replacement therapy is getting the right diagnostic tests. These help identify any hormonal imbalances and guide customized treatment plans.
Some key hormone tests include:
Getting tested by an endocrinologist specializing in hormones ensures accurate test analysis and identification of deficiencies. Testing may need to be done at specific times during the menstrual cycle for fertility tracking.
Hormone Harmony Clinic offers state-of-the-art testing facilities with advanced LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry technology for precision results.
Test results need careful analysis by specialized bioidentical hormone doctors to identify patterns of imbalance. For example, high testosterone with low progesterone often indicates estrogen dominance in women.
Customized and balanced treatment plans can then be created to restore optimal hormone balance with lifestyle changes, bioidentical hormones, or other holistic modalities like supplements or stress management.
Getting timely testing and treatment for hormonal issues is critical before they trigger more serious downstream conditions like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancer.
Early diagnosis and prevention with bioidentical hormone therapy can add years of vitality to one’s life. Conditions often dismissed as “normal aging” are often due to correctable hormone deficiencies.
That’s why specialized clinics like Hormone Harmony Clinic focus on precision testing and balanced bioidentical hormone restoration customized to each person’s unique needs.
Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) restores declining hormone levels using plant-derived compounds engineered to match human hormones exactly. It’s prescribed to both men and women as lifespan hormone optimization and is considered more natural and safer than synthetic hormone replacement.
The key bioidentical hormones prescribed are:
These are bioengineered to be 100% identical to human hormones down to the molecular level. This gives both structural and functional identity for better safety.
BHT offers multiple flexible routes of administration:
Doctors can blend and balance multiple hormones in a single delivery system customized to each patient based on their deficiencies, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.
Starting bioidentical HRT begins by first identifying and confirming any hormone deficiencies through history, exam, symptoms, and lab testing.
Correcting estrogen/progesterone imbalance is often the first goal in women to resolve hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Testosterone and thyroid balances are optimized next. Follow up testing helps finetune and monitor dosing till ideal levels and symptom relief.
Convenient long-acting pellets like Testopel simplify therapy to just twice-a-year procedures while avoiding the hassles of daily pills. Pellets provide steady testosterone levels for smooth symptom relief and peak performance for up to six months just from the two 15-minute office visits.
Hormone Harmony Clinic takes an integrative approach to bioidentical HRT focusing on precision diagnosis, testing, and balanced treatment plans for optimal restoration of hormones and health.
Reasons to choose Hormone Harmony Clinic include: - Specialized endocrinology focus solely on hormone and aging therapies - Use of advanced LC-MS/MS and dried blood spot testing for accuracy - Balanced bioidentical restorative approach custom-tailored to each patient - Holistic modalities including nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle counseling - Efficient long-acting Testopel ® pellets for low maintenance therapy - Comfortable state-of-the-art facility with spa-like amenities - Caring staff dedicated to patient education, support, and followup
Our clinic is headed by Dr. Hendrika van den Brand, a Dutch board-certified specialist in Anti-Aging and Age Management Medicine with over 25 years of experience optimizing hormones and vitality across lifespan.
She leads a team of nurses, nutritionists, and technicians dedicated to providing exceptional care. Hormone Harmony Clinic accepts all major insurance plans.
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to those produced by the human body. However, the body's hormone production changes constantly, while bioidentical hormone doses are static. Therefore, finding the optimal dose can require multiple adjustments over time.
Andropause, or declining testosterone in aging males, contributes to loss of strength, stamina, mental clarity, and urogenital function. Restoring healthy testosterone levels can reverse such symptoms.
Diagnosis begins with a complete history, physical exam checking high risk signs like abdominal obesity and physical frailty, and lab testing.
Along with total/free testosterone levels, doctors assess overall health status, estrogen balance, inflammation, and lifestyle factors to create holistic treatment plans.
If low testosterone is confirmed along with symptoms, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can provide benefits like:
Testosterone pellets like Testopel are the most convenient form of TRT providing steady hormone levels for 4-6 months from the two quick annual insertion procedures.
Pellets avoid fluctuating levels, frequent injections, skin reactions, transference risks, and other issues with gels/creams. Oral and injectable testosterone are other effective protocols doctors can prescribe if pellets are unsuitable.
Follow up lab tests assess progress to adjust dosing and balance estrogen metabolism using aromatase inhibitors if needed to avoid side effects.
Holistic wellness counseling on diet, exercise, stress/sleep also helps maximize benefits.
Menopause induced by falling estrogen/progesterone leads to disruptive symptoms hampering quality of life along with long-term health risks of osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can safely and effectively help counter such decline.
Specialized testing helps accurately identify estrogen/progesterone deficiencies and guide proper treatment plans:
Endocrinologists like Dr. Brand interpret results taking lifestyle, risk factors, preferences into account when designing therapy plans.
Customized BHT for women can provide benefits like:
Treatment plans address safety issues around uterine/breast health using selective estrogen receptor modulators like Evamist when needed.
Bioidentical estrogens and micronized progesterone like BiEst and Prometrium via oral/sublingual routes are convenient starter options to alleviate symptoms.
For low maintenance therapy, compressed bioidentical hormone pellets inserted under the hip skin provide steady efficient doses lasting four to six months reducing the need for daily pills. Follow up testing helps adjust and balance dosing to each patient’s metabolism.
Thyroid hormone optimization, testosterone in select cases, DHEA supplementation provides additional health/wellness benefits. Holistic counseling on fitness, nutrition and stress management helps women maximize quality of life during midlife and beyond.
Creating a healthy hormone-friendly lifestyle greatly helps the benefits achieved from hormone therapy. Recommendations include:
Eating a largely plant-based Mediterranean-style diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and olive oil provides key antioxidants, phytonutrients, fibers that reduce inflammation and balance hormones.
Stress management techniques like yoga, Mindfulness meditation help balance cortisol, serenity hormones promoting better sleep, weight control and wellbeing.
Regular activity sustains muscle tone for strength, mobility, metabolism aiding weight management. Options like outdoor walking, hiking, water sports, yoga, Pilates, elliptical machines can be fun.
Maintaining vibrant social connections, relationships, recreational pursuits enhances quality of life as we age preventing isolation and depression. Holland’s dense bike path networks encourage outdoor interactions.
Event calendars in local Dutch community papers also provide varied arts/culture, music, dance, cooking class options to try.
Check out leisure/learning programs at these local establishments:
Between balanced nutrition, activity, relationships and bioidentical hormones customized for your needs, you can look forward to enjoying a high quality, vibrant life here in Holland for years to come.
