We must know your levels before we give you hormones.

• Blood levels of hormones must be drawn prior to every implant.

• We can indicate if you need to keep your next insert appointment based on your lab results or if you need to have labs drawn again in a week or two because your current levels are okay.

• Hormone replacement patients may have labs drawn outside of Renew Health & Wellness. Please ask our medical staff for a lab requisition form. If you choose to have your labs drawn outside of LabCorp you will need to use your personal insurance. Please be aware that the lab might bill you for any extra balance.

• Most patients are seen about every 3 months or 4 times a year for implants.

• On average, hormone replenishment is needed every 3 months.

• After the 1st hormone implant patients will return in 4 to 6 weeks for labs.

• Patients will also complete a Symptoms Questionnaire form every time they come in for inserts of lab draws to keep track of your progress.

If your lab results indicate that you do or do not need additional hormones, we will call you and notify you.

When checking out patients will schedule their next lab appointment and they will also schedule their next implant appointment. The implant appointment should be about one week after your lab appointment.

• Wear comfortable clothing.

• Bruising and soreness lasting up to a week at incision site are normal.

• Itchiness and redness at incision site are also normal following implants.

• After your implant please avoid exercise/ heavy lifting/ straining for 5 days.

• Please avoid baths, swimming pools, hot tubs (any submersion in water) for 5 days following your implant.

The answer to this question is different for everyone. Our physiology is unique from one another, and we all have different hormonal needs. A patient who has had years of hormonal depletion has a greater demand for replenishment. Therefore, it may take longer to feel the effect.

• Some patients feel the relief of some symptoms after the first implant; others notice a reduction in symptoms after two or more implants.

• Do not get discouraged if you don’t feel like a different person after a couple of implants. We must first replace and restore what has been lost over the years.

Don’t worry. They will kick in!

First, we have to get you restored and replace what hormones have been missing.

Yes, SSRI’s (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/ anti-depressants) and strong pain medications as well as strong sedatives can block the mood enhancing effects and the increase in well-being effects of testosterone.

• The goal is to eventually discontinue anti-depressants. Check with your PCP before discontinuing any medication. Antidepressants, pain medications and sedatives should be weaned off of slowly and gradually under direction of your PCP.

• Smoking, excessive alcohol intake, and other illegal substances can slow the effects of your treatment.

• The answer to this question is different for everyone. Hormone patients who incorporate a healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise), lose weight at a faster rate than those who don’t.

• Take advantage of the high levels of testosterone circulating through your body.

• Weight bearing exercises will help you build strong, toned, lean muscle mass.

• Building lean muscle will burn fat, speed up your metabolism, and make you feel great!

• Due to skin type and testosterone’s oil producing effects, some patients may experience mild acne.

• A pimple or two is your body responding to the testosterone. After your body begins adjusting to the elevated levels it often clears up.

• Acne can be treated. If you experience acne ask your nurse about “acne gel”.

For women:

Women who receive estrogen may experience bleeding/spotting. This is normal and nothing to be worried about.

• Shedding of the endometrial wall is perfectly healthy but must be regulated with the hormone progesterone.

• Taking oral progesterone not only balances estrogen but controls bleeding. Skipping a dose of progesterone or not taking enough of it will cause bleeding. If you have questions regarding how to dose your progesterone see the insert “Progesterone”.

If you are experiencing bleeding, call the Renew Health & Wellness nurse who can help you determine progesterone dosage for one week before returning to your regular dose.

The pellets we use in our Amor Vie™ therapy are derived from NDC 17-beta estradiol and NDC
testosterone. The NDC designation is maintained by the FDA. HOWEVER – the pellets are compounded,
not manufactured. The FDA delegates its authority of oversight and regulation of compounded
medicines to each individual State’s Board of Pharmacy, under FDA Policy as explained below:
“FDA views traditional pharmacy compounding as the combining, mixing, or altering of ingredients to
create a customized medication for an individual patient in response to a licensed practitioner’s
prescription. In its simplest form, it may involve taking an approved drug substance and making a new
formulation to meet the medical needs of a specific patient. For example, it may involve formulating the
product without a dye or preservative in response to a patient allergy. Or it might involve making a
suspension or suppository dosage form for a child or elderly patient who has difficulty swallowing a
tablet or a capsule. These traditional forms of pharmacy compounding are an important component of
our pharmaceutical armamentarium.” SOURCE: FDA.gov
The pellets, and our therapy, are crafted and designed for the individual patient to offer bio-natural
alternatives in a compounded form for hormone replacement therapy. FDA has delegated enforcement
and oversight of compounded medicines to the States and says, “FDA has exercised enforcement
discretion to allow these legitimate forms of pharmacy compounding, which are regulated under state
laws governing the practice of pharmacy.” SOURCE: FDA.gov
The pellets are compounded to a dosage specified for the individual patient by the State’s licensed
Provider, (physician, advanced nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant), each licensed from the State
of that HRC Center.
The compounding pharmacy we use is one of the largest and best in the country. They are regulated by
their State, which is one of the strictest states with regard to pharmacy regulation in compounding bio
natural hormone pellets.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is often referred to as natural hormone replacement therapy. This is because biologists structure these hormones to mirror exactly the hormones naturally found in the human body. The building blocks for these bio-identical hormones lie in the unique compounds of soybeans and wild yams. They are then chemically crafted into exact replicas of natural-occurring hormones. Because these are hormones already found in the body, doctors are not introducing any foreign substance into the body with bio-identical replacement therapy. The body treats these hormones as it would the natural hormones it produces, nearly eliminating any possibility of negative side effects.

This latest medical breakthrough has made believers out of those who were wholly against synthetic hormone therapy. Many women might be familiar with the synthetic hormones called Premarin or Provera. These synthetic hormones were derived from the urine of pregnant horses, making them not identical to hormones in the human body. Premarin is a synthetic form of estrogen that was very often prescribed to women before the discovery of bio-identical hormones. Provera is a synthetic form of progesterone. Clearly, neither Premarin nor Provera were the best answer for women facing hormone imbalance or deficiency.

Think of the human body as a car. There are many substances within a car to make sure it operates smoothly and without risk of damage. There is motor oil that ensures the moving parts of an engine do not face resistance and create friction that could damage the vehicle. A car also contains coolant, anti-freeze, gasoline and even windshield wiper fluid, all of which serve their purposes. When one of those fluids runs dangerously low, the owner replenishes the fluid to keep the car in prime condition.

This is exactly what people should be doing with their bodies, but instead of oil and coolant, they are dealing with hormones. All the different types of hormones play a certain role in the body. When the balance of hormones is knocked out of whack or one runs low, side effects occur. But, through bio-identical replacement therapy (BHRT), both the balance and level of hormones stay at the right levels, leading to nothing but positive effects for the man or woman. It is not enough to simply re-balance or top off hormones. This process must be done with the right hormones. Medical studies are proving bio-identical hormones are just the tool for the job.

The concept of bio-identical hormone replacement is growing in popularity among both the medical community and mass media, as seemingly never-aging celebrities boast of their positive experiences with the treatment

Curb the Effects of Pre-Menopause, Menopause and Post-Menopause

Many doctors seem to be in the dark when it comes to treating pre-menopause, menopause, and post-menopause symptoms. This leaves women around the world having to slowly suffer through symptoms of this hormone imbalance that is very much treatable through the use of bio-identical hormones. The symptoms of pre-menopause, menopause, post-menopause, and other similar hormone imbalances can range from uncomfortable and inconvenient to downright debilitating. These symptoms include:

• Weight gain
• Loss of muscle mass
• Hot flashes
• Dry skin
• Extreme mood swings, depression and irritability
• Vaginal dryness
• Trouble sleeping
• Decreased feeling of self-worth

Through bio-identical replacement therapy, mixed with nutritional supplements, diet and exercise, women will be able to greatly reduce the effects of menopause and other hormone imbalances.

By balancing the hormones in the body with bio-identical hormones, a woman can experience the following effects. These actively downplay the problem signs of hormone imbalance in women, such as those experienced before, during, and after menopause:

• Decreased risk of heart disease
• Adding density to bones to decrease the risk of osteoporosis
• Weight loss
• Stronger sex drive
• Helps to eliminate hot flashes and night sweats
• Can relieve muscle and joint pain

These effects bring women an overall more youthful feeling and appearance.