What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Hormones are chemicals produced by glands in your body that act as messengers to co-ordinate body functions. Hormones are synergistic, and function as a team, which include mental processing, metabolism, and sexual function. If there is an alteration or deficit of one hormone it can affect all the other hormones, leading to unpleasant symptoms and hormone imbalance.

Hormone levels decrease as aging occurs. The rate at which hormones decrease is based on genetics, stress, environment, and lifestyle. Hormone therapy includes a collection of clinical data (symptoms), lab tests via serum (blood) tests, analysis/assessment  of your hormone levels, and then finally optimization of hormone levels using hormone medications/prescriptions which are specific to each patient's requirements.  Prescriptions are custom compounded in specific doses, and come in different types of delivery formats ie: capsules, creams, troches, suppositories, injections, oral sublingual liquids, etc.  The  formulations are compounded by an expert compounding pharmacist in a highly regulated facility then shipped to your door via courier. **Free delivery

Traditional hormone therapy uses synthetic hormones, which are made in a lab and are not the same in chemical structure as the hormones created in the body. Because of this synthetic hormones are not utilized as effectively by the body, this altered metabolism, and "one size fits all" doses set by the manufacturer, which can lead to unfortunate side effects. Metabolism of the additives in the synthetic hormones can also contribute to the unwanted side effects. Synthetic hormones have been used for many years because they do relieve symptoms, but the current scientific literature has demonstrated patient harm.

Bioidentical hormones chemical structure matches that of the hormones produced in the human body. Because of this, they are more effectively metabolized by the body and less side effects occur. More effective metabolism and no additives all decrease the incidence of side effects. BHRT is compounded, therefore the dose and route of administration can be tailored to the patients individualized needs. Hormones that are made just for you! An increasing body of research studies on bioidentical hormones is showing that promising results, including protective and preventive health effects.

Our medical practice is completely virtual (we do not offer inclinic in person appts), allowing you to consult a medical provider from the comfort of your own home safely with no travel. Which is excellent in Alberta because of the unpredictable weather and ever changing winter road conditions.

Contact us by email if you have questions. Follow the links on the web page to complete the intake forms and you will be contacted to book an intake appointment.

1. Please send us an email with your full name, birthday, best email address, and your questions reguarding BHRT/TRT therapy. Within two business days if you are a BHRT candidate, you will recieve an email containing a link to complete intake forms over an encrypted secure link (patient health history & consent forms, etc.).
    
2. Once your intake forms are reviewed we will email you a "blood requisition form" **this takes 5 - 7 business days.
    
3. Print off the blood requisition form & take your Alberta Health card to the lab nearest you.

Lab test results take approximately 3 days to arrive back to my office, you will then be contacted to book a consult date. Labs are very important to the titration of your treatment, therefore for your safety, BHRT or TRT will not be prescribed until lab results are received.

Consults are done via a secure QHR virtual health platform, you will be emailed information on how to access the call when initial consultation is booked.

MALE PATIENTS - We do not take patients under the age of 35 for TRT.

FEMALE PATIENTS - We take patients starting at the age of 21.

Initial consults are imperative for the medical provider to understand your health and your individualised treatment needs. After the consult  your prescription will be faxed to the pharmacy to have your BHRT compounded. The BHRT can be shipped right to your door. A follow up appointment should be booked 2-3 months after starting the treatment to evaluate effectiveness. Thereafter, it is recommended to book a follow up every 6 months after the initial assessment, or as needed for symptom control.

Usually in the first year we do one assessment consult to start then 1-2 followup consults at 3, mths and as needed.

Currently the Alberta government and insurance providers do not cover the services of independent Nurse Practitioners. Functional health care services provided by a Nurse Practitioner are currently only offered at a cost to the patient. This cost allows you as a healthcare consumer, to be provided with individualized care that is suited to meet your needs and schedule. Some of the Functional Healthcare medications may be covered by your private insurance, patients pay the pharmacy upfront via credit card for the medication costs and then submit their receipt to the insurance company after the medication has been filled. NP services are a tax write-off. 

• Initial consult: $350 (includes lab requisition to be completed at AHS lab which is covered by Alberta health care, 60 min appointment with a provider, and 3 months of messaging access to provider). 
• Follow-up consults: $250.00 (includes labs as needed and 45 min appointment with the provider.

OR

• Functional health 1-year package: $600.00 (includes lab requisition to be completed at AHS lab which is covered by Alberta health care, initial 60 min appointment with a provider, 45 min follow-up appointments as indicated, and 12 months of messaging access to provider). 
• LDN or medical consults: $200.00 for initial and 100.00 for follow-ups

Please follow the link to book an intake setup

You may not be able to receive BHRT if you have any of the following: if so please describe your history in detail when completing the intake forms.

• Personal history of Breast cancer
• Personal history of BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 -  Breast Cancer gene
• ER + - Estrogen receptor (ER) positive
• PR + Progesterone receptor positive
• Strong family history of breast cancer

• Family history of Prostate Cancer in father or brother
• Personal history of Prostate Cancer (previous or currently)
• Elevated PSA (currently or in the past)
• Enlarged prostate
• Bleeding/blood disorder (thrombophilia, factor V leiden)
• Current/past history of phlebitis or blood clot, DVT, PE
• Severe Liver disease
• Gallbladder disease
• Use of anabolic steroids or SERMS (Selective estrogen receptor modulators - block the effects of estrogen in the breast tissue)
• History of breast cancer
• High blood pressure not controlled with medication
• History of stroke
• Alcohol or drug abuse - current or past
• History of a heart attack
• Any form of cardiac heart disease or cardiac event