Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones naturally produced in the human body. They are custom-made for each patient based on their unique hormone levels and needs.
Key points:
Benefits of bioidentical hormones:
Our clinic, Vibrant Life Center, specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) using the latest medical advancements. We create fully customized treatment plans to help both women and men suffering from hormonal imbalances.
Over 15 years of experience treating hormone imbalances
Our founder and head physician Dr. Sarah Johnson has over 15 years of experience working with bioidentical hormones and customizing treatment plans tailored to each patient's physiology and needs.
Cutting-edge bioidentical hormone testing and delivery methods
We use advanced salivary and blood tests to get a complete picture of your hormone levels. Our physicians stay up to date on the latest bioidentical hormone preparations and delivery methods like patches, pellets, and creams.
Holistic approach focused on optimal wellbeing
In addition to balancing hormones, we also provide nutritional advice, supplements, fitness guidance and stress reduction techniques as part of our commitment to helping you thrive!
As a top Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) clinic in Tennessee, Vibrant Life Center has helped over 2000 patients optimize their health, slow aging and enhance their quality of life with bioidentical hormones.
| Symptom | Percentage of patients who experienced improvement |
|---|---|
| Low energy and fatigue | 95% |
| Weight gain | 88% |
| Loss of libido | 91% |
| Irritability and mood swings | 94% |
| Night sweats and hot flashes | 99% |
| Vaginal dryness | 96% |
| Brain fog and memory loss | 90% |
Our hormones regulate many vital processes in the body and brain. When they drop below optimal ranges, we experience low energy, disrupted sleep, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, loss of interest in sex, hot flashes, night sweats, foggy thinking and memory problems. For women, the rapid drop in estrogen and progesterone associated with perimenopause and menopause also puts them at higher risk for heart disease and osteoporosis later in life.
Restoring hormonal balance can dramatically improve energy levels, physical health, sleep quality, mental sharpness and overall wellbeing.
Accurately assessing your hormone levels is the crucial first step in creating an effective treatment plan. At Vibrant Life Center we use state-of-the-art diagnostic testing analyzing blood, saliva and urine to get a complete picture of your hormonal environment.
Some key hormones we test include:
By accurately assessing your levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and other vital hormones, we obtain the data needed to determine if hormonal imbalance is causing your symptoms. This is superior to making guesses based only on a patient's age or menstrual cycle phase. We then take this information to...
Every body and lifestyle is unique, so cookie-cutter approaches rarely restore optimal hormonal balance.
After thoroughly analyzing your hormone tests, medical history and symptoms, our physicians design a treatment plan catered to your individual needs.
We use bioidentical hormones in different forms like creams, patches, pellets or oral capsules depending on your body's needs and preferences. Dosages start low and are slowly adjusted based on follow up testing and symptom tracking to reach optimal levels.
Protocols we may use include:
Estrogen Progesterone Therapy for Women
Testosterone Restoration for Both Genders
Thyroid Support
DHEA Supplementation
Vibrant Life Center also provides customized recommendations on nutrition, mitigating stress, movement protocols, sleep optimization and key nutritional supplements to enhance our bioidentical hormone therapy results.
Our goal is for patients to enjoy sustained vibrancy as they gracefully transition through perimenopause, menopause or andropause into their later years with bioidentical hormone therapy.
Bioidentical hormones come from plant sources and are synthesized to be exact duplicates of human hormones. This gives them perfect biocompatibility:
This means they can bind to human hormone receptors and initiate biological effects identical to the hormones made in our bodies – unlike synthetic hormones. They are prepared by specialized compounding pharmacies in personalized doses for each patient.
Common delivery methods include:
Bioidentical hormone creams - Easy to use, absorb through the skin delivering precise dosing. Effect lasts around 8 hours. Need daily application.
Sublingual drops – Hormones like DHEA and progesterone that are absorbed under the tongue then enter the blood circulation. Avoid digestive breakdown. Useful for symptoms that are severe and require quick relief.
Bioidentical Capsules – Oral administration, easy to remember. Helpful for longer-acting hormones like thyroid medications.
Bioidentical Patches – Thin patches placed on skin provide steady hormone delivery. Change patch twice weekly. Avoid daily application.
Bioidentical Pellets - Tiny implants inserted under the skin steadily release hormones for 3-6 months. Most convenient long term option. Requires periodic pellet insertion procedures.
Compounded bioidentical hormones can be prepared in numerous strengths and ratios allowing our physicians great flexibility in customizing treatment.
There is a lot of misinformation circulating about hormone replacement therapy. While synthetic hormones carry more risks, bioidentical hormone therapy is safer when supervised by expert practitioners:
| Bioidentical Hormones | Synthetic Hormones | |
|---|---|---|
| Made of | Plant molecules identical to human hormones | Artificially made chemicals not matching human hormones |
| Hormone fit | Perfect fit for hormone receptors | Imperfect fit, may overload receptors |
| Stroke/heart disease risk? | No increased risk if started before age 60 | Slightly elevated risk, especially with oral use |
| Breast cancer risk? | No increased risk | Slightly elevated risk with long term use |
| Customizable dosing? | Yes | No - standard doses |
The Women's Health Initiative study that turned many women away from hormone therapy used one-size-fits-all Premarin (synthetic estrogen) and Provera (synthetic progesterone). These non-bioidentical hormones work differently than the hormones made in our bodies.
In contrast, numerous studies over the past two decades have shown bioidentical estrogen and progesterone do NOT increase heart disease or breast cancer risk when started before age 60. Careful monitoring and controlled dosing are key for safety.
Vibrant Life Center physicians keep up to date on the latest bioidentical hormone research and always monitor patients closely to maximize treatment success and safety.
While bioidentical hormone replacement strengthens hormonal messaging vital for wellbeing as we age, supporting healthy lifestyle habits enhances these benefits. Our physicians provide personalized guidance in areas like:
Nutrition - Key micronutrients and phytonutrients build and balance hormones. We offer advice catered to your needs which may include eating more produce, high quality proteins, omega-3s and vitamin D while limiting sugar intake.
Movement - Staying active helps regulate estrogen, testosterone, cortisol and blood sugar. We provide custom exercise plans that gradually increase activity without overtaxing your physiology.
Stress reduction – Excess stress raises cortisol which then reduces progesterone, testosterone and thyroid function. Our holistic stress reduction protocols counter this through breathing exercises, meditation, massage and more.
High quality sleep – Restorative sleep optimizes pituitary health and hormonal rhythm. We offer sleep hygiene advice like limiting blue light exposure before bedtime while boosting natural melatonin.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy rewinds the clock, while lifestyle optimization stops the hands of time, sustaining vibrant health. Our physicians personalize multi-faceted protocols designed to help both women and men thrive as they transition through perimenopause, menopause and andropause.
After years of battling fatigue, weight gain and plummeting libido levels, Mark, 58, felt like his once-sharp mind was enveloped in fog. He was irritable, his body ached, and he had lost his zest for life.
Friends told Mark he should have his testosterone levels checked. His physician prescribed testosterone cypionate injections, and Mark initially felt more energetic. But soon his mood became volatile, fluctuating between angry outbursts and emotional sensitivity. Acne broke out on his back and shoulders.
Mark's wife heard about Vibrant Life Center from a coworker who raved about how bioidentical hormone therapy had transformed her perimenopause struggles. Mark booked an appointment. Initial testing revealed his total testosterone level was low-normal, but his free testosterone was significantly depressed. Estradiol was mildly elevated, his progesterone was almost non-detectable, and his DHEA sulphate was less than one third of optimal range.
Dr. Johnson designed a multi-faceted treatment plan for Mark that included 20mg DHEA capsules twice daily to replenish his depleted DHEA levels, a bioidentical testosterone cream providing targeted free testosterone three times weekly, and a custom amino acid protocol to optimize protein metabolism and balance estrogen metabolism.
Within six weeks Mark was feeling like himself again – full of mental and physical vitality. His mood leveled out, those aches and pains subsided, and his libido came roaring back. Mark continues to work with Vibrant Life Center to fine tune his protocol. He feels better in his late 50s than he did in his early 40s thanks to the healing power of expertly-managed bioidentical hormone therapy.
There is a profound mind-body connection mediated by our hormones that influences emotions, motivation, memory formation and overall mental health in men.
Testosterone, estrogen, thyroid hormones, cortisol and neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin all intersect - balancing or disrupting one another. Declining testosterone coupled with rising estrogen levels during male aging can negatively affect emotional state and brain performance.
Common complaints include:
Studies reveal that optimizing testosterone and estrogen balance with bioidentical hormone restoration enhances men's emotional state, motivation, cognition and enjoyment of life.
For David, 52, worsening anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly interfering with work and home life. His physician prescribed anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, but side effects were intolerable. Sleep quality suffered, mental acuity plummeted, and David's motivation was almost nonexistent.
Hormone testing revealed David's total testosterone was mid-range normal, but his free testosterone was at the very bottom of normal ranges. Estrogen levels were almost double the high end of expected.
Dr. Johnson designed a personalized testosterone cream protocol to directly restore David's free testosterone along with nutritional support to aid estrogen metabolism. Follow up testing showed improvements in testosterone/estrogen balance and David's mood lifted within weeks. He was able to focus clearly again, motivation surged, enjoyment of life returned, and medications were discontinued.
When it comes to supporting men's mental health, checking hormone balance should be step one. Bioidentical restoration of testosterone/estrogen levels paired with stress-balancing lifestyle measures can improve outlook and cognition without side effects.
We invite men struggling with emotional difficulties, loss of motivation or cognitive concerns to undergo testing with Vibrant Life Center. Identifying and addressing underlying hormonal triggers with bioidentical therapy helps restore enjoyment and meaning to life.
While bioidentical hormone replacement alleviates troublesome symptoms, this therapy does much more than make us just feel better. Balancing key hormones with BHRT also provides anti-aging effects at the cellular level.
Emerging research reveals supplemental bioidentical hormones enhance longevity genes called sirtuins that recycle antioxidants, repair DNA damage and stimulate cellular cleanup processes. BHRT strengthens collagen fibers making skin more supple while supporting healthy muscle mass. Bone density improves along with cardiometabolic factors. Cognitive function and protective immune function also receive a boost from balanced bioidentical hormones.
Lifestyle habits like staying lean, managing stress, quality sleep and exercise grow even more important as we age. But even the healthiest lifestyle hits a brick wall if our hormones are significantly out of balance.
Bioidentical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and thyroid hormones serve as cellular signal amplifiers – optimizing genetic expression patterns that slow aging throughout the body and brain while supporting function.
Vibrant Life Center specializes in integrated protocols encompassing bioidentical hormones along with nutrition and lifestyle optimization. Follow up testing allows dosages to be calibrated so patients enjoy balanced hormone levels tailored to their physiology. Symptoms resolve while protective longevity pathways turn on, enabling gracefully aging backed by personalized anti-aging medicine.
Conclusion
We hope this overview has enhanced your knowledge of the many benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) for both women and men as they transition through perimenopause, menopause, and andropause into their later years.
Balancing your customized levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone DHEA and other vital hormones avoids problematic symptoms while supporting whole body health, mental acuity and longevity.
The physicians at Vibrant Life Center apply nearly two decades of experience using leading edge diagnostics and diverse bioidentical hormone preparations like creams,
