Do I need labs before starting HRT?
Yes. Symptoms matter, but labs keep us honest. We review hormone, thyroid, metabolic, and safety markers so we are not treating menopause symptoms with a blindfold on.
Provider-guided hormone therapy for women with perimenopause or menopause concerns after symptom, lab, and safety review. (For men, see Hormone Therapy for Men (TRT).)
OK, so perimenopause and menopause are not just hot flashes. That is the part everyone talks about, but it is usually not the whole story. Sleep changes, mood swings, brain fog, low libido, vaginal dryness, weight changes, and feeling like your body is not yours anymore can all show up together.
Your plan starts with labs and a provider visit. Not vibes. We review estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid markers, metabolic health, symptoms, medical history, and safety factors before we talk about a hormone route.
HRT can include pellets, injections, creams, troches, or a combination. The route matters because hormones are not light switches. They are more like a thermostat. Too low feels awful. Too high can create a different problem. The job is to find the range where your symptoms and labs make sense together.
FDA-approved and compounded hormone products are not interchangeable. Compounded products are not FDA-approved, and FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness, or quality before marketing. The clinician identifies the exact product and its regulatory status before prescribing.
This page is for women seeking HRT. Men with low testosterone symptoms should use the TRT page so we follow the right labs, counseling, and monitoring pathway.
How It Works
Hormone therapy acts through hormone receptors. Treatment choice and monitoring depend on symptoms, laboratory findings, medical history, and individual risk factors.
Natural hormone levels decline with age. HRT aims to move levels into a range that matches symptoms, labs, safety, and day-to-day function — not just a generic "normal" range.
You May Benefit If You Experience
Hot flashes and night sweats
Irregular, heavy, or disappearing menstrual periods
Sleep disruption and insomnia
Mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or depression
Vaginal dryness or painful intercourse
Low libido and decreased sexual sensitivity
Brain fog, memory lapses, or difficulty concentrating
Weight gain (especially around the midsection) and slowed metabolism
Bone density loss or early osteopenia
Thinning hair, dry skin, or loss of skin elasticity
Your Treatment Process
01
Female Hormone Lab Panel
Estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, testosterone, DHEA-S, thyroid panel, and metabolic markers. Turnaround depends on the laboratory and selected tests.
02
Provider Consultation
One-on-one with your provider to review labs, discuss perimenopause or menopause symptoms, and build the treatment plan.
03
Treatment Start
Begin the HRT route selected by the provider — pellets, creams, troches, injections, or a combination matched to your routine.
04
Follow-Up at 4 Weeks
Symptom assessment and dose review. Post-pellet labs are ordered when clinically indicated and billed separately.
05
Ongoing Monitoring
Quarterly labs and check-ins when indicated. We adjust as your body changes.
Common Questions
Do you offer hormone pellets for women?
Yes. Pellets are one option and usually last 3-4 months. Some women do better with injections, creams, troches, or a different route. Convenience matters, but it is not the only thing that matters.
Can HRT help with perimenopause symptoms?
It can be part of the conversation for hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, mood changes, low libido, vaginal dryness, and brain fog. The provider still has to review your history and safety factors first.
How often do I need follow-up?
It depends on the route and response. Pellets, creams, troches, and injections do not behave the same way, so follow-up is based on symptoms and labs when clinically indicated.
Ready to Get Started?
Use this page as a starting point for a provider conversation about fit, safety questions, and next steps.
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