BioTE Specialist
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Mills Obstetrics & Gynecology
Victoria Mills, DO
Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Oklahoma City, OK
Menopause is a natural life transition that each woman makes at the end of her child-bearing years. Though the process is natural, sometimes the symptoms and effects of menopause can seem unbearable. At her OB/GYN practice, Mills Obstetrics & Gynecology in Oklahoma City, Victoria Mills, DO treats many of these symptoms using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with BioTE® hormone therapy, the most natural and effective way to replace lost estrogen. Call the office or request an appointment online to find out if BioTE is right for you.
BioTE Q & A
What is BioTE?
BioTE hormone pellets are available in bio-identical estrogen form to patients of Mills Obstetrics & Gynecology. Bio-identical hormones are made in a laboratory to identically mirror the molecular structure of natural hormones produced in the body. These hormones are only available by prescription from a physician or nurse practitioner.
BioTE pellets, which are about the size of a large grain of rice, are inserted under the skin, usually through a small incision in the abdomen or hip. The hormone is gradually and continually metabolized into the body, relieving symptoms and improving vitality. Insertion is an outpatient procedure that takes about ten minutes. After six weeks, you visit Dr. Mills for a follow-up to check levels. A follow-up visit is not required unless you’re not feeling the benefits of the therapy, in which case you may need a booster.
What symptoms can BioTE treat?
Hormone replacement therapy has long been recognized as the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms. The process of menopause gets triggered by the fall in estrogen levels, as your ovaries decrease production. This changes the hormone balance in your body and triggers the physical symptoms commonly associated with menopause.
While every woman experiences menopause differently, common symptoms include:
- Hot flashes
- Sleep disruptions
- Fatigue
- Vaginal atrophy
- Reduced sex drive
- Frequent urination and/or urinary incontinence
What is a bioidentical hormone?
Since there’s no practical way to harvest human estrogen to make supplements, it must be manufactured. This can be done in numerous ways, resulting in synthetic estrogens that can relieve menopause symptoms. However, some of these replacement products don’t perfectly match the molecules and chemical composition of the estrogen produced by your body.
That’s where bioidentical hormones come in. Though manufactured, these are created with an identical molecular structure to the estrogen made by your body. The theory behind BHRT is that identical hormones will improve menopause symptoms, as all forms of estrogen do, and the chemically identical molecules will match your body’s receptors, preventing the risk of side effects.
While research hasn’t confirmed this yet statistically, hormone replacement therapy remains the most effective treatment for menopause symptoms. BHRT potentially adds another layer of safety.
To find out if hormone replacement therapy is right for you, call Dr. Mill’s office or book an appointment online.
