HomeWellnessHormone replacement therapy
Hormone care for women in perimenopause and menopause, and for men with low testosterone.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and thyroid optimization start with a consultation with Cynthia Diaz, FNP-C, and lab work at our Tucson office. If treatment is right for you, your labs are rechecked as it goes so your plan can be adjusted.
Hot flashes, poor sleep, a lower sex drive, low energy and mood changes are some of the reasons people ask about hormone therapy. Many things can cause them, including stress, sleep problems, other health conditions and medications, so we don’t assume it’s your hormones.
That’s why every plan starts with a consultation and lab work. If hormone therapy is an option for you, we explain what it involves, the benefits and risks that apply to you and how it’s monitored, then recheck your labs as treatment goes on.
Not sure your symptoms are hormone related? That’s what the consultation is for. Schedule a Consultation
What you’re noticing, how long it’s been going on and what else could explain it.
Bloodwork comes before any plan and is rechecked during treatment.
Treatment should fit your goals, your health and the rest of your life.
Women
Perimenopause is the transition before menopause, when hormone levels start to change, and it can begin several years before your last period. Menopause is confirmed once you’ve gone 12 months without a period, usually between ages 45 and 55.
These can have other causes too, which is why we look at your history and labs first.
What the research says
The Menopause Society calls hormone therapy the most effective treatment for hot flashes. For most healthy women with symptoms who are under 60 and within 10 years of menopause, it says the benefits outweigh the risks.
The Menopause Society, 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement
It isn’t right for everyone. Your personal and family history affects whether hormone therapy is an option, and we go over the benefits and risks that apply to you before you decide.
Men
Testosterone replacement therapy is for men who have symptoms of low testosterone and blood tests that confirm it. Symptoms alone aren’t enough, because many other things can cause them.
Recent illness, sleep problems, weight, diabetes and some medications can lower testosterone or cause similar symptoms, so we test before assuming.
What the research says
Clinical guidelines recommend confirming low testosterone with blood tests on two separate mornings, and checking testosterone levels and blood counts during treatment.
Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline, 2018
Planning to have children? Tell us at your consultation. Guidelines recommend against starting testosterone therapy in men who plan to father a child soon.
From your first visit to your follow-up labs, here’s what hormone care at our office involves.
Your symptoms, health and family history, current medications and goals, discussed in person at our Tucson office.
At our Tucson office
Bloodwork before any plan, so decisions are based on your results as well as your symptoms.
Before your plan
Whether hormone therapy is an option for you and the benefits and risks that apply to you. If another approach fits better, we’ll tell you that too.
Including when the answer is no
If treatment is right for you, a plan built around your history and results, including how to take it and what to watch for.
Prescription only
Follow-up bloodwork to see how your body is responding, so your plan can be adjusted.
During treatment
Your symptoms, any side effects and your lab results reviewed at 3 months, then every 6 to 12 months, with your plan adjusted or stopped when needed.
Every 4 weeks
“Cynthia is very knowledgeable and takes the time to explain what is going on and what treatment best suits me. Thank you!
Answers to common questions about HRT and TRT. Anything else, ask us at your consultation.
Still deciding?
Call the front desk and we’ll help you decide if a consultation makes sense for you.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses prescribed hormones to treat symptoms caused by changing or low hormone levels. At our office, that means HRT for women in perimenopause and menopause, and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for men with low testosterone confirmed by blood tests.
You can’t tell from symptoms alone. Hot flashes, poor sleep, low energy and mood changes can have many causes. A consultation and lab work help us find out what’s going on before recommending treatment.
Yes. Bloodwork comes before any plan, and your labs are rechecked during treatment so your plan can be adjusted.
Not necessarily. Treatment is prescribed only after your consultation and lab results show it’s appropriate. Sometimes the better answer is a different approach.
For most healthy women with symptoms who are under 60 and within 10 years of menopause, The Menopause Society says the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks. It isn’t right for everyone, and your personal and family history affects whether it’s an option. We go over the benefits and risks that apply to you.
Clinical guidelines recommend diagnosing low testosterone only in men who have symptoms and consistently low levels on blood tests taken on two separate mornings. Recent illness, sleep problems, weight, diabetes and some medications can also lower testosterone.
It can. Clinical guidelines recommend against starting testosterone therapy in men who plan to father a child soon. If you’re planning to have children, tell us at your consultation.
It depends on your plan. If treatment is prescribed, we’ll go over how and when to take it and what to watch for.
At 3 months to start and after any change to your plan, then every 6 to 12 months, with labs rechecked during treatment.
The consultation is paid, and treatment costs depend on your plan. We’ll go over costs before you start. We don’t bill insurance.
Let’s discuss your concerns and what you’re hoping to achieve. Book a consultation online, or call us for help scheduling.
