At Meeting Point Health, we believe that your body is designed for optimal function. However, as we age or face environmental stressors, our chemical messengers, otherwise known as hormones, can fall out of balance. When this happens, you don’t just feel “older”; you feel less and less like yourself.

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a natural way to restore that harmony. Replacement therapy is centered around your biological needs, whether it’s estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, or thyroid. The goal is to bring these systems back into balance. 

In this article, we cover:

  • Identifying the Signs: Common physical and emotional symptoms of hormone imbalance.
  • The Molecular Difference: Why bio-identical hormones are a more precise fit compared to synthetic alternatives.
  • The “Standard of Care” Debate: Why BHRT may not be the conventional medical standard despite its benefits.
  • Delivery Methods: A look at pellets, creams, and other ways BHRT is administered.
  • The Power of Personalization: How compounding pharmacies create a custom dose just for you.
  • The Meeting Point Approach: Why we look at root causes like toxins and stress alongside hormone therapy.

What are the Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance?

Hormonal dysregulation can present variably depending on individual factors. Common indicators that may warrant evaluation for BHRT include:

  • Physical Symptoms: Persistent weight gain (particularly central adiposity), vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats), reduced muscle mass, or diminished libido.
  • Cognitive and Emotional Symptoms: Impaired concentration (“brain fog”), irritability, anxiety, or reduced motivation.
  • Energy and Sleep Disturbances: Persistent fatigue despite adequate rest, difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or feeling unrested upon waking.

These symptoms often reflect broader disruptions in metabolic, neuroendocrine, and reproductive pathways.

What is the Difference Between Synthetic and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

One of the most important things to understand about hormone therapy is the molecular structure. Your body’s hormone receptors are highly specific, similar to a security lock that only opens for one specific key shape.

  • Bio-Identical Hormones: These are derived from plant materials (and sometimes mammalian sources) and are engineered to be a 100% molecular match to the hormones your body naturally produces. Because the structure is identical, your body recognizes and utilizes them seamlessly, minimizing harsh side effects that may come from allergic reactions and sensitivities. 
  • Synthetic Hormones: Common synthetics like Premarin and Provera do not have the same molecular structure as human hormones. Because they are more foreign to your receptors, they can lead to discordant signaling in the body. Research has shown that these synthetic versions can put patients at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers.

Why is Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Not the Conventional “Standard”?

If bio-identical hormones are a molecular match, you might wonder why conventional doctors still primarily prescribe synthetic versions. It often comes down to the traditional “one-size-fits-all” model:

  1. The Influence of Past Studies: Most conventional guidelines are based on decades-old studies that used specific synthetic drugs because they were the mass-produced options available at the time.
  2. The Insurance System: Synthetic hormones are mass-produced by pharmaceutical companies, making them easy to stock and usually covered by standard insurance. Because BHRT is often customized (compounded) for the individual, it doesn’t always fit into the pre-packaged box that insurance companies prefer.

The Research Gap: Large-scale clinical trials cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Because bio-identical hormones are natural substances, they cannot be patented. Without the ability to “own” the molecule and charge high prices, there is little financial incentive for big pharmaceutical companies to fund the massive, 30-year trials that conventional medicine requires for a standard of care change.

How is Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Administered?

Every patient’s physiology is unique, which is why we offer several different delivery methods to find the most stable levels for your lifestyle:

  • Subdermal Pellets: Tiny pellets placed under the skin every 3-5 months. This is a popular method that mimics natural production without having to worry about daily dosing.
  • Creams and Gels: Applied to the skin daily, allowing hormones to enter the bloodstream directly while bypassing the liver.
  • Sublingual Troches: Small lozenges that dissolve under the tongue for direct absorption through the mucosal membrane.
  • Injections: Typically used for testosterone replacement, administered every one to three weeks.
  • Oral Pills: Commonly used for progesterone, which can also help improve sleep quality when taken at night.

BHRT Sourcing & The Power of Personalization

Bio-identical hormones are not a one-size-fits-all product found on a standard pharmacy shelf. Instead, they are obtained through a physician’s prescription and prepared specifically for you at a specialized compounding pharmacy.

These hormones are crafted from pure, plant-derived compounds. Because BHRT is inherently bio-individual, the pharmacist can create a precise dosage tailored exactly to your body’s needs as requested by your doctor. This level of precision allows for a variety of administration methods based on your preference and physiology.

While these treatments are custom-crafted rather than mass-produced, many patients find that their insurance providers may still reimburse a percentage of the cost, depending on the specific details of their benefit package.

Why Choose Meeting Point Health for Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Philadelphia?

Replacing hormones is often only one piece of the puzzle. At Meeting Point Health, we will always look at the root causes behind the imbalance, such as environmental toxins (heavy metals, mold, plastics), chronic stress, and lifestyle factors. To ensure your body actually utilizes these hormones correctly, we may recommend:

  • Advanced Testing: We utilize the DUTCH test or Vibrant Wellness to see exactly how your body is metabolizing hormones.
  • Supportive Therapies: We may use Ozone Therapy, chelation, or acupuncture to help clear the pathways and manage the stress that contributes to hormonal decline.

Ready to Feel Like Yourself Again?

At Meeting Point Health, we don’t believe you should have to wait decades for a study to validate what we see in our practice every day. We rely on biochemical plausibility and personalized data to guide your care. Bio-identical hormone replacement can benefit both men and women who are suffering mentally, physically, and emotionally. Our experts, Dr. Steve Matta and Mary Anne Matta, will take weight, age, gene history, current symptoms, and past prescription of hormones into consideration when creating dosage. Take the first step toward feeling like yourself again, and book your discovery call with us today. 

FAQs:

  1. How does BHRT work? The goal of hormone replacement therapy is to replace the hormone that your body isn’t producing enough of. As with all HRT, well-being is relatively easy to maintain as long as it’s working for you, but if not, then the dosage may need to be adjusted. We will likely repeat a blood test to readjust your medication and fine-tune how much hormone you need to feel good again.
  2. What testing is used to prescribe BHRT? At Meeting Point Health, we will use Precision Analytics DUTCH Hormone Test or Vibrant Wellness. Depending on where you are in treatment, and what hormones we are testing, the collected specimen may be saliva, urine, or blood. We may combine with other testing, including your total toxin burden.
  3. What are the side effects of BHRT? Hormone therapy can have side effects if not dosed properly. Your endocrine system is sensitive to changes and may take time to achieve the optimal therapeutic dose. Some commonly experienced side effects include weight gain, cramps, tenderness in the breasts, changes to skin oiliness and texture, bloating, fatigue, and headaches. 
  4. What conditions can BHRT treat? A wide variety of conditions can be treated, including menopause, estrogen dominance, menstrual irregularities, low testosterone levels, PCOS, insomnia, weight gain (despite diet and exercise), and mood changes. 
  5. How long does BHRT take before I feel better? Some people feel better immediately. It may take a few weeks to several months of hormone therapy before the beneficial effects begin.

References

  • Duralde, E., Sobel, T., & Manson, J. (2023). Management of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. BMJ, 382. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-072612.
  • Johansson, T., Karlsson, T., Bliuc, D., Schmitz, D., Ek, W. E., Skalkidou, A., Center, J. R., & Johansson, Å. (2024). Contemporary menopausal hormone therapy and risk of cardiovascular disease: Swedish nationwide register based emulated target trial. BMJ, 387, Article e078784. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2023-078784
  • Thorat, M. A., Arbyn, M., Baldwin, D., Castells, X., Hofvind, S., Ivanus, U., Senore, C., Toes-Zoutendijk, E., van der Aalst, C., Canelo-Aybar, C., Fernández-Sáenz, F. K., Feliu, A., Zeeb, H., Carvalho, A. L., D’Souza, E., Ritchie, D., Espina, C., Lansdorp-Vogelaar, I., & DeCensi, A. (2025). European Code Against Cancer, 5th edition – hormone replacement therapy, other common medical therapies and cancer. Molecular oncology, 10.1002/1878-0261.70158. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.70158

Written by Amanda Bates, RN and medically reviewed by Dr. Stephen Matta.