You know your body better than anyone, and when something feels off, it’s frustrating to not have clear answers. Mood swings, weight changes, fatigue, or trouble sleeping can leave you wondering what happened to the version of yourself that felt balanced and energized.
These shifts can feel subtle at first, and you might chalk them up to a bad day or a stressful season. But over time, they can start to change how you move through your daily life—and not in ways that you like. At Total Skin Dermatology & Aesthetics, we believe no one should have to “just live with it.”
That’s why we offer personalized solutions, like BHRT in Fargo, to help bring your body back into balance. In this complete guide to BHRT, we walk you through how hormone therapy works, who it’s for, and what to expect, so you can reclaim control of your well-being from the inside out.
What are hormones?
There are over 50 different types of hormones in the body, all working to control important functions throughout it. They work as chemical messengers, traveling through the bloodstream to reach various tissues and organs throughout the body.
From metabolism to reproduction, and from mood to sexual health, our hormones signal to the body what it should do and when it should do it. If our hormones fall out of balance, it manifests in several different ways.
What are the signs of a hormone imbalance?
Hormonal imbalances might be to blame for a wide range of unwanted and uncomfortable symptoms. Even a slight irregularity can have a noticeable effect on our overall health and well-being.
For women, some signs of a hormone imbalance can include:
- Fatigue & insomnia
- Decreased sex drive & vaginal dryness
- Weight gain, muscle weakness & joint pain
- Brain fog, depression & mood changes
- Irregular or absent periods
- Hot flashes & night sweats
- Constipation or diarrhea
For men, hormonal imbalances can cause:
- Mood changes & depression
- Fatigue
- Reduced sex drive & erectile dysfunction
- Hair loss or balding
- Weight gain & joint pain
- Loss of muscle mass & muscle stiffness
What causes a hormonal imbalance?
A hormonal imbalance indicates that your body has too little or too much of one or more hormones, and it can happen to both men and women. Often, these imbalances are temporary—at other times, they can be chronic and long-lasting.
The duration usually depends on the source of the imbalance. Certain medical issues, like autoimmune conditions, type 1 diabetes, and Hashimoto’s disease, can lead to hormonal imbalances.
The most common cause relates to the natural aging process. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less and less important hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. This production is further impacted by premenopause, menopause, and andropause.
- Premenopause: The transitional period before menopause when a woman’s body begins to produce less estrogen and progesterone.
- Menopause: The natural biological process when a woman’s ovaries produce even less estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, and periods begin to stop. Once it has been 12 months since a woman’s last period, she has entered menopause.
- Andropause: The “male menopause” is characterized by a decline in testosterone levels in men, usually starting around the age of 40.
Unrelated to the aging process, many women experience postpartum hormonal imbalances as the body adjusts to its “new normal” after pregnancy and childbirth.
No matter what the root cause of your symptoms is, our team at Total Skin will work to get to the bottom of it and help you find relief, allowing you to live your life to the fullest again.
Balanced From Within: How BHRT Works
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, also known as BHRT in Fargo, uses specially designed hormone pellets. These pellets are chemically identical to the hormones naturally produced by the body and help address hormonal imbalances.
These hormone pellets, smaller than a grain of rice, are inserted under the skin, usually on the buttocks.
At Total Skin, we offer both BHRT for women and BHRT for men, tailoring a treatment plan based on what their body needs to function optimally. These bioidentical hormones work by restoring hormonal balance, alleviating uncomfortable symptoms, and ensuring patients feel like themselves again.
What’s the difference between BHRT & HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy has changed and evolved over the years, but the 2 most popular treatment options are hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and BHRT. HRT utilizes synthetic hormones, which are processed differently and may not be as compatible with the body.
BHRT in Fargo uses plant-based hormones identical to the hormones already found in the body. Because of this identical nature, BHRT potentially produces fewer side effects than synthetic hormones, and your body absorbs it more easily.
How (B)HRT Works: The Process at Total Skin
Taking your first step towards improving your health and well-being and starting hormone therapy can feel a little intimidating. At Total Skin, we act as your personal guide throughout the entire process and during every step of your unique journey.
From your initial consultation to the moment you start feeling like you again, we designed our (B)HRT process to be supportive, personalized, and empowering. Here’s what you can expect when you start BHRT in Fargo and work to find your inner hormone harmony.
The Initial Consultation
We begin all of our BHRT treatments with a one-on-one consultation where you can discuss your specific symptoms and wellness goals with an expert provider at Total Skin. During this time, your provider also orders comprehensive blood work, so our team can assess your individual hormone levels.
This blood work and testing allows us to determine exactly what hormones your body may be lacking or producing an excess of, so we can customize the dosing of your BHRT based on your needs.
Once the consultation and results of your testing return, you can schedule your treatment appointment.
Before Your Treatment
In the days before your BHRT in Fargo appointment, you should take a few pre-care steps to help make sure everything goes smoothly the day of your pellet insertion. Our team recommends that you:
- Avoid blood thinners and NSAIDs (like aspirin or ibuprofen) for about a week before your appointment. If you are taking these medications, contact your primary care provider before you stop taking them.
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment to minimize bruising and bleeding on the day of your treatment.
The BHRT Treatment
On the day of your appointment, you arrive at Total Skin and go through the check-in process for your treatment.
Your provider will show you to a private treatment room and go over the insertion process with you. Never hesitate to ask any questions you may have about your BHRT pellet insertion, as we want you to feel completely comfortable when beginning a new treatment.
Once all your questions have been answered, your provider will start the pellet insertion process, which only takes about 10 to 30 minutes.
Your provider starts by cleansing and numbing the insertion site before making a tiny incision on the numbed skin. Since BHRT pellets are smaller than a grain of rice, you won’t feel them once inserted. Your provider will then place a bandage over the incision site.
After Your Treatment
On the day of your pellet insertion, you are free to return to your normal routine. It is normal to experience some mild bruising, swelling, and redness around the incision site. These symptoms typically resolve on their own within a week or 2.
In the days following your treatment, we recommend that you:
- Avoid soaking in baths, hot tubs, or swimming pools for at least 3 days. You can shower regularly, but wash the incision gently until it heals in about 7 days.
- For at least 3 days, avoid strenuous activity that exercises the incision area. This can include running, squats, ellipticals, etc.
After your initial insertion, you schedule a follow-up phone check-in set for about 6 weeks from your first treatment date. At this check-in, we go over how you’re feeling and make any adjustments to your treatment plan as needed.
Women who undergo BHRT in Fargo typically need to return every 3 to 4 months for a new pellet insertion, as this is how long it takes the body to naturally absorb the hormones and pellet. Men usually come in every 3 to 6 months for a new pellet.
The exact time it takes for the pellet to be absorbed varies from person to person, depending on factors like dosage, metabolism, and even our stress levels. Our team will work with you at each appointment to figure out the perfect timetable for you.
Your BHRT Results
After your treatment, the BHRT pellet releases a consistent amount of the needed hormones over the next 3 to 6 months. This restores your body to a more normal hormonal balance. You should start to feel the benefits of the treatment over the next few weeks following your initial pellet insertion.
Some of the benefits you can expect to experience after beginning BHRT include:
- Improved mental health: BHRT can improve mental clarity and concentration while reducing the impact you feel from stress, depression, and anxiety disorders.
- Better quality of sleep: Your circadian rhythm can be reset, allowing you to get more restful sleep with a reduction in insomnia. Women can also expect fewer night sweats, making it easier to sleep through the entire night without disruption.
- Increased energy: You should find that you have more energy throughout the day. Men can also expect an improvement in muscle stiffness and mass.
- Improved overall health: BHRT can improve your overall health and well-being. This extends to your sexual wellness as well. You can expect a return to a normal sex drive and see an improvement in vaginal dryness or erectile dysfunction.
Hormone Health Starts at Total Skin
Finding balance in your health doesn’t have to be a guessing game. With expert guidance and personalized care, BHRT in Fargo can help you reclaim your energy, confidence, and overall well-being.
At Total Skin Dermatology & Aesthetics, we support you every step of the way: from your first consultation to your ongoing care. If you have more questions about what hormone harmony could look like for you, request an appointment.
Your journey toward feeling your best is just beginning, and we can’t wait to be part of it.
If you’re looking for more than hormonal balancing from Total Skin, we’ve got you covered. From our excessive sweating treatment to a rosacea redness treatment and more, Total Skin is your place for comprehensive care.
