BHRT for Women
You shouldn't have to feel this way.
Perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause create real hormonal changes with real symptoms. BHRT at Meliora uses bioidentical hormones — structurally identical to what your body produces — to restore balance that medication alone can't replicate.
The symptoms you've been told to accept as normal.
These are the experiences that most commonly bring women to Meliora. They are not inevitable. They are not untreatable. They are the clinical signature of hormonal imbalance.
Sleep disruption
Difficulty falling asleep, waking at 2–4 AM, unrefreshing sleep. Often the first symptom of perimenopause. Driven by progesterone decline and cortisol dysregulation.
Fatigue
Not tiredness from exertion — the kind of exhaustion that doesn't respond to rest. Driven by low estrogen, low testosterone, low thyroid, and nutrient depletion acting together.
Brain fog
Difficulty concentrating, word-finding problems, cognitive slowing. Estrogen is neuroprotective. Its decline directly affects cognitive function.
Weight changes
Weight gain despite no changes in diet or activity, particularly around the abdomen. Driven by estrogen decline, insulin resistance, and cortisol dysregulation.
Mood instability
Anxiety, irritability, and mood swings that feel out of proportion. Estrogen and progesterone have significant effects on serotonin and GABA signaling.
What bioidentical hormone therapy at Meliora looks like.
Estradiol
The primary estrogen we replace. Delivered via pellet for steady-state levels — no daily pills, no fluctuating patches. Pellets provide 3–6 months of consistent hormone delivery from a single brief procedure.
Progesterone
Micronized progesterone (identical to what your ovaries produced) is prescribed when indicated to balance estrogen, support sleep, and protect the uterine lining. Most women who receive estrogen also need progesterone.
Testosterone
Often overlooked in women. Low testosterone drives fatigue, low libido, cognitive changes, and loss of lean muscle mass. We restore it to levels that are optimal for women — not based on male reference ranges.
DHEA
A precursor hormone that declines with age and stress. Supports energy, libido, immune function, and bone health. Dosed based on your DHEA-S lab value.
Bioidentical vs. synthetic: why the distinction matters.
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to the hormones your body produces. They fit your hormone receptors exactly as your own hormones do. Synthetic hormones — like the progestins used in older combination HRT preparations — have a modified structure that creates a different receptor interaction and a different side-effect profile.
The studies that raised concerns about HRT in the early 2000s largely used synthetic hormones (specifically conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate). The evidence base for bioidentical hormones — particularly estradiol and micronized progesterone — is different.
At Meliora, we use the form of hormone, the delivery method, and the dose that is most appropriate for your individual biology. This is not a standard protocol — it is a protocol built from your labs, your symptoms, and your life.
What to Expect
What to expect.
01
Hormone panel and intake
A full hormone lab draw before your consultation. Dr. Chua reviews your results against optimal ranges — not just "normal."
02
Consultation
Dr. Chua walks you through your results, explains what the pattern means clinically, and builds your hormone protocol with you.
03
Treatment initiation
Pellet insertion (brief in-office procedure) or prescription for oral/topical hormones depending on your protocol.
04
Monitoring
Follow-up labs at five weeks and six months. Hormone therapy requires ongoing calibration — especially in the first year.
Common questions.
Am I too young for BHRT?
Hormone optimization is relevant for women as early as their mid-30s if labs show suboptimal levels and symptoms are present. Perimenopause can begin a decade before the final menstrual period.
Does BHRT cause cancer?
The short answer is: bioidentical estradiol and micronized progesterone do not have the same risk profile as synthetic hormones. The evidence suggests that, for most women, appropriately dosed BHRT does not significantly increase breast cancer risk and may be protective against other conditions. Dr. Chua will review your individual risk profile in detail.
What does pellet insertion feel like?
The procedure takes about 10 minutes. Local anesthesia is used. Patients describe minor pressure, not pain. There is a small insertion site that heals within a few days. Most patients return to normal activity right away, but should avoid heavy lower-body exercise for about 3 days afterward while the insertion site heals.
How long will I be on BHRT?
Most women continue hormone therapy through and beyond menopause, as long as the clinical benefits outweigh any risks. This is an ongoing, monitored decision — not a commitment you make at the start.
My doctor said I don't need hormones because my labs are normal.
"Normal" and "optimal" are different. If your estradiol, progesterone, or testosterone is at the low end of normal and you're experiencing symptoms, there may be clinical ground to optimize. That's the conversation we're designed to have.
Questions? Send us a message.
We respond within one business day.
You deserve to feel like yourself again.
Book a consultation. We'll run the labs, review your picture, and build a hormone protocol designed around your biology — not a generic protocol.