Hormone Replacement Therapy in Katy, TX

Perimenopause & Menopause Symptoms

Many women notice changes in their 40s, and symptoms can continue for years. Women who come to our Katy office usually have several perimenopause and menopause symptoms at once:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Mood changes, irritability or anxiety
• Low energy and brain fog
• Joint and muscle aches
• Vaginal dryness or painful sex
• Bladder urgency or discomfort
• Lower sex drive

These symptoms are common, and they are treatable.

Perimenopause & Menopause Treatment in Katy

Hormone therapy, also called menopause hormone therapy, replaces some of the estrogen your body makes less of. It is a well-established treatment for hot flashes and night sweats, and many women find it also helps their sleep, mood and comfort.

You do not have to wait until your periods stop. In perimenopause, estrogen rises and falls from month to month, and irregular periods, new hot flashes, poor sleep and mood changes are common perimenopause symptoms. HRT+ treats perimenopause as well as menopause. If you are still having periods, your provider uses a progesterone schedule designed for perimenopause. Because hormone therapy is not birth control, we do a quick pregnancy test in the office before you start.

At our Katy office, menopause treatment starts with an in-person evaluation of your symptoms and health history. Your plan is then adjusted at each visit based on how you feel.

Menopause Weight Gain and GLP-1 Care in Katy

Many women find that weight becomes harder to manage in their 40s and 50s, even without changing how they eat. As estrogen falls, fat tends to shift to the waist and muscle mass declines. Night sweats and poor sleep can also make cravings harder to resist.

Hormone therapy is not a weight loss treatment. That is why HRT+ includes GLP-1 weight loss care for women who take a GLP-1 medication, so your hormones and your weight are managed by the same team, under one monthly fee. Houston Weight Loss Center has provided physician-supervised weight loss since 1996. You can read more about menopause weight gain, or visit our Katy weight loss office page.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHRT) in Katy

What makes HRT+ different at our Katy office:

• Bioidentical hormonesThe estradiol and micronized progesterone we prescribe are the same hormones your body makes. Women who still have a uterus take progesterone to protect its lining.

• A patch you can adjustWe usually prescribe an estradiol skin patch, and studies suggest estrogen through the skin carries a lower risk of blood clots than estrogen pills.

• Your dose follows how you feelAt each visit you fill out a short symptom questionnaire, and your provider adjusts your dose one small step at a time.

• Your whole health, checked every yearYour yearly General Health Panel checks your blood count, liver, kidneys, blood sugar, cholesterol and thyroid. Thyroid problems can cause symptoms that look like menopause, so we check for them from the start.

• We do not profit from your medicationWe do not sell or dispense medication. Your prescriptions go to your pharmacy.

• The research is better understood todayWomen who start hormone therapy before age 60, or within 10 years of menopause, have a more favorable balance of benefits and risks than the early headlines suggested. Read more about hormone therapy safety.

Testosterone for Women in Katy

Some women notice a lasting drop in sexual desire after menopause that bothers them. Other causes, such as dryness, poor sleep, hot flashes or medications, are looked at first. After that, a low dose of testosterone may help some women.

Who Can Start Hormone Therapy in Katy

Some women are better served by a gynecologist who can offer a full range of treatment. We will refer you promptly, rather than starting hormone therapy here, if you have had a blood clot or have a clotting disorder; have had breast, uterine or ovarian cancer; have unexplained vaginal bleeding or a new breast change; have had a stroke or heart attack; have active liver disease; or are pregnant. Breast and pelvic exams and mammograms are handled by your primary care physician or gynecologist, and we will refer you promptly when one is needed.

How Much HRT Costs in Katy

HRT+ is a cash-pay program with one monthly fee for your hormone care and your GLP-1 care.

Your monthly fee includes:

• Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone management, as needed
• GLP-1 weight loss management, if you take a GLP-1
• All follow-up visits
• Your yearly lab work
• Messaging with your care team between visits

Your medication is not part of the monthly fee. Prescriptions go to your pharmacy, and you pay the pharmacy directly. We do not bill insurance, including Medicare.

Getting Started at Our Katy Office

1. Complete the questionnaire or call usA few quick questions about your age, your symptoms and any hormone therapy you take now.

2. Our team calls youWe answer your questions and find a time that works for you.

3. Your HRT+ evaluation in KatyYour evaluation takes place in person at our Katy office. Your provider reviews your health history, draws your baseline labs, and goes over the benefits and risks as they apply to you.

4. Your first check-in, 6 weeks laterA quick phone call or virtual follow-up to see how you are doing.

5. Every 3 months after thatHormone visits keep your therapy matched to how you feel. Once a year you have an in-person visit and your yearly lab work.

Our Katy office provides hormone replacement therapy for women from Katy, Cinco Ranch, Fulshear, Richmond, Sugar Land, Cypress, West Houston, the Energy Corridor, Brookshire and Rosenberg.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also called menopause hormone therapy, replaces some of the estrogen your body makes less of in perimenopause and menopause. At our Katy office, that usually means a bioidentical estradiol skin patch, plus progesterone for women who still have a uterus.

What are the signs I may need hormone replacement therapy?

Hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, mood changes, brain fog and vaginal dryness are the most common signs. If they are affecting your sleep, your work or your relationships, an evaluation is worth it. Your provider looks at your symptoms and health history, not a single blood test.

Do you offer hormone replacement therapy in Katy?

Yes. Our Katy office at 23217 Red River Dr. offers HRT+, hormone replacement therapy for women in perimenopause and menopause, together with GLP-1 weight loss care. If you are looking for a menopause doctor in Katy, your care is overseen by John Bergeron, MD, and provided by your physician or Nurse Practitioner.

Do you offer bioidentical hormones (BHRT) in Katy?

Yes. The estradiol and micronized progesterone we prescribe are bioidentical, meaning they are the same hormones your body makes.

Is hormone replacement therapy safe?

For most healthy women who start before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits of hormone therapy outweigh the risks. The risks are not zero, and hormone therapy is not right for everyone. Before you start, your provider reviews your health history and your personal risks with you, and we see you at least every 3 months while you are on treatment.

Does hormone therapy cause breast cancer?

In a large study of estrogen plus a synthetic progestin, there were about 8 extra cases of breast cancer per 10,000 women each year, a small increase. After the researchers adjusted for other breast cancer risk factors, the difference was no longer statistically significant, meaning it could have been due to chance. Women who took estrogen alone did not have a higher breast cancer risk. If you have had breast cancer, we refer you to a specialist for hormone decisions.

Will hormone therapy make me gain weight?

Research has not found that estrogen therapy causes weight gain, and it may help limit the buildup of belly fat after menopause. Weight gain around menopause is common for other reasons, which is why HRT+ includes GLP-1 weight loss care.

Can hormone therapy help with weight loss?

Not on its own. Hormone therapy treats menopause symptoms, and better sleep and fewer night sweats can make healthy habits easier. For weight loss, HRT+ includes GLP-1 weight loss care for women who take a GLP-1 medication.

How much does HRT cost in Katy?

Your HRT+ evaluation is $199 and includes your baseline labs. After that, HRT+ is $129 a month, starting 30 days after your evaluation, and covers your hormone management, GLP-1 care if you take a GLP-1, all follow-up visits and your yearly lab work. You pay the pharmacy directly for your medication.

Does insurance or Medicare cover hormone replacement therapy?

HRT+ is a cash-pay program, and we do not bill insurance, including Medicare. Your prescriptions go to your pharmacy, where your prescription drug coverage may apply.

Can I start hormone therapy in Katy if I am still having periods?

Yes. Perimenopause often starts while you are still having periods, and HRT+ treats it. Hormone therapy is not birth control, so we do a quick pregnancy test in the office before you start.

When should I start hormone therapy?

Many women start when symptoms begin to affect daily life, often in their mid to late 40s or early 50s. Women who start before age 60, or within 10 years of menopause, have a more favorable balance of benefits and risks. New patients can start estrogen and progesterone with us between ages 45 and 59.

How long does it take for hormone therapy to work?

Many women notice their hot flashes and sleep start to improve within a few weeks, and it can take about three months to feel the full effect. That is why your first check-in is 6 weeks after you start.

How long can I stay on hormone therapy?

There is no set time limit and no stopping age. Each year at your in-person visit, you and your provider decide together whether to continue. If you decide to stop, your dose is lowered gradually.

Do I need hormone blood tests before starting?

No. Hormone therapy for menopause is based on your symptoms and health history, not your hormone levels. Your evaluation includes a General Health Panel that checks your blood count, liver, kidneys, blood sugar, cholesterol and thyroid. Testosterone is the one exception, and your level is checked before it is prescribed.

Do you offer testosterone for women in Katy?

Yes, for women 45 and older who are past menopause and have low sexual desire that bothers them. Your provider checks your testosterone level before and during treatment, and we stop it if it has not helped after six months. Testosterone management is included in your HRT+ monthly fee.

Is hormone therapy a form of birth control?

No. Hormone therapy does not prevent pregnancy. If you could still become pregnant, talk with your gynecologist or primary care physician about birth control.

Do I need to come to your Katy office in person?

Yes, for your first HRT+ evaluation, so your provider can review your health history and draw your baseline labs. Many follow-up visits can be a phone call or virtual follow-up, and once a year you have an in-person visit at our Katy office.

Do you see patients from Sugar Land, Fulshear and Cypress?

Yes. Our Katy office sees women from Sugar Land, Fulshear, Cypress, Cinco Ranch, Richmond, West Houston, the Energy Corridor, Brookshire and Rosenberg.