Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions, we have answers
There are serious health risks associated with low levels of male and female hormones that should not be ignored.
As men and women age, your body’s ability to produce optimal levels of hormones decrease. In men, that means a decrease in testosterone of about 1% a year after the age of 30. Both men and women can experience symptoms of gradually decreasing levels over time to the point where those symptoms can go unnoticed.
The majority of post-menopausal women in the U.S. experience symptoms of low libido.
The good news is that hormone deficiencies can be diagnosed and easily treated.
We’ve included answers to some common questions below. If you have questions regarding your own health concerns, book an appointment or give us a call today.
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How can I get therapy reimbursed by my insurance?
Please contact your insurance company directly and ask if they cover the therapy you are interested in. Also, be aware of any deductible you may have as this can impact the cost.
Our blood tests are done through Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp, in which your insurance will provide standard lab work coverage (that’s no different than from your primary care provider). This is typically done at the evaluation phase, after 9 weeks of treatment, and again at 1 year of treatment.
For testosterone therapy specifically:
Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). If they do, we are happy to provide you with receipts so that you can be reimbursed for your therapy. Please provide them the following medical codes if requested:
- CPT code: J3145 (Testosterone Replacement Therapy)
- Diagnosis Code: E29.1: Testicular Hypo-function
When will I start to see the benefits of my therapy?
While it depends on your body’s metabolism and a number of other factors that your clinician will detail, most of our patients report seeing the first results in the following time frames:
Testosterone or HcG: Between weeks 4–8
Female bio-identical hormones: 2+ weeks+
MIC: Between weeks 2–4
Sermorelin or finasteride: Around 6 months
How long do I need to use this for?
Great question. While we’d like to say that supplements or injections last a lifetime, the truth is, they don’t. Prescriptions must be refilled regularly as your clinician suggests to have continued effects, but the confidence, motivation and other benefits they provide are what we’re all really after, and some people just need that initial boost to get started. Our weight programs as a prime example. Once you’ve developed a healthier regimen, the benefits become easier to maintain over time.
Can I stop the treatment?
If you are experiencing mild side effects or simply want to press pause, we recommend making an appointment with your clinician before ceasing treatment, as this can have unintended consequences. Some treatments have additive effects and it can take time to see results again after treatment is resumed.
Because of this, we ask you to make a 90-day commitment to your personalized plan.
After the 90 days, if you still wish to discontinue any of the individual products, contact us to reduce or cancel with no questions asked.
We do recommend following up with your clinician as soon as possible if you experience any moderate symptoms following treatment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please treat it as such by discontinuing treatment and seeking medical attention immediately.
Are there side effects?
As with any prescription, there’s a small risk of these. Our clinicians hold safety as a top priority, and depending on the course of treatment, they’ll detail you on the potential risks of your personalized plan.
How do I know that this is right for me?
Another great question, to which the answer is, not everything we offer is right for everyone. Our consultation, appointments, and testing are designed to pinpoint if we can get you what you’re looking for. If you have a family history of certain cancers, for example, hormone therapy is likely a no-go.
I've heard a lot about hormones and most of it was bad. How is this different?
Most doctors will tell you that if a man has a testosterone deficiency or classical hypogonadism, the benefits of treating the condition with testosterone is favorable and tend to outweigh the risks.
One of the best things about working with BRH is that our crack team of clinicians not only guides and educates you through therapy—we help you decide what products will be most effective for your unique needs, working closely with you to monitor your progress.
We’re always on the lookout to lower risks and offer optimally combined and bio-identical products. Putting you at the forefront is just our point of view.
But I hate needles. Can I get some assistance?
We get it. Many of our personalized plans, but not all of them, feature injectable products. Sometimes you have to break a few eggs to fry a nutritious egg-white omelet. Let us know as soon as possible if you would like an injection training, and we can also arrange in-office injections. Most of the time they are less painful than anticipated, and you’ll be a pro before you know it.
My Doctor said I was “fine” but I don’t feel fine.
Most PCP medical appointments test your basic vital signs, but we do more in-depth testing of things they don’t. Hormone therapy specifically addresses some very serious health concerns, and the risks of not initiating therapy when needed include an increase in:
- Body fat, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes and insulin resistance, and osteoporosis
And a decrease in:
- Sexual function/libido, well-being, and muscle mass
Needless to say, we recommend coming in to make sure you can feel better, not worse!
Will my body ever be able to make Testosterone again after I get that therapy?
In many cases, testosterone therapy is often continued indefinitely due to the tremendous benefits one can gain during treatment. According to several studies including one on men with prostate cancer, it took on average 6–9 months after stopping treatment to return to their levels of natural production. As everyone is different, we cannot guarantee a timeline for individual patients.