HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR HRT?

A MULTIFACETED PLAN FROM THE EXPERTS

We understand that the path to wellness and achieving your health goals is unique for each individual.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is replacing & replenishing the hormones that we lose through normal aging. In women, this aging & adaptive loss of reproductive hormone function is often called menopause. In men this loss of reproductive hormone function is termed andropause.

There are also OTHER hormones that are NOT just reproductive such as thyroid, cortisol & other chemical messengers essential to the body that coordinate health & proper body functions. These all may diminish over age & time. We at PHYSICIAN’S PLAN, coordinate a careful lab, physical exam & age-directed exam to evaluate for these age related losses.

At Physician’s Plan, we restore your balance with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) so you can feel energized, focused, and confident again. Relief starts here.

Tired. Moody. Foggy. If this feels like you, it’s time for a change.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?

Menopause is OVARIAN FAILURE. This is a normal process of female aging as women are supposed to be less fertile with aging to avoid the risks of childbearing as they age. However, we may still wish to maintain the NON-fertile elements of youth such as muscle mass, sexual intercourse, cognitive well-being, etc. So we can supplement their hormones w/o also causing late age-fertility.

WHAT IS ANDROPAUSE?

Andropause is TESTICULAR FAILURE. And likewise this is a normal male aging process as to not father children at an extensive age, but we men also want to enjoy the non-fathering characteristics of hormone well being such as youthful skin, erectile & sexual function, cognition maintenance,

WHO IS THE IDEAL PATIENT?

The ideal HRT patient is a middle- aged man or woman experiencing symptoms of hormone decline, such as fatigue, low energy, or other effects of menopause or andropause. These symptoms often stem from falling testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone levels. The earlier we can begin treatment, the better, as addressing these changes early not only alleviates symptoms but also supports a longer, higher-quality life.

PERSONALIZED, NATURAL, BIO-IDENTICAL

TO YOUR OWN HORMONES

WHAT IS HRT?

Uses synthetic hormones made in a lab & sold usually by larger manufacturing drug companies (le synthroid, oral birth control pills, etc). These are helpful & useful but may be limited toward microdosing & individualizing to specific patients.

WHAT IS BHRT?

Typically also uses synthetic hormones that are most identical to those already in our body & mostly made from plants. These are thought to be “less’ synthetic than the lab derived from manufactured products. These are often ‘compounded’ or blended w/ a specific patient & need in mind.

WHAT ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS?

Sexual dysfunction, foggy, decreased energy, forgetfulness, lack of sexual desire, vaginal dryness, erectile difficulties – ‘getting it up’ or more often noted ‘keeping it up,’ in terms of maintaining erection. Also weight gain weight in as you age – particularly around the belly, poor skin tone, color or pre-mature skin aging, hair loss, insomnia.

WHAT HRT CAN DO FOR YOU

Hormonal imbalances affect everything — your mood, energy, sleep, and weight. Our personalized HRT plans help you:

You Don’t Have To Settle For Feeling “Off.”

HOW HRT WORKS

TALK TO US

Start with a simple consultation. We’ll listen to your concerns and goals.

GET TESTED

Comprehensive lab work identifies exactly what your body needs.

PERSONALIZED PLAN

We tailor treatments-like testosterone, estrogen, or thyroid therapy – to your unique needs.

SEE RESULTS

With ongoing care and adjustments, you’ll feel better – faster.

Hormone Therapy for Women: What It Treats and What the Labels Say Now

Menopausal hormone therapy replaces hormones lost during the menopause transition, mainly estrogen and progestogens. FDA-approved hormone therapies treat moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats or vaginal symptoms of menopause, and some are also approved to help prevent bone loss. The Menopause Society calls hormone therapy the most effective treatment for hot flashes.

In November 2025, the FDA asked makers of menopausal hormone therapy to remove cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and probable dementia from the boxed warning, the label’s most prominent warning. In February 2026, it approved the first six revised labels. Other products are being updated one at a time, and many labels still show the older warning, so check the current label for your product. Revised systemic estrogen labels keep warnings on stroke, blood clots and breast cancer, and systemic estrogen-alone products keep a boxed warning about endometrial (uterine) cancer.

Revised labels for systemic products also say to consider starting therapy for moderate to severe hot flashes before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause onset. According to The Menopause Society, women with breast cancer, uterine cancer, unexplained uterine bleeding, liver disease, a history of blood clots or cardiovascular disease generally should not use hormone therapy.

Hormone therapy visits are offered at all seven Physician’s Plan clinics: West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Florence and Rock Hill in South Carolina, and Hickory and Huntersville in North Carolina. Read more about HRT for women and menopause treatment, and talk with a licensed provider about your options.

Did the FDA remove the boxed warning on hormone therapy?

The FDA asked for cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and probable dementia to be removed from the boxed warning on all menopausal hormone therapy. It approved the first six revised labels in February 2026, and other labels are being updated one at a time. Systemic estrogen-alone products keep a boxed warning about endometrial cancer.

Do I need a progestogen if I take estrogen?

If you still have a uterus and use systemic estrogen, generally yes. Estrogen alone increases the risk of endometrial cancer, and adding a progestogen, such as progesterone, has been shown to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, which may be a precursor to that cancer. Low-dose vaginal estrogen generally does not require a progestogen, and women without a uterus may be able to use estrogen alone. Your provider sets the regimen.

Can I start hormone therapy after 60?

The Menopause Society’s position is that the benefit-risk ratio is favorable for women younger than 60 or within 10 years of menopause who have bothersome hot flashes and no contraindications, and appears less favorable when therapy starts later. Talk with your provider about how that applies to your health history.

This is general health information, not medical advice, and it does not replace a visit with a licensed medical provider. Treatment, results and candidacy vary by individual.

Testosterone Therapy for Men: Who It’s For and What the Labels Say Now

Testosterone therapy, often called TRT, is FDA-approved for men who have low testosterone together with an associated medical condition, such as testicular failure or a disorder of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. According to the FDA, no testosterone product is approved for men whose low testosterone has no associated medical condition.

The Endocrine Society says the diagnosis is the same at any age: symptoms of low testosterone plus consistently low levels on accurate blood tests, including at least two early-morning, fasting tests. Symptoms such as low energy or low libido are not enough on their own.

In 2025, the FDA asked makers of all testosterone products to add findings from TRAVERSE, a large heart-safety trial, remove boxed-warning language on cardiovascular risk and add blood-pressure warnings. In June 2026, it asked for further updates, including removing the line that safety and effectiveness in age-related hypogonadism have not been established and revising prostate safety information; these are label changes, not a newly approved use. Testosterone can also raise red blood cell counts, and gels carry a boxed warning to keep children away from skin where gel was applied.

The Endocrine Society’s guideline recommends against testosterone therapy for men planning to father a child soon and for men with breast or prostate cancer, among other conditions. Hormone therapy visits are offered at all seven Physician’s Plan clinics in South and North Carolina. Read more about HRT for men and testosterone therapy, and talk with a licensed provider about your options.

How is low testosterone diagnosed?

With symptoms and blood tests together. Testosterone labels call for morning blood tests on at least two separate days showing levels below the normal range before treatment starts. The Endocrine Society also recommends accurate lab methods and a check for reversible causes, such as obesity or certain medications.

Can testosterone therapy affect fertility?

It may. Testosterone labels warn that large doses may suppress sperm production, and the Endocrine Society recommends against testosterone therapy for men planning to father a child in the near term. Tell your provider if fertility matters to you.

Is testosterone therapy safe for the heart?

In TRAVERSE, a large trial of men with hypogonadism and heart disease or multiple heart risk factors, the combined rate of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death was similar with testosterone gel (7.0%) and placebo (7.3%). The trial also saw more blood clots in the lungs and more bone fractures with testosterone, testosterone can raise blood pressure, and the Endocrine Society notes that long-term safety, including for prostate cancer, has not been established.

This is general health information, not medical advice, and it does not replace a visit with a licensed medical provider. Treatment, results and candidacy vary by individual.