Change can happen suddenly. One day in March we were all at work; the next day we were packing up our offices. Suddenly, the world was upside down. More often, however, the world transforms gradually.
This is often the case with hormone imbalance. Fatigue, lack of concentration, diminished sex drive, weight gain, and muscle loss can sneak up on you and seem minor at first. But they can eventually have a huge impact on your life, your mental well-being, and your overall health.
Hormone replacement therapy is considered the gold standard for addressing hormone imbalance. But how can you access the hormone therapy you need amidst lockdowns and social distancing, when healthcare is increasingly moving online? What kind of doctor specializes in online hormone therapy?
What Kind of Doctor Specializes in Online Hormone Therapy? Knowing What to Look For
In recent years, many healthcare practitioners have begun to offer hormone replacement therapy (HRT). When seeking a practitioner who can provide you with high-quality care, there are several things to look for to ensure you get the help you need.
Specialization in Hormone Health
Hormone imbalance and age-related hormone changes can have complex and far-reaching effects on the body. As such, identifying symptoms and creating effective strategies for addressing those symptoms require specialized expertise.
Many people are surprised to learn that no specialized training is required for a doctor to offer hormone health advice or prescribe HRT. Many practitioners are now interested in HRT, but it takes more than an interest to ensure hormonal needs are addressed correctly. It’s important to connect with a practitioner who has undergone rigorous training in this unique area of medicine. The criteria below demonstrate the commitment and in-dept training required to try and obtain the best patient outcomes.
- Board certification or eligibility in a clinical field that requires patient contact
- Rigorous post graduate training in integrative and hormonal medicine
- Ongoing training in hormone therapy to keep up with the latest treatments, techniques, and technologies
- Active membership in professional
ssocieties, such as the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
Resources to Provide Hormone Therapy Online
Remote medicine and telehealth are still relatively new for both practitioners and patients. Not all have the resources to provide comprehensive care remotely. So it is essential to find a practitioner who can offer a full range of services from the comfort of your own home. When it comes to telehealth HRT, these include:
- Consultation
- Testing
- Treatment
- Long-term tracking of progress
Testing is often the most significant roadblock to offering comprehensive care via telehealth, but it is essential in identifying hormone imbalances and prescribing hormone replacement therapy. For your safety and convenience, your practitioner is able to send you a kit that allows you to easily take urine, blood, and saliva samples at home and mail them to a reputable laboratory. Only after receiving those test results will they have the information needed to create a treatment plan that is specialized for you.
In addition, your practitioner must also maintain confidentiality and protect your privacy by using safe, encrypted platforms for all communication.
Ability to Provide Ongoing Holistic Support
While hormone therapy can restore health and well-being, it is just one facet of overall health. Achieving optimal health will likely require a multipronged approach. A great HRT specialist recognizes this and can offer a range of strategies to enhance physical and emotional health, including diet and lifestyle supports.
Of course, healing doesn’t happen overnight and your needs may change over time. It is important that your practitioner provide ongoing care. Is HRT working? Is the dosage still accurate? Is your diet and exercise plan making a difference? Tracking your progress over time and adjusting your treatment can be vital to achieving the results you want.
Connecting to the Best Online Hormone Therapy
Despite these challenging times, it’s still important to address your hormonal health needs—whether you’re continuing treatment or seeking help for the first time. In an increasingly distanced world, that means connecting with an online hormone replacement specialist with the resources to support you as you begin your journey toward optimal wellness.
If you want more guidance on online hormone replacement therapy, BodyLogicMD can help. The practitioners in the BodyLogicMD network are experts in hormone health and understand the challenges of your changing body. Via telehealth, a BodyLogicMD-affiliated practitioner can assess your needs and can create a personalized BalancePro plan to help you achieve your health goals. Contact a local practitioner to schedule your first appointment, or take the BodyLogicMD Hormone Balance Quiz to learn about how hormones may be affecting your everyday health.
Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. All content on this website is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent diseases.
