As men and women approach mid-life, many question if hormone therapy is right for them due to the stigma from countless studies that have shown traditional (synthetic) hormone therapy could cause various types of cancer and heart disease. However, most women are now taking a natural approach in their hormone needs with Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). This kind of treatment has been written about in books and even featured on major television talk shows. Approximately 80% of women today deal with some kind of hormone imbalance, it is not surprising that correcting these imbalances has become a hot topic.

Bio-identical hormones are derived from natural sources, including soy and yams and are designed to duplicate the same chemical structure that is produced by our bodies, so they are metabolized correctly. However, synthetic hormones are intentionally different. Pharmaceutical companies can't patent bio-identical hormones because each regimen is specifically formulated to treat each patient based on their individual needs and synthetic hormones are more of a "one size fits all" approach.

While many physicians prescribe hormones based on symptoms through a trial-and-error process, balancing hormones is a science. This is where InShapeWV is apart from other physician offices in our area. Our staff specializes in the recognition and treatment of hormone imbalances in men and women. It requires careful interpretation of symptoms and lab testing. Even if two women come into our office with identical symptoms (e.g. fatigue, low motivation, hot flashes, weight gain, and mood swings), chances are their hormone test results will be completely different based on factors such as medical history, family history and lifestyle. James R. Ellis, Dr. Roger Edwards, Kristen Cales FNP-BC, and Adam Hodovan FNP-BC have all been trained and certified through BioTE Medical, a world known company for their dedication of hormonal imbalance to optimization through bio-identical hormone pellets.