How much is the treatment program?
The monthly program fee can be as low as the cost of a cup of coffee per day. We do offer special prices for pensioners or health care card holders.
How long do I need to be on treatment?
Each woman is different and therefore your symptoms will be different and the length of time on treatment will also differ. There is no set time to be on treatment and our goal is to get you into balance and symptom free. In our experience, the best chance of staying symptom free post the treatment program is through a gradual weaning off protocol after balance has been maintained for 3 years.
Is the treatment price covered by medicare or my private health fund?
The treatment program fee is not covered by Medicare but you may be eligible to receive a benefit from your private health fund if you have the right level of cover.
Can my GP provide me with the same treatment?
There are many GPs who will prescribe Bio-Identical (or Body Identical) hormones. When considering treatment, it is important to look for a doctor with substantial experience in the management of hormonal imbalance. Continual follow up and adjustment of the dose to fit with hormonal changes is the key to successful symptom relief.
Do I need a blood test before treatment?
In general, the doctor will not require a blood test prior to commencing you on treatment. This is because hormonal fluctuations are best represented by your symptoms over a period of time rather than a blood test at one point in time. Once you begin the treatment program, the doctor will organise regular blood testing for you as a monitoring tool. Of course, certain patients with pre-existing conditions may require screening testing prior to treatment.
Is it recommended to do a saliva test prior to treatment?
In our experience saliva testing has been unreliable when it come to hormone profiles. We recommend blood testing and use this regularly as part of monitoring your progress on the treatment program. However, saliva testing is highly reliable and recommended for the assessment of Adrenal Fatigue or Cortisol Insufficiency.
What is a technology based consultation?
A technology based consultation is where a doctor conducts the consultation with you over the phone or via video link. The consultation would be no different to if you were face to face with the doctor in the consulting room. Treatment of hormonal imbalances does not require physical examination and technology based consultations has made it possible for patients in rural or remote areas to gain access to expert medical care. We follow the Australian Medical Board’s guidelines for technology based consultations to ensure your privacy is secured.
What is included in the treatment program fee?
Your monthly treatment program fee covers all appointments with the doctors, clinical team, naturopaths and nutritionists. It also includes our comprehensive follow up program as well as treatment couriered to your door by the compounding pharmacy. In other words, it is a full-service care package.
Why do so many women choose BHRT?
The reason BHRT is a preferred choice by so many women is because their chemical and molecular structure are the same as the hormones the body produces. In addition, BHRT is derived from plant sources (wild yam) making it a more natural alternative.
Compounded BHRT offers an even greater benefit as the dose can be adjusted according to a patient’s needs. The doctors and clinical team at AMC take into consideration a women’s weight and symptoms before prescribing a dose that best suits a patient. The dose can be adjusted regularly, which is a tremendous bonus especially in per-menopause where hormones are fluctuating regularly. A standard dose often leaves patients with symptoms of overload or insufficiency which is not ideal.
What are compounded hormones and are they safe?
Compounded bio-identical or body identical hormones are those that are specifically produced by a trained and qualified pharmacist adhering to strict Australian Pharmacy Board regulations that are specifically prescribed and tailored for the individual use of patients to target their symptoms.
We know that bio-identical hormones are the same as those produced naturally by the body. So, we may expect that these would be safer than hormones that are not bio-identical to the human body.
How do we know that they are safer? Whilst there are not a lot of large - scale studies, approximately 40% of women in western countries are said to now be using bio-identical hormones rather than synthetic product.
The reason for this is that certain forms of synthetic HRT especially those containing synthetic progestins were linked to increased risk of breast cancer blood clots and stroke.
A large -scale French study concluded that women using bio-identical oestradiol and bio-identical progesterone did not show an increased risk. Observational studies point to Bio-identical progesterone to be protective and may even prevent breast cancer. Bio-identical progesterone has also been shown to be protective for women with an intact uterus.
Where does BHRT come from and how is your medication made up?
Bio-identical hormones or Body Identical hormones are hormones derived from plants such as the wild yam. They are termed as such because they are chemically identical to the hormones the body produces naturally. Bio-identical hormones have been prescribed by doctors and produced by compounding pharmacies for over 30 years. The advantage of compounding is that it allows the doctor to tailor a dose that is specific to the patient’s needs and at the lowest dose possible. Bio-identical hormones are now also available in limited doses produced by pharmaceutical companies. When considering bio-identical hormones, it is important to speak to an experienced doctor, consider the dosage that is most beneficial for you and a compounding facility that is state of the art with the right quality control in place.
Does BHRT cause weight gain?
Several factors cause weight gain during peri-menopause and menopause. As you age, your metabolism slows down which can contribute to weight gain. Declining levels of Oestrogen can also affect body fat distribution. Drops in Oestrogen may cause an increase in fat mass especially around the abdomen. It is important to note that weight gain is not caused by HRT and symptoms of bloating can be misinterpreted as weight gain. Provided that treatment is tailored to the individual, these symptoms should subside over time.
What is menopause?
Menopause is defined as when a woman has not had a period for 12 months. The age menopause starts varies from woman to woman but generally occurs in the late 40s or early 50s. At this time there is a drop in the oestrogen and progesterone produced by the ovaries which results in women experiencing symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, irritability, headaches and low libido just to name a few.
8 out of 10 women will experience the symptoms associated with menopause and most of these can be treated.
Do all women experience the same symptoms during menopause?
Every woman is different and therefore is likely to experience different symptoms and of varying severity. Some women will experience severe hot flushes and night sweats while others are will have difficulties with sleep and moods. It is important to seek help from a doctor who will focus on your individual symptoms and receive a treatment that is tailored for you.
What is the difference between menopause and peri-menopause?
Perimenopause is the transition period leading up to menopause where the ovaries begin to produce less oestrogen. Perimenopause typically begins in the 40s but can start as early as the 30s. At this time, a woman’s hormone levels fluctuate leading up to the point when the ovaries cease to produce eggs and hormone levels drop sharply.
Once a woman has stopped menstruating for 12 months she is considered to be in menopause. Similar symptoms are associated with both perimenopause and menopause such as hot flushes and night sweats although symptoms will be much less consistent during the perimenopausal years.
At what age does menopause start?
In general menopause is most likely to begin from the late 40s to the early 50s. The exact time menopause starts for each individual woman varies depending on their family history, genetics, health profile and other factors such as certain medications. Women who have had a hysterectomy will have gone into surgical menopause irrespective of their age.
Do men also go through menopause?
Men also suffer symptoms associated with ageing however this process is very different to what women go through. Whilst women reaching menopausal age will experience a sudden drop off of hormones produced by the body, men see a gradual decease in the hormone testosterone over many years. This is sometimes referred to as andropause. Just like menopause, andropause may be treated by hormonal supplementation. It is important to speak to an experienced doctor.
What are the most common symptoms of menopause?
Every woman is different and will experience different symptoms during menopause. The most common symptoms we see from patients are hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, mood swings, weight gain, bloating, headaches and loss of libido.
Is breast pain a symptom of menopause?
More than tow thirds of women will experience breast discomfort. This is a result of hormonal changes mainly during peri-menopause. Breast pain or tenderness can be in one breast or both.
Is fatigue a symptom of menopause?
Change in hormone levels can be a contributor to fatigue during menopause. Falling levels of Oestrogen and Progesterone can result in fatigue. It is also important to rule out other factors that can contribute to fatigue such as, thyroid problems, heart disease, anxiety and depression.
Is depression a symptom of menopause?
Depression is one of the most common symptoms of menopause. Many women are likely to experience depression during menopause. The increase in risk of a woman developing depression can range from 30% to 5 times the normal risk depending on whether there is prior history of depression.
I am getting headaches at the same time each month. Are they hormonal?
Hormonal headaches are associated with the fluctuations in oestrogen levels during a woman’s cycle. Most women complain of headaches just before their period, this caused by a gradual build up of oestrogen leading up to the period followed by a sudden drop in levels as the bleed starts. Insufficient levels of progesterone mid cycle may also contribute to hormonal headaches.
Is lack of concentration a symptom of menopause?
Yes, this can be a common symptom of both peri-menopause and menopause. Many women going through menopause report that their memory and concentration is not as good as it used to be, this has been shown in various studies and point to a drop in Oestrogen being a possible cause. There is also evidence that memory problem suffered during menopause do not continue post menopause.
Is a woman’s memory worse after menopause?
Studies have shown that memory and concentration problems developed during menopause do not tend to continue after menopause. As many factors can contribute to memory problems it is advised to speak to a health care practitioner if symptoms worsen post menopause.
Is weight gain a symptom of menopause?
Several factors cause weight gain during peri-menopause and menopause. As you age, your metabolism slows down which can contribute to weight gain. Declining levels of Oestrogen can also affect body fat distribution. Drops in Oestrogen may cause an increase in fat mass especially around the abdomen. It is important to note that weight gain is not caused by HRT and symptoms of bloating can be misinterpreted as weight gain. Provided that treatment is tailored to the individual, these symptoms should subside over time.
Is vaginal dryness a symptom of menopause?
Vaginal dryness along with symptoms of vaginal itching, or pain with sexual intercourse are common symptoms of vaginal atrophy generally caused by a drop in oestrogen levels during peri-menopause and menopause. Not every woman will experience the same symptoms or the same severity and various treatment options are available.
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