Only human communication throughout your journey: No Apps, No AI, No Press 5 for a human.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for Women

Your Hormones Are Changing. Your Quality of Life Doesn't Have To.

Maybe you’re exhausted even after a full night’s sleep. Maybe you’ve gained weight doing exactly what used to work. Maybe you’re snapping at people you love, forgetting words mid-sentence, or lying awake at 3 a.m. wondering why you can’t fall back asleep.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking, “Maybe this is just getting older,” you’re not alone. For many women, these changes begin years before menopause, and they’re often related to changing hormone levels. The good news is that you don’t have to simply accept them.

Late 20s

Women start losing testosterone in their late 20s.

51

The average age of menopause in the United States.

40s

Perimenopause often begins in a woman’s 40s, although it can start earlier.

Up to 80%

of women experience hot flashes during the menopause transition.

7+ years

For many women, menopausal symptoms last seven years or longer.

Hormonal changes are a normal part of aging—but suffering through them doesn't have to be.

What is HRT?

The goal isn't to "turn back the clock."

At Encore Health, we provide personalized hormone replacement therapy designed to help you feel like yourself again, with treatment plans built around your symptoms, your goals, and your stage of life.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) replaces hormones that naturally decline during perimenopause and menopause, including estrogen, progesterone, and, when appropriate, testosterone. The goal is to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and support long-term health as your body’s hormone production changes.

Treatment may include patches, creams, gels, oral medications, injections, vaginal therapies, or other prescription options depending on your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and preferences. There is no one-size-fits-all protocol. At Encore Health, every treatment plan is personalized.

Perimenopause, menopause & post menopause

What's the difference?

Although many people use these terms interchangeably, they describe different stages of the same transition.

Perimenopause

The transitional phase leading up to menopause, when hormone levels begin fluctuating. Periods often become irregular, and symptoms such as hot flashes, anxiety, sleep disruption, mood changes, brain fog, and weight gain commonly begin during this stage. For many women, this starts years before their final menstrual period.

Menopause

Menopause is not a phase – it’s a milestone. A woman officially reaches menopause after going 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.

Post menopause

Every year after menopause. Hormone levels remain consistently lower, and while some symptoms improve over time, long-term health considerations such as bone density, cardiovascular health, urinary health, and vaginal health become increasingly important.

Is this just aging?

Hormones Influence Nearly Every System in the Body

Many women are told that what they’re experiencing is simply part of getting older. Sometimes that’s true. Often, changing hormone levels are playing a much larger role than anyone realizes. Hormones influence your:

That’s why menopause symptoms often seem unrelated even though they’re connected. At Encore Health, we don’t look at one symptom in isolation. We evaluate the complete picture before recommending treatment.

Common symptoms

Not Every Woman Experiences Every Symptom

Physical

MENTAL / MOOD

Sexual & Urinary

Symptoms can begin years before menopause officially occurs.

Yes—women need testosterone too

It's Often Left Out of the Conversation

Although it’s often thought of as a male hormone, testosterone is an important hormone for women too. Women naturally produce testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands, and it plays a role in libido, sexual response, energy, motivation, mood, lean muscle maintenance, bone health, and cognitive function.

Many women are told their estrogen is “normal,” while testosterone is never evaluated, even when symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, or loss of motivation suggest it should be.

At Encore Health, testosterone is evaluated as part of your complete hormone picture, not as an afterthought. When appropriate, testosterone therapy may be considered using carefully individualized dosing and ongoing monitoring.

Why women's hormones are more complicated

"Normal" Labs, and You Still Feel Terrible

Unlike testosterone in men, estrogen and progesterone naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle and continue changing throughout perimenopause. That means laboratory values are only one piece of the puzzle. At Encore Health, we consider:

The best treatment plan comes from looking at the whole picture—not just one number on a lab report.

Candidates

Woman's HRT you'd be a good candidate if Who Is a Good Candidate for Women's HRT?

You may be a good candidate for HRT if you:

Experience persistent fatigue or low energy, even after a full night's sleep
Struggle with hot flashes, night sweats, or disrupted sleep
Notice unexplained weight changes or increased belly fat
Experience brain fog, forgetfulness, or difficulty concentrating
Have a decreased sex drive or experience vaginal dryness or discomfort
Notice changes in mood, including irritability, anxiety, or feeling down
Are experiencing symptoms associated with perimenopause or menopause

HRT isn’t right for everyone. Our providers evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and individual health needs to determine whether hormone replacement therapy is a safe and appropriate option for you.

Potential benefits

Potential Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy

Daily life

Physical health

Sexual health

Every woman is different, and your treatment goals will help determine which improvements are most important to you.

01

Talk to a real person

Call, text, or email our team. No bots. No call centers. Just real people who can answer your questions and empathize with exactly how you're feeling. (It's usually Jenny Rose and she's been there, done that!)

02

Fill out paperwork

We'll discuss your symptoms, health history, medications, menstrual history, lifestyle, and goals.

03

Get bloodwork at a local lab

When appropriate, we'll order laboratory testing to evaluate estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid function, and other relevant markers. We can send your order to Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp. If you have recent labs from your doctor, we can use those too (as long as you have all that we need).

04

Physician review

A licensed provider reviews your symptoms and laboratory findings together to determine whether hormone therapy is appropriate.

05

Personalized treatment plan

If HRT is appropriate, your provider creates an individualized treatment plan designed specifically for you.

06

Medication delivered to your door

When prescribed, medication is shipped directly from a licensed U.S. pharmacy.

07

Ongoing monitoring

Your treatment evolves with you. We monitor symptoms, laboratory results when appropriate, and your overall response to treatment so adjustments can be made as your needs change.

Why choose Encore Health

Care That Continues After the Prescription

Personalized care

Every woman experiences menopause differently. Your treatment should reflect that.

Experienced providers

Our clinicians specialize in hormone optimization and stay current with evolving evidence-based treatment guidelines.

Honest recommendations

Hormone therapy isn't always the answer. If another evaluation or treatment would better address your symptoms, we'll tell you.

U.S. licensed compounding pharmacies

When compounded medications are appropriate, we partner only with licensed U.S. 503A compounding pharmacies that meet strict quality standards.

Comprehensive monitoring

Regular follow-up appointments and laboratory testing help maximize results while minimizing potential risks.

Convenient telehealth care

Complete your consultations from home while receiving ongoing support from our experienced care team.

Direct access

Questions don’t always happen during appointments. Our team is available to provide guidance throughout your treatment journey.

We treat the whole patient

Testosterone isn’t always the answer. Poor sleep, thyroid disorders, elevated estrogen, stress, medications, and nutritional deficiencies can all mimic low testosterone. If TRT isn’t the right solution, we’ll tell you, and help identify what is.

Safety & monitoring

Hormone Replacement Therapy Should Always Be Medically Supervised

Current research suggests that for many healthy women who begin hormone therapy near the onset of menopause, the benefits often outweigh the risks. However, every woman is different, and treatment decisions should always be individualized.

Before beginning therapy, your provider reviews medical history, family history, current medications, breast health history, cardiovascular risk factors, blood clot history, and relevant laboratory results. Ongoing monitoring may include:

Potential side effects vary depending on the medication and route of administration. Your provider will discuss the known benefits, risks, alternatives, and uncertainties before treatment begins.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is HRT safe?

For many healthy women, hormone therapy is considered both safe and effective when prescribed appropriately and monitored by an experienced medical provider. Your personal health history determines whether HRT is right for you.

Am I too old to start HRT?

Not necessarily. The timing of therapy matters, but age alone doesn’t determine whether you’re a candidate. Your provider will review your individual health history and goals.

Do I have to wait until menopause?

No. Many women benefit from treatment during perimenopause, when symptoms often begin years before periods stop completely.

I've had a hysterectomy. Do I still need progesterone?

Not always. Whether progesterone is recommended depends on your medical history, the type of hysterectomy you had, and your treatment plan.

Will HRT cause breast cancer?

The relationship between hormone therapy and breast cancer is more complex than a simple yes-or-no answer. Risk depends on the type of hormones used, your health history, family history, and duration of therapy. We’ll review your individual risk carefully.

Will HRT help me lose weight?

Hormone therapy isn’t a weight-loss treatment. However, improved sleep, energy, and metabolism may make maintaining a healthy weight easier when combined with nutrition and exercise.

Can testosterone help women?

For carefully selected women experiencing symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, or reduced motivation, testosterone may be part of an individualized treatment plan.

How long do women stay on HRT?

Some women use hormone therapy for a few years, while others continue longer. Treatment should be reassessed regularly rather than continued automatically.

Does insurance cover HRT?

Coverage varies by medication and insurance plan. Some compounded or individualized therapies may not be covered. We’ll review expected costs before treatment begins.

Speak with a real person today

You Don't Have to "Just Live with It."

Feeling different doesn’t mean you have to accept feeling worse. Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause, our providers are here to help you understand what’s changing and what you can do about it. If hormone therapy is appropriate, we’ll guide you every step of the way. If it isn’t, we’ll help you find a better path forward.