What to Expect From the moment you call for your first one-hour appointment with Renuva HRT & Wellness, our staff will make you feel at home. Initial Consultation Prior to your initial appointment, we will email you health history forms to complete. It is important to send these back prior to your appointment as your history and symptoms are reviewed by our practitioners to assure that we have all the information needed to have a productive first visit. We also will send a script for routine lab work to be performed prior to your visit. We need the results to assess where your labs are currently and how to treat you moving forward. The test results will provide a baseline for your bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. At Renuva, we aim to treat the whole patient, from their psychology to their biology. During a patient’s initial consultation, we will discuss your symptoms, personal and medical history, and emotional and psychological well-being. This first appointment will take about one hour. Our practitioners will determine your starting dose based on data from a worldwide patient population and test your hormonal levels through a laboratory for a baseline to prescribe. Rarely does someone need regular blood tests to follow hormone levels. At Renuva,we aim to treat the whole patient, from their psychology to their biology. As a new patient, our staff will monitor how you adjust to your new hormonal medications and any needed adjustments. As treatment is highly personalized, you may need a slight “boost” if you continue to experience symptoms. With bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in pellet form, women return every three to five months to restore hormone levels, and men return every five to seven months to help assure physical, emotional and sexual vitality. What to Know What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)? As women enter perimenopause and menopause, and the end of their reproductive years, estrogen and testosterone levels naturally diminish and can trigger symptoms that include fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, loss of libido and brain fog—disrupting work, play and relationships and destroying the quality of life. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, restores hormones to a prior level—balancing mind and body. Is HRT safe? The latest evidence-based, peer-reviewed clinical literature concludes that estradiol does not cause breast cancer and, when given under the skin – not orally by mouth – does not increase the risk of blood clots, heart disease or stroke. These risks only come into play when estrogen is given orally and is processed by the liver to reach the body. In addition, new evidence shows that HRT in the right dose and properly timed during perimenopause and menopause, reduces the occurrence of osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The hormones in HRT are biologically identical to the ones our body produces. They are most effective and safest when delivered across or under the skin, in the form of a subcutaneous pellet (which lasts for three to four months), a cream or a patch. Can HRT stop aging? HRT can’t stop normal aging, but HRT therapy can provide health benefits. Today, women and men go strong well into their eighties, and want as many good years as possible, feeling energetic, vital and attractive. Taking a proactive approach to aging through good nutrition, exercise and symptom relief with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help assure physical, emotional and sexual vitality across a lifespan. How long does each HRT treatment last? Women usually require hormone replacement therapy every three to four months, and men, every five to six months. How is BHRT different from other forms of HRT? Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy differs from traditional HRT as it is derived directly from all-natural sources, making the hormones identical to those produced by the human body. Testosterone for women? Before menopause, women naturally produce estradiol (estrogen) and testosterone. While men have much higher levels of testosterone, this hormone is essential for women, too. When testosterone levels drop, it leads to multiple symptoms, including fatigue, muscle loss, fat gain and loss of libido. Testosterone for men? After age 35, men’s testosterone or ‘T’ levels decrease rapidly and cause muscle loss, fat gain, low energy, insomnia, and in many cases, erectile dysfunction. HRT can restore testosterone levels to those of a man in his mid-twenties, dose-tailored for the patient. How is HRT taken? A proven, safe, and effective way to rebalance hormonal levels is with bioidentical HRT in tiny slow-release estradiol and testosterone pellets inserted under the skin. HRT is dosed differently for each patient, based on age, where she/he is in the menopause/andropause spectrum, symptoms and personal history. What happens during a first visit with Dr. McCleery? During a patient’s initial consultation, Dr. McCleery will discuss your symptoms, personal and medical history, and emotional and psychological well-being. It will take about one hour. Dr. McCleery will determine your starting dose based on data from a worldwide patient population and test your hormonal levels through a laboratory for a baseline to prescribe. Rarely does someone need regular blood tests to follow hormone levels. When do I see the doctor again after I receive my first HRT dose? After four to six weeks about your first HRT treatment, Dr. McCleery will check in with you to see how you feel. Dr. McCleery believes in “treating the patient, not the lab.” If you still experience estrogen, you may need a slight “boost.” HRT is available in so many places; why get it from a doctor? Dr. McCleery is a board-certified OB/GYN physician in practice for more than 27 years and a specialist in HRT. Dr. McCleery is a North American Menopause Society (NAMS) certified practitioner who trained with Dr. Gino Tutera, a world-renowned HRT specialist. She brings thousands of patient hours of HRT clinical experience to every person. Understanding how to dose each patient correctly and follow them on their ‘hormone journey’ can’t be achieved by online sources, off-the-shelf hormones, or non-medical outlets ‘selling’ HRT. Will my insurance pay for HRT with Dr. McCleery Please be aware the consultations/services provided by Dr. McCleery and the staff at Renuva HRT & Wellness are not covered by insurance. Please contact our office to receive a quote/estimate for your visit. How do I make an appointment with Dr. McCleery? To schedule a consultation with Dr. McCleery and the staff at Renuva, please call (856) 229-9495.