Hormones play a vital role in regulating nearly every system in your body, from metabolism and energy levels to mood, sleep, and sexual function. When hormone levels decline or become imbalanced due to aging, medical conditions, or other factors, the effects can significantly impact your quality of life.
Hormone therapy offers a scientifically backed approach to restoring hormonal balance and helping you feel like yourself again.
At Prima Medicine, patients benefit from the expertise of leading medical professionals, including board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Chethana Rao. Through careful evaluation of each patient’s symptoms, medical history, and health goals, the Prima Medicine endocrinology team provides thoughtful guidance and coordinated care.
What Is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medical treatment that supplements or replaces hormones your body no longer produces in adequate amounts. As we age, hormone production naturally declines, leading to a wide range of symptoms that can affect physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being.
HRT works by restoring hormone levels closer to their optimal range, helping to alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, mood changes, decreased libido, weight gain, and cognitive difficulties. The therapy can be customized using different delivery methods—including pills, patches, creams, gels, or injections—and dosages are carefully calibrated based on laboratory testing and ongoing symptom monitoring.
Types of Hormone Therapy Administration
Hormone therapy can be delivered through various methods, each with distinct characteristics that may suit different patient needs and preferences:
- Oral Tablets and Capsules: Hormones taken by mouth that are processed through the digestive system and liver
- Transdermal Patches: Adhesive patches applied to the skin that release hormones steadily over time
- Topical Creams and Gels: Hormone preparations applied directly to the skin for absorption
- Injections: Hormones administered via intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, typically on a scheduled basis
- Sublingual Tablets: Hormones dissolved under the tongue for direct absorption into the bloodstream
- Subcutaneous Pellets: Small pellets implanted under the skin that release hormones gradually over several months
Who Can Benefit From Hormone Therapy?
Hormone therapy may be appropriate for adults experiencing symptoms related to hormonal decline or imbalance. Women going through perimenopause or menopause often find significant relief from HRT, as do men experiencing symptoms of low testosterone. Individuals with certain endocrine and metabolic conditions affecting hormone production may also benefit from hormone therapy. However, hormone therapy isn’t suitable for everyone.
Dr. Rao conducts comprehensive evaluations, including detailed medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing, to determine whether hormone therapy is safe and appropriate for your specific situation, taking into account factors such as personal and family medical history, current medications, and individual health goals.
Estrogen Therapy
Estrogen therapy is one of the most effective treatments for managing menopausal symptoms in women. As estrogen levels drop during menopause, many women experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and bone density loss. Estrogen therapy can significantly reduce these symptoms while also providing protective benefits for bone health and cardiovascular function. At Prima Medicine, we carefully evaluate each patient’s risk factors and health history to determine the most appropriate type and dose of estrogen therapy, whether estrogen alone or combined with progesterone, for women who still have a uterus.
Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone therapy addresses low testosterone levels in both men and women, though it’s most commonly associated with male hormone replacement. Men experiencing andropause—the gradual decline in testosterone with age—may notice decreased energy, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, diminished libido, and mood changes. Women with low testosterone may experience similar symptoms, including low sex drive, fatigue, and difficulty maintaining muscle tone. Testosterone therapy can help restore vitality, improve body composition, enhance sexual function, and support overall quality of life when administered under proper medical supervision.
Why Choose Prima Medicine?
Prima Medicine offers state-of-the-art hormone therapy services backed by Dr. Rao’s extensive expertise in internal medicine. As part of Privia Medical Group, a nationally recognized, physician-directed medical group, Prima Medicine provides access to innovative health management technologies and coordinated care across specialties. Our patient-centered approach ensures that your treatment plan is based on the latest evidence and tailored to your unique needs.
The practice offers flexible scheduling including same-day and next-day appointments, as well as weekend hours, making it easier to receive the ongoing monitoring and support that hormone therapy requires. With offices conveniently located in Fairfax, South Riding, Merrifield, and Tysons, Virginia, Prima Medicine makes expert hormone therapy accessible throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area.
Schedule Your Hormone Therapy Consultation
If you’re experiencing symptoms that may be related to hormonal imbalance, don’t wait to seek expert care. Prima Medicine provides comprehensive hormone therapy services at convenient locations in Fairfax, South Riding, Merrifield, and Tysons, Virginia. Call (703) 870-3750 to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward restoring your hormonal balance and reclaiming your vitality.
