Guide To Hormones

Your bloods can be tested on any day, however we advise that you have them taken at approximately 9am. If you are currently taking hormone therapy, you should have your blood tested 4-6 hours after taking your dose, or if you are having an injection, halfway before your next one.

Typically, you do not need to be fasting for your blood tests, unless you are having fasting insulin tested.

If you are having a regular period (every 28- 32 days), please do blood tests 21 days after the first day of your last period. If you are having irregular periods, please do the blood tests at least 16 days after your last period, otherwise you can have your bloods tested at any time.

If you are using a contraceptive pill, please stop taking the medication, wait for 6 weeks and then do your blood test. Also, if you have a coil or are currently taking hormone replacement therapy, you can have your bloods tested without stopping the therapy or removing the coil.

If you are currently taking hormone replacement therapy, you should have your blood tested 4-6 hours after taking your morning dose of hormones.

Typically, you do not need to be fasting for your blood tests, unless you are having fasting insulin tested.

There is no right or wrong answer for this. Some women have very mild symptoms and can manage them by making changes to their diet, lifestyle and taking certain supplements. Dr Roked can also advise you on this if this is the route you are interested in as she is trained in this ‘integrative approach’ to dealing with menopause, not only hormonal therapy.

Taking hormone therapy to deal with symptoms of the menopause should not be seen as a ‘failure’.

Women today are working well into their 60s, and life is far busier than that of women generations ago, plus life expectancy is going up. If there is a solution that helps women feel great, function better and improves their rate of ageing, it may be worth considering.

As mentioned in the BHRT section, a small proportion of patients may experience some negative effects. This is usually due to the dosage not being quite right, and a simple adjustment can be enough to stop the unwanted effects.

Your doctor will advise you on how to deal with this should it occur. The normal procedure would be to stop the treatment completely until the symptoms settle, then restart at a lower dose.

Other side effects can occur and some patients can be more sensitive to hormones than others, but by communicating effectively with your doctor we can resolve this and make adjustments to help the symptoms and get you feeling optimum quickly.

Dr Roked recommends a blood test to check your hormone levels at least every 12 months, but every 6 months would be optimum.

This is to make sure the levels in your system are adequate to improve your symptoms but also to cause a physiological improvement in your cardiovascular, neurological and bone health.

A mammogram or alternative breast screening, bone density scan and pelvic ultrasound scan to check the lining of the uterus and ovaries would also be recommended every 1-2 years. This can be arranged via the clinic if this is more convenient.

Dr Roked also likes her patients to check how their body is metabolising oestrogen every 1-2 years. A DNA test to see how you genetically metabolise hormones is also recommended and can be arranged by Dr Roked.

Other tests such as saliva or stool can also be arranged by the doctor if needed.

If you are having your regular blood tests, pelvic ultrasound scan, mammogram and bone density scan and other recommended testing from Dr Roked and the results are favourable, there is no reason why you cannot continue with this therapy long term.

The evidence has shown a small increased risk in breast, ovarian and uterine cancers with synthetic hormones that do not have the same chemical structure as the hormones made by your body.

There has not been a link shown between the hormones that do share the same chemical structure as your own hormones.

It is important to discuss these concerns with your doctor, especially if there is a strong link to female cancers in your family. Your doctor can then advise you on the best route of treatment and the best form of hormone to take.

It is however important to know that although taking the hormones may not cause cancer, any hormones can cause cancer cells that are already in the body to grow, which is why regular screening is important.

In men, the highest risk of stimulating the prostate is in the first few months of treatment.

However, we regularly monitor testosterone and PSA (prostate specific antigen) levels from 3 months of treatment and throughout to monitor health for any changes.

Yes absolutely, the doctor will review what you are currently taking and at what dose then create a plan to transition on to bio-identical hormones.

Yes, you can request them from your GP. Please note they may not be able to offer all the testing required.

If you do have any tests done with your GP or other doctors, please bring the results with you to your appointment.

Balancing hormones can be quite complicated. Dr Roked has been fascinated by hormones for some time and has spent years learning about the intricacies of hormone balance and prescribing. On top of this she’s also seen thousands of patients so has the clinical experience as well as the knowledge.

Your GP has to know about so many medical conditions which doesn’t allow them the time to learn about hormones in depth. The GP can also be restricted by what he or she can prescribe by NHS and local guidelines.

Not at all. Dr Roked will always emphasise the importance of lifestyle, nutrition, stress management, even quality of sleep on your health and hormones.

There are also supplements that can be taken to help boost hormones. This is why Dr Roked provides ‘holistic hormone therapy’ as she finds the combination of both hormones with lifestyle intervention works the best.

However if you didn’t want to take hormones, Dr Roked will work with you to create a lifestyle and supplement plan to ease your symptoms.

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