Physician HRT Training: Why “One-Size-Fits-All” Dosing is Not Effective
Whether you are a primary care physician, OBGYN, urologist, endocrinologist, internist, or functional medicine doctor, your practice likely encounters patients with hormone imbalances on a daily basis. But while hormone therapy is a routine treatment for a variety of conditions – including menopause, andropause – the effectiveness of HRT can vary depending on the individual patient.
This is because hormone levels vary widely from person to person – so a “one-size-fits-all” approach to HRT dosing is rarely effective. In recent years, there has been an exponentially growing trend towards individualized hormone therapy dosing.
This approach involves tailoring the dose of hormone therapy to the individual patient’s needs, symptoms, size, age, and medical condition(s). Individualized hormone therapy dosing is done by measuring the patient’s hormone levels and then “customizing” the dose of hormone therapy accordingly.
In this article the physician hormone therapy training specialists at SottoPelle® dive deeper into the effectiveness of individualized hormone dosing over standard, set dosages. And we explain how SottoPelle® physician hormone therapy training – along with our proprietary online HRT dosing calculator – can help you provide your patients with optimal, individualize HRT dosing.
Benefits of Individual Hormone Therapy Dosing
There are several reasons why individualized hormone therapy dosing is more effective than standard dose, “one-size-fits-all” dosing. Obviously individualized dosing ensures that the patient is receiving the right amount of hormones to achieve the desired therapeutic effect. However, individualized HRT dosing also minimizes the risk of side effects by providing the most conservative dose of “just what is needed” without excess.
A study published in the journal “Menopause” found that individualized hormone therapy dosing was more effective than standard dose, “one-size-fits-all” dosing in improving symptoms of menopause. The study found that women who received individualized hormone therapy had significantly better improvement in symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness than women who received standard dose, “one-size-fits-all” hormone therapy. [1]
Another study published in the journal “Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” found that individualized hormone therapy dosing was more effective than standard dose, “one-size-fits-all” dosing in preventing osteoporosis. The study found that women who received individualized hormone therapy had significantly lower risk of developing osteoporosis than women who received standard dose, “one-size-fits-all” hormone therapy. [2]
These studies suggest that individualized hormone therapy dosing is a more effective and safer treatment option than standard dose, “one-size-fits-all” dosing.
Even the 2017 “Hormone Therapy Position Statement” now recommends that hormone therapy be individualized for each specific woman. This replaces their previous guideline of administering the “lowest dose for the shortest period of time.” NAMS’ Hormone Therapy Position Statement Advisory Panel’s review of the literature on HRT indicated that women are better served using evidence-based information to prescribe the most appropriate dose and duration of hormone therapy – based on the unique health risks of the woman, age or time from menopause, and goals of therapy.[3]
Individual Hormone Therapy Dosing
When prescribing hormone therapy, it is important to find a balance between being effective and being safe. This means prescribing a dose that is large enough to provide the desired therapeutic benefits, but not so large that it increases the risk of side effects.
The optimal dose of hormone therapy will vary from person to person. This is because hormone levels can vary widely from person to person, and the risk of side effects can also vary. Therefore, it is important to individualize the dose of hormone therapy to the specific needs of each patient.
There are a number of factors that can be considered when individualizing the dose of hormone therapy. These factors include the patient’s age, health status, and hormone levels. It is also important to consider the patient’s goals for treatment. For example, some patients may be primarily interested in relieving symptoms, while others may be more interested in preventing long-term health problems.
Once the factors have been considered, the physician can then prescribe a dose of hormone therapy that is large enough to be optimally effective, while being conservative enough to be safe for long term use.
It is also important to monitor the patient’s response to hormone therapy and adjust the dose as needed. This will help to ensure that the patient is receiving the right amount of hormones to achieve the desired therapeutic effect, while minimizing the risk of side effects.
The Solution to Individualized Hormone Therapy Dosing
While it is important to prescribe an individualized dose of hormone therapy that is large enough to be optimally effective, while being conservative enough to be safe for long term use. However, this can be easier said than done for busy physicians.
Put plainly, individualized hormone therapy dosing can be difficult for physicians to do. This is because it requires a thorough understanding of hormone levels and how they affect the body. It also requires the ability to accurately measure hormone levels and adjust the dose of hormone therapy accordingly.
SottoPelle® Method HRT training and the proprietary Dosaggio™ HRT dosing calculator enable physicians to prescribe an individualized dose of hormone therapy that is large enough to be optimally effective, while being conservative enough to be safe for long term use.
Dosaggio™ Algorithmic Hormone Therapy Dosing
SottoPelle’s® proprietary Dosaggio™ algorithmic dosing application can help physicians properly dose hormone therapy for optimal results with the most conservative dose.
This is because the Dosaggio™ dosing applications uses algorithms to calculate the optimal dose of hormone therapy based on the patient’s individual hormone levels, as well as their age, size, symptoms, and medical condition(s).
The Dosaggio™ dosing applications can be a valuable tool for physicians who want to provide their patients with the most effective and safe hormone therapy possible.
Here are just some of the benefits of using the Dosaggio™ dosing calculator for hormone therapy:
- Increased accuracy: The Dosaggio™ algorithmic dosing applications use algorithms to calculate the optimal dose of hormone therapy based on the patient’s individual hormone levels. This can help to ensure that the patient is receiving the right amount of hormones to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
- Reduced risk of side effects: The Dosaggio™ algorithmic dosing applications can help to reduce the risk of side effects by ensuring that the patient is not receiving too much or too little hormone therapy.
- Improved patient outcomes: The Dosaggio™ algorithmic dosing applications can help to improve patient outcomes by providing patients with the most effective and safe hormone therapy possible.
Choosing a Hormone Therapy Dosing Application
There are a number of different algorithmic dosing applications available on the market that have tried to copy the Dosaggio™ algorithm. However, when choosing an application, it is important to compare the different features and options to find the best application.
If you are a physician who is considering using an algorithmic dosing application for hormone therapy, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, you should make sure that the application is accurate and reliable. Second, you should make sure that the application is easy to use. Third, you should make sure that the application is affordable.
Dosaggio™ is the original, and only patented, hormone therapy pellet dosing platform for physicians and medical providers implementing Dr. Tutera’s proprietary SottoPelle® dosage method.
The Dosaggio™ system of hormone therapy pellet dosing has been voted “Easiest HRT Dosing Platform.” It offers physicians and medical providers a convenient online dosing calculator that provides instant access to dosage calculation with fewer clicks, and without the need for inconvenient dosing appointments.
Get the Dosaggio™ Hormone Therapy Dosing Calculator
SottoPelle® provides provider hormone therapy training, including the identification and treatment of the onset & early indicators of hormone-related aging conditions. Our philosophy is to age gracefully not old. SottoPelle® is based on science with 40 years of HRT training expertise, and 28 years of pellet therapy … with proven results! And with the Dosaggio™ application, hormone therapy dosing assistance is always just a click away.
If you are a physician who would like to improve their patients’ quality of life with individualized hormone therapy dosing, contact SottoPelle today.
Hormone Therapy Dosing Calculator: (323) 986-5100 (press option 1)
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as general information only and is not intended to be used as medical advice. While the benefits of hormone replacement are well documented through clinical research, we are not representing that hormone therapy is a “cure” for any disease. Only your treating physician can determine if hormone replacement may be a beneficial part of your healthcare regimen, based on your age, overall health, risk factors, and lifestyle.
Citations:
[1] Changing the Conversation About Hormone Therapy. Menopause 2017;24(9):991-993.
[2] A Decade after the Women’s Health Initiative—The Experts Do Agree . Cynthia A. Stuenkel, Margery L. S. Gass, JoAnn E. Manson, Rogerio A. Lobo, Lubna Pal, Robert W. Rebar, Janet E. Hall, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 97, Issue 8, 1 August 2012, Pages 2617–2618, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2012-2403
[3] The 2017 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause 2017; 24:728–753.
