Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, a lack of mental clarity, insomnia, depression, anxiety and low libido are some of the telltale signs of a hormone imbalance. The good news is that board-certified Dr. Susan Matos-Cloke of Advanced Hormone Solutions has helped hundreds of individuals reclaim their sense of health and well- being through the use of bio-identical hormones.

In practice for more than 20 years, Dr. Matos-Cloke found herself frustrated by the traditional methods of treating patients with hormone deficiencies. She recalls, “The usual treatments given for menopausal, andropausal and hormone imbalances were synthetic-based, often causing uncomfortable side effects, besides being linked to cancer. I wanted to find a treatment for my patients that did not include synthetic hormone prescription medication, anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications.” Her quest led her to Dr. Gino Tutera and his SottoPelle® therapy clinic in Arizona.

“Unlike synthetic counterparts, bio-identical hormones are created to be indistinguishable from the hormones that occur naturally within our bodies. They are also administered in pellet form and are injected under the skin and continue to be secreted directly into the bloodstream for up to four months,” states Dr. Matos-Cloke, who is the former Medical Director of St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center’s Family Health Center and head of their Primary Care Teaching Program. In addition to alleviating the routine symptoms normally associated with menopause, the testosterone hormone component has been shown to help decrease cholesterol levels, prevent Alzheimer’s and decrease the symptoms of Parkinson’s in studies conducted by SottoPelle®.

Treatment isn’t limited to the feminine set. It’s been proven that males experience Andropause, triggered by a drastic drop in the hormone testosterone. Aside from being deficient in sexual desire, the man might find himself gaining weight and experiencing overall tiredness and lack of motivation. Unlike synthetic hormones that are manufactured in laboratories for mass consumption with a one-size-fits-all mentality, bioidentical hormones are extracted from natural sources, such as wild yams, and tailor-made for the individual patient, based on the body’s hormone levels determined from a complete blood workup.

While the SottoPelle® therapy system has been widely embraced in Western and Southern portions of the United States, Paramus’ Advance Hormone Solutions is a relative trailblazer in the Northeast. Dr. Matos-Cloke received her doctorate from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a Fellowship with Columbia-Presbyterian in General Internal Medicine. She says, “It’s unbelievable. Many of my patients were absolutely miserable when they came to see me for the first consultation, and then to see them weeks or months later – what a difference. We’ve been able to help so many patients regain happiness and pleasure in their relationships with co-workers, friends, family and their spouses.”

Community-minded, Dr. Matos-Cloke cites Autism Speaks as her favorite charity. “Autism touches people who are close to me and I appreciate the research being done to benefit those affected,” she concludes.