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Hormone Replacement Therapy Specialist

Carlos Cardenas, MD

Gynecologist & Hormone Replacement Therapy Specialist located in San Antonio, TX

If you’re dealing with the frustrating symptoms of hormone depletion, such as mood swings, hot flashes, or reduced libido, hormone replacement therapy could be the best path to relief. Experienced integrative physician Carlos Cardenas, MD, offers bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for both men and women in his San Antonio, Texas, office. With BioTE® hormone replacement pellets, you only need a quick appointment for pellet insertion three times a year to relieve your symptoms long-term. Call the office or book an appointment with online scheduling now.

Hormone Replacement Therapy Q&A

What is hormone replacement therapy?

Hormone replacement therapy restores your body's hormone levels to their ideal places. With 40 years of experience in integrative medicine, Dr. Cardenas combines traditional and holistic medicine to prescribe bioidentical hormones for both women and men. 

Bioidentical hormones come from yams and soy; both plant sources can duplicate natural hormones, including estrogen and progesterone for women and testosterone for men. 

These are the hormones that decrease as you age. Nearly 40% of men 45 and up have low testosterone, and women generally start losing natural hormones at around the same age as they start menopause. 

What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance in women? 

Hormone imbalance can cause issues such as:

  • Night sweats
  • Hot flashes
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Brain fog 
  • Reduced libido
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Increased urinary tract infection (UTI) frequency
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain

Reduced hormones can lead to osteoporosis, which increases your risk of bone fractures. Estrogen loss also increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. 

What are the symptoms of hormone imbalance in men? 

Men who experience testosterone imbalance may experience a variety of troubling issues, including:

  • Decreased sexual stamina
  • Low libido
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Mood swings 
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Hair thinning or loss
  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain

Just as with women, men can experience brittle bones with hormone imbalance. Low testosterone can also increase the risk of serious health problems like coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes. 

How does bioidentical hormone replacement therapy work?

Dr. Cardenas can prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in several forms, including topical creams, patches, and pellets. Most men and women find that pellet therapy is the easiest and most convenient option for hormone replacement. 

With BioTE hormone replacement therapy, Dr. Cardenas inserts tiny pellets under your skin, typically in the abdomen or buttocks. BioTE hormone replacement therapy is painless thanks to local anesthesia, and it only takes a few minutes. 

The pellets gradually release hormones as your body needs them, balancing your hormone levels perfectly over the next several months. This balance dramatically relieves the symptoms associated with hormone imbalance, and it doesn't require any daily pills or treatments. 

Most men and women come in for pellet therapy around three times a year. 

To put your intrusive and frustrating hormone imbalance symptoms behind you, call Carlos Cardenas, MD, or schedule a consultation online.