Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) at WholeHealth Chicago uses hormones molecularly identical to endogenous oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA to address menopause, perimenopause, andropause, thyroid dysfunction, and adrenal imbalance. Treatment is guided by comprehensive lab assessment and managed by the clinic's team of nurse practitioners and functional medicine physicians. The Lincoln Park clinic has offered BHRT as a core service since its founding in 1993.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) at WholeHealth Chicago is a personalised hormone management programme addressing the full spectrum of endocrine change associated with ageing and physiological stress, including the perimenopause-to-menopause transition in women, andropause (age-related testosterone decline) in men, thyroid dysregulation, and adrenal insufficiency or hyperreactivity patterns in both sexes. The therapy uses hormones that are chemically identical in molecular structure to those produced by the human body — 17-beta estradiol, estriol, progesterone (USP), testosterone, and DHEA — which distinguishes them from conventional synthetic progestins (e.g. medroxyprogesterone acetate) and conjugated equine oestrogens used in traditional hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormones are typically prescribed in compounded preparations (topical creams, gels, troches, suppositories, or oral capsules) that allow dose customisation not available in commercially standardised HRT products. WholeHealth Chicago's clinical team — which includes board-certified internist Dr. David Edelberg MD, APN Brett Eaton APRN AGPCNP-BC WHNP-BC (certified as both a gerontological and women's health nurse practitioner), and family nurse practitioners Mark Hagerty and Andrea Deleon — brings multi-disciplinary integrative perspective to hormone balancing. Treatment begins with a thorough laboratory assessment, clinical history review, and symptom evaluation. Follow-up consultations and periodic re-testing at three to six month intervals allow dose titration and monitoring for safety, including periodic breast, prostate, and cardiovascular health surveillance. The clinic addresses menopause symptoms including hot flashes, sleep disruption, vaginal dryness, and cognitive changes; male hormone decline symptoms including reduced libido, fatigue, muscle loss, and mood changes; thyroid symptoms including cold intolerance, weight gain, hair loss, and brain fog; and adrenal symptoms including burnout, disrupted cortisol rhythm, and reactive hypoglycaemia.