Root Cause Hormone Reset Program (6 Months)
A 6-month Functional Medicine program to uncover and correct the underlying drivers of female hormone imbalance, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopausal symptoms.
My Philosophy on Hormone Therapy
As an Internist practicing Integrative and Functional Medicine, I approach hormone care with a focus on safety, and a root-cause mindset. These are the key elements of how I approach bioidentical hormone therapy:
- Use the lowest effective dose
- Confirm hormone therapy is truly indicated
- Many symptoms blamed on peri/menopause are actually driven by lifestyle, metabolic, or adrenal issues.
- Minimize risk of adverse effects through:
- Follow-up lab testing to confirm appropriate levels and avoid overtreatment
- Ensuring yearly breast and endometrial cancer screening
- Screening for all contraindications to BHRT (see list below)
- Topical therapy is preferred over oral
- Topical hormones are safer than oral in most cases.
What’s Included
This is a complete, root-cause Functional Medicine evaluation and treatment plan that focuses on hormone balance and includes:
- Comprehensive Functional Medicine Lab Panel (blood) Drawn at Labcorp Value: $400–$500 (varies) (Full test list below)
- DUTCH Sex Hormone Panel $399 value
- Four Physician Appointments Over 6 Months (4 hours total) $1200 value
- Initial Visit (1 hour)
- Follow-up #1 (1 month later, 1 hour)
- Follow-up #2 (months 2–3, 30 minutes)
- Follow-up #3 (months 5–6, 30 minutes)
- Additional Physician Time (60 minutes)
Pre- and post-visit chart review, lab interpretation, and plan development $400 value
⭐ Total Cost for the Full 6-Month Program: $2100
Who This Is For
This program is ideal if:
- You want more than a “quick hormone prescription” and believe there are deeper root causes behind symptoms like hot flashes, sleep issues, irritability, weight gain, and more.
- You want comprehensive testing that evaluates metabolic, nutritional, environmental, and hormonal contributors.
- You’re open to lifestyle-based strategies that support long-term hormone balance and overall health.
Who This Is Not For
- You want a simple hormone prescription without exploring underlying metabolic or lifestyle factors contributing to your symptoms.
- You are not interested in making changes in diet, lifestyle, stress, sleep or environmental factors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use insurance for the labs?
Insurance coverage for Functional Medicine testing is unreliable. Many essential tests (Vitamin D, homocysteine, iron studies, B12, etc.) are often not covered, resulting in surprise bills of $200–$300 per test, sometimes totaling $1500–$2000. Paying out of pocket is typically far less expensive.
Are these all the labs I need?
Yes. For a true root-cause Functional Medicine evaluation, this intake panel is the minimum required. Each test is included because it directly informs your treatment plan.
What is not included?
- 6-month follow-up labs (individualized)
- Supplements
- All patients receive a free 25% off Fullscript account for life
- Compounded bioidentical hormones
- Typically topical creams
- $120 for a 3-month supply
Does everyone receive bioidentical hormones?
No. Not everyone needs BHRT. Treatment is individualized based on your history, exam, labs, and personal preferences.
Is this program appropriate for someone at high cardiovascular risk?
Yes. The intake and evaluation are the same. If you have contraindications to estrogen-containing therapies, we focus on non-hormonal strategies to support healthy hormone balance and symptom relief.
Absolute Contraindications to Estrogen-Containing Hormone Therapy (should be a link or call out box)
(Bioidentical or conventional)
Estrogen-dependent cancers
- Breast cancer
- Endometrial cancer
Unexplained vaginal bleeding or possible pregnancy
Must be evaluated before starting hormones.
Active or recent thromboembolic disease
- DVT
- Pulmonary embolism
- High-risk thrombophilia (e.g., Factor V Leiden with prior clot)
Active or recent arterial thrombotic disease
- Stroke
- TIA
- Myocardial infarction
Active liver disease
Estrogen is metabolized in the liver.
What’s Included in the Labcorp Blood Panel
(Drawn in Albuquerque)
- Lactic Acid Dehydrogenase (LD) (001115)
- Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) (001958)
- Phosphorus (Inorganic Phosphate) (001024)
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential (005009)
- Metabolic Panel (14), Comprehensive (322000)
- Hemoglobin A1c with eAG (102525)
- Lipid Panel + VLDL + TC/HDL Ratio + LDL/HDL Ratio + CHD Risk (004580)
- Magnesium, RBC (080283)
- Zinc, Plasma or Serum (001800)
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP), High Sensitivity (120766)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) (004309)
- Ferritin + Iron + TIBC + UIBC (324741)
- Thyroid Antibodies (TPO & Thyroglobulin) (006684)
- Vitamin B12 and Folates (000810)
- Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) (082016)
- DHEA-S (004020)
- Copper, Serum or Plasma (001586)
- Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy (081950)
- Homocysteine (706994)
- TSH + Free T4 + Free T3 (388997)
- Estradiol (E2), Sensitive, LC/MS (140244)
- Testosterone, Free & Weakly Bound (Bioavailable) + Total Testosterone, LC/MS-MS (070282)
What is the DUTCH Sex Hormone Panel and why do you use it?
The DUTCH test is a urine-based hormone panel that measures sex hormones, their metabolites, and adrenal markers. Collection is simple — you take several dried urine samples at home over the course of one day. I use it because it shows not only your hormone levels, but also how your body is metabolizing and clearing them, which blood tests alone cannot reveal.
It is especially useful when symptoms don’t match bloodwork, when estrogen metabolism needs to be evaluated for safety, when adrenal function may be contributing to symptoms, or when a more detailed picture is needed to guide a precise, individualized treatment plan.