Houston, TX · near the Texas Medical Center · Most new patients seen within days
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BioidenticalMen & WomenHouston, TX

BHRT in Houston, without the marketing.

Yes, we offer Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. We default to FDA-approved bioidenticals and use compounded preparations when there's a specific clinical reason. Both are bioidentical. Both are BHRT.

★★★★★FDA-approved by default · Compounded when clinically indicated
Yes

We offer bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for men and women

Both

FDA-approved bioidenticals and compounded preparations, used appropriately

Same

Molecule: bioidentical means it matches what your body makes

What is BHRT

Yes, we offer BHRT. Here's what kind, and how we think about it.

Bioidentical hormone replacement means using hormone molecules chemically identical to what your body produces naturally. The estradiol in an FDA-approved patch, the estradiol in a compounded cream, and the estradiol your body produced in your twenties are all the same molecule.

Most of what we prescribe is FDA-approved bioidentical, manufactured under FDA oversight with precise dosing and decades of evidence. For specific clinical situations, we use compounded preparations from licensed compounding pharmacies: a documented sensitivity to inactive ingredients, a form the patient can't tolerate, or low-dose testosterone for women, where no FDA-approved product exists at female-physiologic doses.

The conversation worth having isn't "FDA-approved or BHRT." That's a false choice. The conversation is which form of bioidentical hormone replacement fits your specific situation, and that's what the consultation is for.

Start with a consultation

Bioidentical hormone consultation at The Tide in Houston

How we use both

FDA-approved and compounded, in practice.

Both are bioidentical hormone replacement. The differences are in regulation, dosing precision, and evidence, and there are good reasons to use one or the other depending on the situation.

Default

FDA-approved bioidenticals

Manufactured under FDA oversight with batch testing, precise dosing, and strong evidence. Often insurance-covered. The default for the majority of our patients.

When indicated

Compounded preparations

Prepared by licensed compounding pharmacies when a specific clinical reason calls for customization the FDA-approved options can't provide.

The distinction

Molecule vs. delivery

"Bioidentical" describes the molecule, not the delivery method or the pharmacy. Patches, creams, injections, and pellets can all deliver the same bioidentical hormone.

For women

Testosterone at female doses

No FDA-approved testosterone product exists at female-physiologic doses, so careful compounding is the only option. That's an access gap, not an evidence gap.

What we skip

Claims without evidence

Saliva testing for dosing, "compounded is inherently safer," and higher-than-normal levels to feel optimal: none are supported, and we'll tell you so.

Monitoring

Serum labs, on schedule

Serum testing remains the standard for monitoring therapy. We check on a defined schedule and adjust to your labs and symptoms.

Realistic expectations

What it can, and can't, do.

Setting expectations honestly is part of the work. Here's the straight version.

Claims that are actually true

  • Bioidentical hormones match the chemical structure your body produces
  • Many FDA-approved hormone products are exactly bioidentical
  • Starting within ten years of menopause, benefit-risk favors treatment for symptomatic women
  • Compounded preparations are the right choice for specific situations
  • Pharmacy quality varies, and choosing a reputable one matters
  • Delivery method affects dosing precision and adjustability

Claims that aren't supported

  • "Compounded BHRT is inherently safer than FDA-approved bioidenticals"
  • "FDA-approved hormones aren't bioidentical"
  • "Saliva testing is more accurate than blood work"
  • "Only compounded therapy is natural"
  • "Pellets are the only way to get bioidentical hormones"
  • "You need higher-than-normal levels to feel optimal"
Provider-led, in-person clinic Labs & body scan in our office Licensed pharmacies only Consultations, never checkout forms

How it works

From consultation to plan, in real medicine.

Whether your protocol ends up FDA-approved, compounded, or a combination, the workup is the same. The preparation decision comes after we understand your situation, not before.

Day 1 · 45 min

Consultation

In person at our Houston clinic. Symptoms, history, prior hormone therapy, and an honest walk through the FDA-approved vs. compounded landscape.

Days 2 to 4

Lab work

Full hormone and metabolic panel drawn in our office, plus body composition. The panel that actually drives dose selection.

By day 5

Protocol design

FDA-approved bioidenticals where they fit, compounded where there's a specific reason, with the choice and reasoning explained to you.

Days 7 to 10

First prescription

Filled at a retail or licensed compounding pharmacy as appropriate, with administration guidance and clear timelines.

Ongoing

Monitor & adjust

Reassessment at 12 weeks, then on schedule. Adjustments happen in days, not months.

Before you book

Questions everyone asks.

Do you offer BHRT?
Yes. Bioidentical hormone replacement is what we prescribe, and it's been our default since the clinic opened. FDA-approved bioidenticals for most patients, compounded preparations when there's a specific clinical reason.
What's the difference between BHRT, HRT, and TRT?
BHRT means the molecules are bioidentical. HRT is the broader category, typically for women through the menopause transition. TRT is testosterone replacement specifically. Most modern HRT and TRT uses bioidentical molecules, which means most of it is BHRT even when it isn't labeled that way.
I've been on compounded BHRT and felt great. Do I have to switch?
Not necessarily. If you're stable, monitored, and doing well, there's often no reason to change. We verify the dose makes sense against your labs and that your pharmacy has solid quality controls, and we don't pressure patients off something that's working.
What about pellets?
Pellets are one bioidentical delivery method among several. We offer them when they fit a specific patient and explain honestly when an adjustable method serves you better. See our hormone pellets page.
How much does it cost?
The comprehensive consultation is $349, including the 40+ biomarker panel, body composition scan, and both provider visits. Medication costs vary by preparation and are reviewed with you before anything begins.

The next step

Start with a conversation, not a label.

A 45 minute consultation at our Houston clinic. We'll walk through what BHRT looks like for you specifically, and decide together what fits.

832-460-2818

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6909 Grand Blvd, Houston TX 77054 · Get directions →

Provider-led · Labs and body scan in-office · Licensed pharmacies only