← Back to Blog

What Is HRT? A Clear Guide to Hormone Replacement Therapy

By Mary Stratos, PA-C, IFMCP  ·  Hormonal Health

If you have heard the term HRT and felt a mix of hope and hesitation, you are in good company. Hormone replacement therapy is one of the best-studied, most effective tools we have for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, and it is also one of the most misunderstood.

The basics

HRT means replacing the hormones your ovaries make less of over time, most often estradiol and progesterone, and sometimes testosterone. Estradiol is commonly delivered through the skin as a patch or gel, and hormones can also come in other forms depending on what is best for each patient: topical creams, vaginal inserts, or injections. Progesterone is usually taken as an oral capsule of micronized progesterone, which is structurally identical to what your body makes. Testosterone, when indicated, is prescribed in small, monitored doses. Every patient is different, and that is exactly why clinical oversight, symptom management, and lab testing guide every prescription.

Bioidentical, explained simply

Bioidentical means the hormone has the same molecular structure as the one your body produces. FDA-approved bioidentical options exist for both estradiol and progesterone, and they are the foundation of how we prescribe at Stratos Functional Wellness.

What HRT can do

For the right woman, HRT can transform hot flashes, night sweats, sleep, mood, brain fog, vaginal and urinary comfort, and joint aches. It also protects bone density, a benefit that matters for decades. What it is not: a one-size prescription. The right formulation, dose, and timing are personal, which is why testing and follow-up matter.

How we do it differently

We prescribe when clinically indicated, monitor properly, and confirm your body is actually absorbing what we prescribe. About 1 in 5 women do not absorb transdermal estradiol well, and most clinics never check. A 3-month recheck is built into our care so your protocol is confirmed, not assumed.