Question 1

Who is hormone therapy right for?

Accepted Answer

Adults — both men and women — experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance: fatigue, brain fog, mood changes, low libido, sleep disruption, weight gain, hot flashes, or loss of muscle and drive. Therapy is always started after a comprehensive lab evaluation confirms a clinical need.

Question 2

What's the difference between bioidentical and conventional hormone therapy?

Accepted Answer

Bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical to the hormones your body makes and are often compounded for customized dosing. Conventional (FDA-approved) hormones are standardized, widely studied, and usually covered by insurance. Dr. Roges uses whichever fits your goals, biology, and budget — and explains the trade-offs of each.

Question 3

Is hormone therapy safe?

Accepted Answer

When prescribed and monitored by a physician based on your individual labs, hormone therapy has a strong safety record and can meaningfully improve quality of life. Risk is highly individual — we screen carefully (personal and family history, cardiovascular and breast/prostate risk factors) before starting and re-check labs regularly while you're on therapy.

Question 4

What labs and testing are required before starting?

Accepted Answer

A comprehensive workup including testosterone (total + free), estradiol, progesterone, DHEA-S, full thyroid panel (TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, antibodies), cortisol, fasting metabolic markers, lipid panel, CBC, and additional markers based on your symptoms. We never prescribe hormones blind.

Question 5

How long until I feel results?

Accepted Answer

Most patients notice improvements in energy, sleep, and mood within 4–6 weeks. Deeper changes — libido, body composition, mental clarity, hair and skin quality — typically build over 3–6 months as levels stabilize and the plan is fine-tuned.

Question 6

Can I do hormone therapy in person or virtually?

Accepted Answer

Both. Dr. Roges sees patients in person at our Anaheim office and offers a structured telehealth hormone optimization program for patients nationwide. Care quality and monitoring are the same either way.

Question 7

What's the difference between pellets, creams, patches, and injections?

Accepted Answer

Pellets deliver steady hormone levels for 3–6 months with no daily dosing but require a minor in-office insertion. Creams and gels are flexible and easy to titrate but require daily application. Patches give steady transdermal delivery without daily dosing. Injections (mostly for testosterone) are the most cost-effective and predictable. We choose based on your lifestyle, labs, and preference.

Question 8

How is hormone therapy for men different from women?

Accepted Answer

Men's protocols focus on optimizing testosterone (often with supporting therapies like DHEA or thyroid when indicated). Women's protocols typically involve estrogen, progesterone, and sometimes low-dose testosterone, with delivery and dosing varying by menopausal status. Both benefit from a full thyroid and adrenal workup.

Question 9

What's the difference between perimenopause and menopause?

Accepted Answer

Perimenopause is the transitional 4–10 year window before menopause when hormones fluctuate unpredictably — often causing the worst symptoms. Menopause is officially diagnosed after 12 consecutive months without a period. Treatment is tailored to which phase you're in, your symptoms, and your long-term goals.

Question 10

Does insurance cover hormone therapy?

Accepted Answer

Most FDA-approved hormone therapies are covered by insurance with a $10–50 monthly copay. Bioidentical compounded hormones and pellet therapy are typically cash-pay. The program fee, consultations, labs, and prescriptions are HSA/FSA eligible, and we provide itemized superbills for reimbursement.

Question 11

What happens at the first visit?

Accepted Answer

A 60-minute deep-dive with Dr. Roges covering your full symptom history, prior labs, lifestyle, goals, and family/personal risk factors. We then order a comprehensive hormone, thyroid, adrenal, and metabolic panel. You leave with a clear plan for what's next — never a prescription written on day one without data.

Question 12

Can I stop hormone therapy if I want to?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There's no contract and no obligation to stay on therapy. If you choose to discontinue, Dr. Roges will guide you through a structured taper to minimize symptom rebound and support your body through the transition.

Question 13

Can I take supplements and other medications alongside hormone therapy?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and most patients should. Targeted nutrition, vitamin D, magnesium, omega-3s, and selected adaptogens often complement hormone therapy. We review every supplement and medication you take to avoid interactions and to make sure each one is actually helping.

Question 14

Do I have to change my diet or exercise routine?

Accepted Answer

Hormones work better when paired with strength training, adequate protein, sleep, and stress management. Dr. Roges integrates realistic lifestyle guidance into every plan — small, sustainable changes that compound the benefit of hormone therapy.

Question 15

How often will I follow up with Dr. Roges?

Accepted Answer

Typically a follow-up at 6–8 weeks after starting therapy, then every 3 months for the first year with lab re-checks. Once stable, most patients move to twice-yearly visits with ongoing direct messaging access between visits.

Question 16

What does the program cost?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary by delivery method and whether you choose conventional or bioidentical therapy. Conventional therapies often run $30–150/month with insurance; compounded bioidentical options run $100–500/month; pellets run $400–600 per insertion (every 3–4 months). All pricing is discussed transparently up front — no surprises.

Question 17

Will hormone therapy help with weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Optimizing thyroid, testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol often makes weight loss possible after years of plateau. Hormones aren't a weight-loss drug on their own, but correcting an imbalance frequently removes the metabolic brake that's been holding you back.

Factor	Bioidentical	Conventional
Structure	Identical to body's natural hormones	Synthetic variations
Compounding	Often customized by pharmacy	Standardized by manufacturer
Cost	$100–500/month (compounded), $400–600/insertion (pellets)	$30–150/month (generic options available)
Insurance Coverage	Rarely covered	85–99% coverage for FDA-approved forms
Flexibility	Highly customizable to individual needs	Fixed dosages by brand
Side Effect Profile	May be better tolerated (individual variation)	More research data available
Delivery Options	Pills, creams, patches, pellets, injections	Pills, patches, gels (limited options)

Feel like yourself again. Hormone therapy, done right.

Does this sound like you?

Hormone health is whole-body health.

Menopause & Perimenopause

Andropause & Low Testosterone

Adrenal Fatigue

Thyroid Issues

Infertility & Cycle Issues

Chronic Migraines

For Women

For Men

Treatment options, with transparent pricing.

Estrogen Replacement

Progesterone Therapy

Testosterone Therapy

Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy

DHEA Supplementation

Thyroid Support

Two paths. One personalized plan.

What to expect, step by step.

Phase 1: Comprehensive Assessment

Phase 2: Personalized Treatment Plan

Phase 3: Ongoing Monitoring & Optimization

Phase 4: Long-Term Partnership

What patients say about hormone optimization.

Pair hormone optimization with the rest of the practice.

Peptide Therapy

IV & Vitamin Therapy

Regenerative Aesthetics

Functional Nutrition

Anaheim Office

Nationwide Telehealth

Your hormone questions, answered.

Ready to feel like yourself again?