Women’s Hormone Therapy
Restore your energy, mood, and vitality with physician-guided hormone therapy for women
You used to sleep through the night. Your mood was steady. Your body felt like it was working with you instead of against you. If that version of yourself feels like it disappeared somewhere along the way, your hormones may be the reason.
Comprehensive Women's Hormone Therapy at Radiance Natural Medicine
At our naturopathic medical clinics in Newberg and Lake Oswego, OR, Dr. Pendell, Dr. Keddie, and Dr. Kelly specialize in women's hormone optimization to help you feel balanced, rested, and like yourself again. Hormones influence nearly every system in your body, from your metabolism and energy to your mood, sleep, weight, and mental clarity, and when they shift or decline, the effects can be overwhelming.
At Radiance Natural Medicine, we offer comprehensive hormone evaluation and treatment using specialty lab testing, detailed symptom and history evaluation, and an individualized treatment approach designed specifically for women. Whether you're navigating perimenopause, menopause, postmenopausal changes, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, or hormonal shifts that started after pregnancy or stopping birth control, we are here to help you reclaim your health and feel like yourself again.
What Is Women's Hormone Optimization?
Women's hormone optimization is a targeted, physician-guided approach to evaluating and restoring the hormones that keep your body functioning at its best. Unlike the conventional model that waits until your labs are flagged as "abnormal," or dismisses your symptoms as "just part of being a woman," we work in the functional realm of medicine, optimizing your hormones so you feel good, not just "normal on paper."
The most common hormones we evaluate and optimize in women include estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones (T3, T4, TSH), DHEA, and cortisol. Imbalances in any one of these can produce symptoms that are often brushed off, misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression, or attributed to "just getting older." They don't have to be.
We use bio-identical hormones, compounds that are chemically identical to what your body naturally produces, rather than synthetic alternatives. Bio-identical hormones are designed to work with your body's own receptor sites, resulting in improved symptoms, fewer side effects, and a better overall sense of well-being compared to conventional synthetic hormone replacement.
Signs Your Hormones May Be Out of Balance
Hormone imbalances in women can show up in ways that are easy to dismiss or attribute to stress, aging, or "just how things are now." If you're experiencing several of the following, it may be time to get your levels tested:
Hot flashes and night sweats: sudden waves of heat, flushing, or drenching night sweats that disrupt sleep
Fatigue and low energy: feeling exhausted even after a full night of sleep, dragging through the afternoon
Weight gain and difficulty losing weight: especially around the midsection, hips, and thighs despite diet and exercise
Mood changes: anxiety, irritability, depression, tearfulness, or emotional swings that feel out of character
Brain fog and difficulty concentrating: struggling with focus, memory, word recall, or mental sharpness
Low libido: decreased interest in intimacy or physical changes that make it uncomfortable
Sleep disruption: difficulty falling asleep, waking at 2-3 a.m. and not being able to get back to sleep, or waking unrefreshed
Hair thinning or hair loss: noticing more hair in the brush or shower drain than usual
Dry skin, vaginal dryness, or joint pain: estrogen decline affects hydration and lubrication throughout the body
Irregular or heavy periods: cycles that have become unpredictable, heavier, or more painful
Bone density concerns: estrogen is essential for bone health, and declining levels increase the risk of osteoporosis
Many women live with these symptoms for years, assuming this is just what happens when you get older. It's not. These are signs that your hormones need attention, and the only way to know what's really happening is to get comprehensive lab work done.
Comprehensive Hormone Testing for Women
At Radiance Natural Medicine, we go beyond the basic hormone panel that most primary care providers order. Our comprehensive women's hormone panel evaluates the full picture of your hormonal health so that we can identify the root cause of your symptoms and build a targeted treatment plan.
Our testing typically includes:
Estradiol, estrone, and estriol: the three forms of estrogen, each with different roles in your body and different impacts on symptoms
Progesterone: essential for sleep, mood stability, cycle regulation, and balancing the effects of estrogen
Total and free testosterone: yes, women need testosterone too. It supports energy, libido, muscle tone, mood, and cognitive function
DHEA-S: a precursor hormone that supports energy, immune function, and the production of both estrogen and testosterone
Comprehensive thyroid panel: including TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies to evaluate full thyroid function
Cortisol: to evaluate adrenal function and stress response, which directly impacts all other hormones
Insulin and metabolic markers: to assess insulin resistance, which is a major driver of weight gain and hormonal disruption in women
Vitamin D, B12, and ferritin: nutrient deficiencies that commonly mimic or worsen hormonal symptoms
CBC, CMP, and lipid panel: baseline health markers to ensure safe treatment and identify contributing factors
Many women have been told their labs are "normal" when they clearly don't feel normal. This often happens because conventional reference ranges are designed to identify disease, not to identify the difference between surviving and thriving. We evaluate your labs in the context of optimal function, not just disease absence, so that we can treat the whole picture.
Our Treatment Options for Women's Hormone OptimizatioN
Based on your lab results, symptoms, health history, and goals, we create an individualized treatment plan that may include one or several of the following therapies. Every woman's hormonal picture is different, and your treatment plan should reflect that.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Bioidentical hormones are the cornerstone of women's hormone optimization at Radiance Natural Medicine. Unlike synthetic hormones used in conventional HRT, bio-identical hormones are structurally identical to the hormones your body produces naturally. This means your body recognizes them, responds to them, and metabolizes them the way it was designed to.
For women, BHRT may include estrogen (in the form of estradiol), progesterone, and testosterone, individually or in combination, depending on your lab results and symptoms. Delivery methods include topical creams, oral capsules, sublingual tablets, and hormone pellets, and we work with you to find the method that fits your body, your preferences, and your lifestyle.
BHRT can provide relief from hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness, low libido, sleep disruption, brain fog, and many other symptoms of hormone decline. It also plays a protective role in bone health, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function as women age.
Progesterone Optimization
Progesterone is one of the most underappreciated hormones in women's health. It plays a critical role in sleep quality, anxiety reduction, mood stability, cycle regulation, and balancing estrogen's effects on the body. Many women, especially those in perimenopause, are progesterone-deficient long before their estrogen levels begin to drop.
Low progesterone can cause insomnia, anxiety, heavy periods, PMS, irritability, and weight gain. Restoring progesterone to optimal levels is often one of the single most impactful interventions we make, and many women notice improvements in sleep and mood within the first few weeks of treatment.
Thyroid Optimization
Bioidentical hormones are the cornerstone of women's hormone optimization at Radiance Natural Medicine. Unlike synthetic hormones used in conventional HRT, bio-identical hormones are structurally identical to the hormones your body produces naturally. This means your body recognizes them, responds to them, and metabolizes them the way it was designed to.
For women, BHRT may include estrogen (in the form of estradiol), progesterone, and testosterone, individually or in combination, depending on your lab results and symptoms. Delivery methods include topical creams, oral capsules, sublingual tablets, and hormone pellets, and we work with you to find the method that fits your body, your preferences, and your lifestyle.
BHRT can provide relief from hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness, low libido, sleep disruption, brain fog, and many other symptoms of hormone decline. It also plays a protective role in bone health, cardiovascular health, and cognitive function as women age.
Testosterone Therapy for Women
Testosterone isn't just a male hormone. Women produce testosterone too, and it's essential for energy, libido, muscle tone, bone density, mood, and mental clarity. Testosterone levels in women decline steadily with age, and the effects (low energy, decreased motivation, loss of muscle, and diminished sex drive) are often attributed to other causes.
We evaluate and optimize testosterone levels in women carefully and conservatively, using doses appropriate for the female body. Many women are surprised by how much of a difference restoring testosterone makes in how they feel day to day.
Cortisol and Adrenal Support
Chronic stress drives elevated cortisol, which disrupts the entire hormonal cascade in women. High cortisol suppresses progesterone production, interferes with thyroid function, promotes belly fat storage, disrupts sleep, and can make menopausal symptoms significantly worse. If your cortisol is out of balance, optimizing estrogen and progesterone alone won't get you where you want to be.
We evaluate your cortisol patterns and adrenal function and address the root causes of dysregulation, whether through targeted supplementation, lifestyle modification, or other interventions, to create a hormonal environment where optimization can actually take hold.
DHEA Optimization
DHEA is a precursor hormone produced by the adrenal glands that supports the production of both estrogen and testosterone, as well as immune function, energy, and mood. DHEA levels decline naturally with age, and restoring them can enhance the effects of other hormone therapies and improve overall vitality and resilience.
Our Approach to Women's Hormone Health
At Radiance Natural Medicine, we take an extensive and individualized approach to women's hormone optimization. Dr. Kelly, Dr. Keddie, and Dr. Pendell take the time to listen to your concerns, review your history, evaluate the lab testing, and determine the best treatment plan for you. We utilize a combination of standard medical treatments and naturopathic guided treatments to give you the best of both worlds.
We understand that many women have been told their labs are "normal," that their symptoms are "just stress," or that this is "just what happens." We don't accept that. If you don't feel right, there's a reason, and our job is to find it and fix it.
Our approach recognizes that women's hormones don't exist in isolation. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid, cortisol, and insulin all influence each other. Treating one without considering the others rarely produces lasting results. That's why we evaluate the full picture and build treatment plans that address your entire hormonal ecosystem, not just one number on a lab report.
What to Expect on Your Hormone Optimization Journey
Comprehensive Initial Consultation
Dr. Kelly, Dr. Keddie, or Dr. Pendell will take the time to listen to your concerns, review your health history, evaluate your symptoms, and understand your goals. This is not a rushed 10-minute appointment. We take the time to get the full picture, including your menstrual history, stress levels, sleep patterns, and how your symptoms are affecting your daily life.
Advanced Laboratory Testing
We order comprehensive lab work to evaluate your hormone levels, metabolic markers, thyroid function, nutrient status, and other key indicators that may be contributing to your symptoms.
Personalized Treatment Protocol
Based on your evaluation and lab results, we create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your body, your symptoms, and your goals. Whether you're looking for relief from hot flashes, trying to get your sleep back, wanting to feel like yourself again, or all of the above, we build a plan that addresses your priorities.
Ongoing Medical Supervision
We provide continuous support with regular check-ins, lab monitoring, medication adjustments, and access to your doctor through our secure portal messaging and phone calls. Hormone optimization is not a set-it-and-forget-it approach. Your hormones continue to shift, and we adjust your protocol as needed to keep you feeling your best.
Frequently Asked Questions About Women's Hormone Therapy
When should women consider hormone optimization?
Women can experience hormone imbalances at any age, but symptoms commonly become noticeable during perimenopause (which can start in the mid-30s to early 40s), menopause, and postmenopause. Hormonal shifts can also occur after pregnancy, after stopping birth control, during times of high stress, or due to thyroid dysfunction. If you're experiencing symptoms, it's worth getting comprehensive testing regardless of your age.
Is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy safe?
When prescribed and monitored by a qualified physician, BHRT is safe and effective. Bio-identical hormones are structurally identical to what your body produces naturally, and research supports their safety profile when used at appropriate doses with proper monitoring. We monitor your labs regularly and adjust your protocol as needed to ensure that treatment remains both safe and effective.
How quickly will I notice results?
Many women notice improvements in sleep, mood, and hot flashes within the first 2-4 weeks. Energy improvements, weight changes, libido, and cognitive clarity typically become more noticeable over 2-3 months as your levels stabilize. Full optimization, where all your hormones are working together at their best, often takes 3-6 months of fine-tuning your protocol.
Do I still need hormone therapy after menopause?
This depends on your individual health, symptoms, and goals. Many women continue to benefit from hormone optimization well into their postmenopausal years, as it supports bone density, cardiovascular health, cognitive function, energy, and quality of life. We work with you to determine the best long-term approach based on your health history and how you're feeling.
Take the First Step Toward Feeling Like Yourself Again
If you are experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance, whether you're dealing with perimenopause, menopause, thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, or hormonal shifts that just don't feel right, women's hormone optimization may be the key to restoring your energy, sleep, mood, and quality of life. At our naturopathic clinics, we are here to help you every step of the way, offering personalized, physician-guided care tailored to your unique needs.
Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward better hormone health.
Lake Oswego: 460 5th St Lake Oswego, OR
Newberg: 440 Villa Rd Newberg, OR