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An expert in integrative and bariatric medicine, Stephen Petteruti, DO, leads Intellectual Medicine, a functional medicine clinic in Warwick, Rhode Island. As the clinic’s medical director, Dr. Stephen Petteruti oversees the provision of services such as detox and bioidentical hormone replacement therapies.
Hormone therapy is an effective treatment for people experiencing hormone imbalances due to aging, certain chronic conditions, or endocrine disorders. Bioidentical hormones are developed using extracts from plants such as soybeans. These plant-derived hormones are chemically-identical to the human hormones progesterone and estradiol.
When ingested, these hormones bind to receptors and function identically to human-produced hormones. Patients may take bioidentical hormones topically, intravenously, or orally. Bioidentical hormones can reduce many of the symptoms associated with menopause and low-hormone levels like low libido and hot flashes.
Like other hormone replacement approaches, bioidentical hormone therapy can improve outcomes for people experiencing hormone imbalances due to cancer treatment.
