Hormone RepLacement Therapy
- Balanced Hormones, Better Days
At Women’s Health Group of Chicago, we know that the changes of menopause can affect far more than your body. They can change how you sleep, how you feel, and how at home you feel in your own skin. For women across Chicago, we offer Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) as a thoughtful, personalized way to find relief.
After menopause or a hysterectomy, estrogen levels naturally decline. For many women, this brings hot flashes, mood swings, trouble sleeping, and vaginal dryness or discomfort. These symptoms are common, but you don’t have to simply put up with them. HRT gently restores hormones to help ease these symptoms, so you can feel more comfortable, more balanced, and more like yourself again.
Every woman’s needs are different. We’ll take the time to listen, review your health history, and talk openly about the benefits and risks, so that together we can decide whether HRT is the right choice for you.
- 30+ years caring for women
- Hormone Replacement Experts
- Board-certified OB-GYN care
- Compassionate Caregivers
Our Services
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Medically reviewed by Michael M. Awad, DO, OB-GYN
During perimenopause and menopause, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen and progesterone. That drop causes symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and pain with intercourse. It also speeds up bone loss. HRT replaces some of those hormones at low doses to ease symptoms and protect long-term health.
There are two main types. Estrogen-only therapy is generally for women who have had a hysterectomy. Combined therapy pairs estrogen with a progestogen for women who still have a uterus, because estrogen alone can thicken the uterine lining and raise the risk of endometrial cancer.
In short, if menopause symptoms are affecting a woman’s quality of life, she should talk with her provider. Together they can weigh whether HRT or another option, such as non-hormonal medication or lifestyle changes, is the best fit.
Who is hormone replacement therapy for? For most healthy women who start HRT before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits usually outweigh the risks.
Hormone Imbalance Symptoms You Should Not Have to Live With
No single symptom means a woman needs HRT. The decision depends on how much her symptoms affect daily life, her age and stage of menopause, and her personal health history. Clinical guidelines point to four main situations in which HRT is typically considered.
1. Moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats
These are the most common reason women start HRT. Treatment is usually considered when they happen often, disrupt sleep, or interfere with work, relationships, or comfort.
2. Vaginal and urinary symptoms
This group of symptoms is called genitourinary syndrome of menopause. It includes:
- Vaginal dryness, itching, or burning
- Pain or discomfort during intercourse
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
For these symptoms alone, low-dose vaginal estrogen is usually recommended before systemic HRT.
3. Early or premature menopause
Menopause before age 40 (premature ovarian insufficiency), or before about 45, whether natural or after surgical removal of the ovaries, is a strong reason for HRT. It’s usually recommended until around the average age of menopause (about 51) to protect the bones, heart, and brain, even if symptoms are mild.
4. Bone loss risk
HRT may be considered for women at high risk of osteoporosis or fracture, especially when other bone medications aren’t a good fit.
Supporting symptoms
The following symptoms often appear with menopause and may improve with HRT.
Trouble sleeping, mood swings with irritability or anxiety, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, and low sex drive.
Note: Low libido that continues on HRT is sometimes treated separately.
- Find Balance With Hormone Replacment Therapy
Strategies for Comprehensive Care
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Estrogen Replacement Therapy is beneficial for women experiencing uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause or those who’ve had their ovaries surgically removed. Providers are cautious or avoid HRT for women with a history of breast or endometrial cancer, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, active liver disease, or unexplained vaginal bleeding.
Progesterone Replacement Therapy
A significant aspect of bringing hormones into equilibrium involves progesterone. This treatment mitigates irregular periods and alleviates problems associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) alongside many other conditions affecting women’s overall health status.
Combination
Balancing hormones is not always about dealing with them one by one; sometimes an integrative approach delivers best results. Our Combination Hormone Therapy offering ensures both estrogen and progesterone work harmoniously together offsetting side-effects linked exclusively to either hormone when used alone.
Bio-Identical and Non-hormonal Options
Some patients are turning to a more natural route that fits better into their lifestyle preferences or medical needs – cue Bioidentical Hormones Treatment! These naturally derived compounds mimic structure-wise the very hormones produced by your own body endorsing skepticism-free acceptance from proponents of naturalistic medicinal approaches. Our bioidentical hormone replacements are customized to your unique needs and help manage symptoms of hormonal imbalances in a more organic way.
Non-hormonal options also exist for women who can’t or prefer not to take HRT that include alternative medications, cognitive behavioral therapy, dietary supplementation. and even acupuncture.
- Understanding The Menopause Journey
The Complex Nature of Menopause
Menopause is not a one-size fits all journey
Menopause is often described as a single moment, but for most women it's a journey that can unfold over years with both body and emotional changes that are difficult to understand. No two women experience it the same, which why your care should be as individual as you are. Sharing your symptoms with your highly knowledgeable HRT provider is the first step in understanding how this journey affects you and what options you have to navigate through it.
At Women's Health Group -Chicago, our team listens without judgment, explains your options clearly, and works with you to find relief, whether through hormone therapy, non-hormonal treatments, or simple lifestyle changes..
The Diagnostic Journey:
Clinical Assessment
A thorough discussion about your symptoms and a conversation about your current menstrual history can reveal if you are experiencing the stages of menopause. A thorough evaluation and assessment by our Women's Health Group Chicago medical team ensures you will have the knowledge you need to make important decisions about your hormonal support strategy.
There is no single right answer for addressing your experience with menopause. Your plan depends on your symptoms, and what matters most to you. We walk through the benefits and trade-offs of each option so you can decide with confidence.
Estrogen Only
Estrogen-only therapy relieves menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness, and it may help protect against bone loss. It is typically recommended for women who have had a hysterectomy, since progesterone is not needed to protect the uterine lining. At Women’s Health Group, Dr. Awad and our team review your health history, symptoms, and risk factors to create a personalized plan and adjust it as your needs change.
Combination Hormone Replacement Therapy
Combination hormone therapy pairs estrogen with progesterone to relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness. For women who still have a uterus, adding progesterone is important because it protects the uterine lining while estrogen does its work. At Women’s Health Group, Dr. Awad and our team review your health history, symptoms, and risk factors to create a personalized plan and adjust it as your needs change.
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
Bioidentical hormones are chemically identical to the estrogen and progesterone your body naturally produces. They can relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness, and they come in several forms, including pills, patches, gels, and creams. At Women’s Health Group, Dr. Awad and our team help you understand your options, including FDA-approved bioidentical hormones, and create a personalized plan based on your health history, symptoms, and goals.
Common Questions About Menopause We Hear Most
Am I experiencing Menopause?
Menopause is confirmed after 12 months in a row without a period. The years leading up to it, called perimenopause, often bring irregular periods and symptoms.
Are Biodentical Hormones Safe and Effective?
FDA-approved bioidentical estradiol and progesterone are well studied. Custom-compounded versions aren’t regulated for consistent dosing or safety.
What are the benefits of HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can ease the symptoms of menopause and perimenopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and trouble sleeping. It may also improve mood and energy and help protect against bone loss.
Is hormone therapy safe?
For many healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. Your provider will review your personal history.
Michael M. Awad, DO, OB-GYN
Dr. Mike Awad is a second-generation OB-GYN whose areas of focus include endometriosis, pelvic pain, uterine fibroids, and abnormal bleeding. As a skilled robotic gynecologic surgeon, he favors minimally invasive treatment while recognizing that surgery is not always the first or best answer. His philosophy is simple: meet every patient where she is, listen carefully, and make sure she feels understood and confident in her care.
He works alongside our physician assistants, Morgan Johannes, PA-C, Jennifer Sykstus, PA-C, and Georgiana Gomorczak, PA-C, so you have a team who knows your story at every visit. Meet the full care team.
Feel like yourself again, with care that honors your comfort and privacy
Restoring hormonal balance starts with understanding you
We listen, document and help you navigate your hormonal treatment journey every step of the way.
We explain first, then proceed together.
We'll always tell you what to expect before we begin, in plain language and at your pace.
Intimate questions are welcome here.
Intimacy concerns, restless sleep, hot flashes and emotional changes are can be distressing symptoms of hormonal imbalance. We listen to your concerns and provide the assurance that you deserve along your treatment journey.
Your information stays private.
Your conversations and records are protected, and follow-up messages go through our secure patient portal.
You Deserve To Feel Like You Always
Hormone Replacement Therapy care for women across Chicago’s Southwest Side, including Garfield Ridge, Clearing, Burbank, Oak Lawn, Bridgeview, and Summit. New patients welcome. Most major insurance accepted.
