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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we accept major PPO commercial insurance plans (Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Cigna, and United Healthcare) and Medicare. CLICK HERE and go to our insurance verification page. We can check your eligibility and benefits to see if you qualify.
If we do not accept your insurance plan, we can provide you with the necessary documentation for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement consideration. Please note: reimbursement for out of pocket expenses incurred cannot be guaranteed, and it’s the responsibility of the patient to check with the insurance company.
We can check your eligibility and benefits and give you an approximation of the total cost based on your co-pay, deductible, and co-insurance during your patient registration.
We recommend calling your insurance plan’s customer service number for more information on your individual out-of-network benefits.
We do not accept HMO or Medi-Cal/Medicaid plans, and you will need to pay out of pocket for your visit. However, we can use your insurance plans for certain labs and medications (if you’re qualified and approved).
Absolutely! If you don’t have insurance, we have special cash pricing for you when it comes to blood tests and treatment packages. We’re also contracted with diagnostic centers and pharmacies to save you money when it comes to getting your labs done and medications dispensed.
We need your picture identification, most current insurance card if you have one, completed medical intake form, and supporting documents signed. You can upload them through our HIPAA complaint text messaging app called Klara, patient portal, or email the documents to us before your visit. If you would like to fill out the registration form by hand, we can also email or fax over the file to you.
For video visit, we will send you a text/email invite 5 minutes prior to your appointment.
For in-person visit, we recommend you arrive at the clinic at least 15-30 minutes prior to your appointment.
You can park in the building structure with the teal colored signage off Bellefontaine St/Fair Oaks Ave and walk to the Hunting Medical Plaza Lobby located at 800 Fairmount Ave then take the elevator to suite 323.
We highly recommend you talk to an Alpha Hormones medical provider before purchasing a hormone subscription and see whether it’s appropriate for you.
When signing up for a monthly or annual subscription, payment is required at the time of service and you will be charged automatically every month or year unless you tell us now to renew.
We do not require an in-person visit if you are not receiving any controlled substances (e.g., testosterone) from our clinic. For those needing a controlled substance prescription, we can conduct your initial consultation via telemedicine. We strongly recommend at least one annual in-person visit to our clinic to continue your telemedicine consultations.
With the Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023, we advise that you see your Primary Care Provider (PCP) in person at least once per year for your annual physical and chronic care management. Please ask your PCP to refer you to us for telemedicine consultations to continue your care for controlled substance prescriptions.
If you’re not satisfied with your service, you can cancel your subscription by letting us know in writing. We require at least a 30 days notification for the cancellation to go into effect. If your monthly payment is due within the 30 days, you are financial responsible to pay for the last month of service before the cancellation goes into effect.
This will depend on your medical condition(s). For chronic conditions, we usually see our clients 1-3 times during the first 3 months then every 3-6 months until all of the labs are optimal, and you are clinically stable and optimized.
Yes, we strongly encourage you to follow-up with all of your healthcare professionals to maintain continuity of care. We are one member of your overall healthcare team.
If it is determined to be medically necessary, we have the capability to electronically transmit your prescription to a nearby retail pharmacy. However, it’s important to understand that the decision to prescribe ultimately rests with the medical provider and cannot be guaranteed.
Patients are not obligated to obtain their medications from a compounding pharmacy. Nevertheless, certain specialized medications may necessitate compounding pharmacy services as they may not be readily available at conventional retail pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Costco, Walmart and others.
We’re proud to partner with Strive Pharmacy and Belmar Pharmacy as our affiliated pharmacies, in line with LegitScript Standard Patient Services.
If your condition warrants a prescription, we will fax or send your prescription electronically to the pharmacy. Afterward, you can contact the pharmacy directly or a pharmacy representative will call you to verify your information and go over your medication.
Yes, but there might be some restrictions so check with your pharmacy.
Unfortunuately due to government regulations and different international laws, we cannot ship the medications to a different country including Canada or Mexico, but you can have your family member or friend re-ship it for you to your desired destination at your own risk.
Yes, we can use your FSA/HSA card for your consultations and subscription plans. If you need a medical necessity letter, we can also provide one to your organization to cover the cost of your services with Alpha Hormones.
Yes, we partner with CareCredit Credit Card so you can get special financing and 0% interest to pay for your care at our clinic. Ask our staff more on how to apply and see whether you can pre-qualify for an account.
Hormone replacement therapy is a treatment to restore hormonal balance and hormone levels for men and women experiencing troubling symptoms that are affecting their quality of life. Alpha Hormones approach is highly personalized and involves continual monitoring and variable dosing. Hormone doses are provided based on the needs of each person and varied as those needs change.
It takes years for your hormones to get out of balance, so expect it to take some time to resolve. As each patient’s symptoms are unique, so is each patient’s path to hormone optimization. Most patients report some symptom resolution in as little as two to four weeks, but full optimization may take up to six months. Your journey will be customized to fit your specific needs and will be discussed by your medical providers during your consultation.
TRT is not a new area of medicine, and is used for the treatment of a medical condition known as hypogonadism in males. It is important that you consider the information provided and discuss the information carefully with your provider. Be sure that you are doing what is right for you.
While there are several forms of testosterone, we implements products that we feel have the highest efficacy. Topical and injectable testosterone products are available for prescription for patients. Injectable testosterone can be injected either subcutaneously or by intramuscular route.
Yes, you can. We will teach you how to do your injections at home with one our highly skilled nurses.
Testosterone deficiency increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, cognitive dysfunction, sarcopenia (muscle wasting), obesity, anemia, fatigue, depression, inflammation, cancer, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, irritability, and sexual dysfunction (e.g., decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, reduced orgasm intensity). Many men suffering from low testosterone will report a loss of competitive edge, musculoskeletal stiffness and pain, diminished ability to participate in athletics/sports, and poor work performance. Men see a decline in testosterone at 30 years old, but it is not uncommon for some men to have symptoms of low testosterone as early as their 20’s.
Yes, and you will see better improvement of your health if you are compliant with your medications and have incorporated healthy lifestyle change. The key is hormone optimization and partnering up with your healthcare providers to achieve your wellness goals.
Treatment for Low T is long-term, for as long as you want to feel great. TRT gives you the testosterone you need, but it doesn’t cause your body to produce its own testosterone. Treatment for low testosterone only provides benefit while you’re receiving replacement testosterone therapy.
While nothing adverse will happen if you cease therapy, you will be returning your testosterone levels to where they were before beginning treatment. Or they could drop even lower. This means your symptoms will return. However, if you do cease treatment, you can always resume it later to restore your levels back to where you’re feeling great.
It’s impossible to know what side effects you’re likely to experience. But acne, bloating and temporary weight gain are common. We monitor hormone levels and symptoms continually throughout treatment to watch for and minimize, through adjustment of dose and other actions, any side effects.
No, you won’t need that as a matter of course. Throughout your treatment, we will monitor your estrogen levels and your symptoms and direct you if a supplement or an aromatize inhibitor is needed to the decrease estradiol levels.
No, testosterone does not cause prostate cancer. However, pre-existing cancer could be exacerbated by Testosterone Replacement Therapy, causing it to grow and worsen. That’s why we conduct a baseline PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test prior to treatment to evaluate your risk. We repeat this test every 6 months and ask a series of urinary questions to monitor for changes.
We will closely monitor the benefits and side effects of your treatment, such as gynecomastia or “man boobs”. We check your labs and have frequent medical visits to ensure that we can lessen the effects or prevent them. Therefore, it is rare for our clients under care to get gynecomastia.
Testosterone can indirectly affect your blood pressure by increasing your red blood cell count. We monitor this very closely and correct it if needed.
TRT can also make you lose weight which can lower your blood pressure.
No, we can also start and adjust your treatment by another physician without the monthly subscription model. We also accept medical insurance.
Yes. You can send your previous results via Karla to our support team before your appointment. We also have a secured HIPAA compliant patient portal for you to send and receive files.
Yes. We always welcome new clients. We will need to review your past medical records to see if your medication refill and dosage adjustment are necessary.
TRT is both safe and effective. To further increase its efficacy, prescribers often recommend human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as an adjuvant to TRT. HCG functions to maintain male testicular function. In some cases, HCG is a more conservative option to improve testosterone levels before trying TRT. It is also important to note the role of estrogen in men. Males produce estrogens from testosterone via the enzyme aromatase. Estrogen is vital for cognitive functioning, the cardiovascular system, maintenance of bone, fat control, and sexual function. As you may expect, too much or too little estrogen can be detrimental to a man’s health. Because of this, some men will occasionally benefit from the use of an aromatase inhibitor (AI). Your doctor can further discuss the role of HCG and AIs with you.
TRT is a type of BHRT. When testosterone esters are metabolized, they get broken down into testosterone that is identical to what the human body makes. BHRT can be used for both men and women
Synthetic hormones have been studied and shown to increase risk of cancers and blood clots. They are not the same molecular make up as what your body naturally produces; therefore, they bind to the receptor sites but work on negative feedback to shut off production of your natural hormones. It is not safe to take bio-identicals while on synthetic as it can put you at further risk for an adverse event. Also hormone levels can build up in the blood to unsafe levels and cause a worse hormone imbalance.
Weight gain (temporary) and bloating are extremely common in the first several weeks of treatment. As your body gets used to hormone changes and balancing, it is common to experience water retention and bloating initially. But don’t be discouraged—you’ll start to lean out over time. Other side effects can include mood changes and nipple sensitivity. Remember, too, that we run blood tests at specific treatment intervals to evaluate levels in the contest of symptoms in order to minimize side effects.
Testosterone can cause male characteristics in females. However, proper dosing and close follow-up significantly reduce your risk.
Spotting is a common side effect from any form of hormone replacement therapy and is the most common cause for discontinuance. Some vaginal bleeding is normal and to be expected. The three main reasons for bleeding are the buildup of endometrial tissue caused by estrogen replacement, the thinning of the atrophic lining caused by too high progesterone levels, and lastly the buildup of abnormal tissue inside of the uterus, which may be a sign of a serious condition such as uterine cancer.If bleeding is heavy, continuous, or occurs after your first three months on therapy, you should report it to your physician. If cancer and premalignant hyperlplasia have been ruled out after testing, commonly bleeding can be minimized after three months of therapy by either decreasing the estrogen replacement or increasing the progesterone replacement.
Progesterone is responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle and balancing the effects of estrogen. One of estrogen effects in the body is to cause growth of the endometrium, or lining of the uterus. When estrogen is taken without Progesterone (un-opposed estrogen), an overgrowth (hyperplasia) of the uterine lining can occur. This usually results in spotting or bleeding, but can go on to create uterine cancer. It is for this reason which patients that have a uterus, it is recommended they take combined Estrogen and Progesterone therapy, for it is the progesterone that keeps the growth of the uterine lining in check. In younger women it is the monthly withdrawal of progesterone by the ovary that initiates your monthly cycle, and thins out the uterine lining. It has been shown that with the use of combined therapy the risk for uterine cancer is minimal.
Delivering a medication to the skin is known as a transdermal application (cream, gel, oil). Although it depends on the type of medication you are using, in the case of hormones, it is usually more effective to use those that are cream based than oral capsules. This is due to the fact that hormones are metabolized in the liver; therefore, when taking a medication orally, you will lose approximately 4/5 of it before it reaches your tissues. This is why you much take 5 times the amount that your body normally requires when using oral medications.Creams, on the other hand, are absorbed through the skin into an underlying fat layer where it begins circulating into the blood almost immediately. They are more effective because the medication will hit the target tissue before it hits the liver.
Hormonal health is a large and significant piece of the big picture of overall health. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was developed to replace the hormones the ovaries made during the reproductive years in a woman’s life. And also reduce or eliminate menopausal symptoms. The goal of hormone therapy is not only to relieve these symptoms, but also to protect the body from other harmful side effects of aging such as osteoporosis and memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Based on your clinical symptoms and diagnostic tests, our medical providers will determine if you need TRT or BHRT . You have to make an appointment.
Yes, it’s generally safe and well tolerated to use peptides on patients. In 1922, the first polypeptide hormone discovered, insulin, have saved a lot of lives. Peptides are recognized for being highly selective and efficacious cell signaling molecules. Just like any prescribed medication, you need to follow-up with your medical provider for monitoring.
Yes, these peptides have been extensively studied, tested, and work to heal your body. Insulin was the first peptide hormone discovered in 1921 and has saved many lives. Some peptides are FDA approved and have been around for decades. Furthermore, most of them can be used as “off-label.” Physicians are generally permitted to prescribe a drug for an “off label” or “unapproved” use when they determine it is medically appropriate for the patient. This is legal, as the FDA does not have the legal authority to regulate the practice of medicine.
Our medical provider will recommend the best peptide(s) that will fit your needs. We have looked at numerous research studies and clinical trails, and we will guide you on which peptide(s) to use to optimize your health and improve your quality of life.
Yes. We have many peptides that are not listed on our website. You can talk to your provider so see what peptide therapy is appropriate for your health.
Yes, we encourage you to send all of your relevant medical information for us to review.
Some peptides are hormones but not all hormones are peptides. They both work synergistically together in the human body to restore and optimize your health.
The price varies depending on the type of peptide and quantity of your purchase. At Alpha Hormones, we can prescribe peptide therapy after your medical consultation.
Absolutely! Our medical team, pharmacists, scientists, and healthcare professionals are here to help you every step of the way.
We realize that seeking treatment for hormonal imbalance is sure to leave you with many questions and concerns. We would be happy to answer all of your questions and address your concerns during your consultation. Our medical staff wishes to help you turn back the clock so you can be your best.
