Hormones

Water Retention After Starting Hormone Therapy: Why It Happens (and What You Can Do About It)

Water Retention After Starting Hormone Therapy: Why It Happens (and What You Can Do About It)

Some temporary water retention is incredibly common and usually does not mean you've gained fat or that your hormones are harming you. For most women, patience really does pay off. Support your body with hydration, movement, potassium-rich foods, adequate protein, fiber, good sleep, and time. If you're still feeling persistently swollen after 3-4 months, or the symptoms are becoming severe, it's worth talking with your healthcare provider. Sometimes a small adjustment to your hormone regimen can make all the difference.

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Testosterone and Women: Real Benefit, Real Caution

Testosterone and Women: Real Benefit, Real Caution

Recently a popular media piece (e.g., in the The New York Times “Sunday Read”-style coverage) spotlighted women receiving testosterone pellets and portrayed it in very dramatic terms. Yes, there are real benefits of testosterone (T) for women — especially in the context of perimenopause/menopause — but the “miracle cure” narrative is misleading and may gloss over important risks and proper practice.

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TPO VS. Thyroglobulin Antibodies: What’s the Difference—and Why It Matters

TPO VS. Thyroglobulin Antibodies: What’s the Difference—and Why It Matters

When we evaluate thyroid health at Tendwell, we often check for two types of thyroid antibodies: TPO (thyroid peroxidase) antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies. These markers help us assess whether the immune system is playing a role in thyroid dysfunction, often before symptoms even show up.

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Managing Water Retention on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Managing Water Retention on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

If you're experiencing water retention while on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you're not alone. Mild fluid shifts are a common and often temporary side effect, particularly when starting or adjusting estrogen-containing formulations. At Tendwell, we support a thoughtful, individualized approach to optimizing your hormonal balance while minimizing side effects.

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Weight Loss Resistance in 2025: A Functional Medicine Perspective

Weight Loss Resistance in 2025: A Functional Medicine Perspective

  • Post category:Weight

Many patients come to Tendwell feeling frustrated—not from a lack of effort, but from a lack of results. They’ve been trying everything—eating well, exercising regularly—and yet, the scale won’t budge. For some, the frustration grows as they continue to gain weight despite their best efforts.

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Navigating Migraines Amid Hormonal Changes in Perimenopause

Navigating Migraines Amid Hormonal Changes in Perimenopause

At our functional medicine practice, we specialize in perimenopause and migraines. With respect to migraines, we offer a more effective root-cause approach than in traditional medical practices. For many, the instinctive response to a migraine, involves reaching for medications like Ibuprofen or prescription pain medications. However, the regular use of such medications (two or more times a week) can pose risks to the stomach and intestines, as highlighted by recent FDA warnings citing an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Clearly, something else is needed. At Tendwell, we offer an individualized plan to tackle the causes of migraines and to help women navigate the perimenopausal period.

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Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) as an Aspect of Functional Medicine Treatment

Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT) as an Aspect of Functional Medicine Treatment

At Tendwell, we have many patients who are entering menopause. Recent advances in hormone therapies for menopause (“Menopausal Hormone Therapy”, “MH”, or “MHT”), also known as hormone replacement therapy (“HRT”), make it a great compliment to holistic and integrative approaches for women experiencing menopause. The decision to start MHT should be made in consultation with your Tendwell healthcare provider based on a thorough assessment of your individual health, medical history, and symptoms.

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Spotlight on the DUTCH test

Spotlight on the DUTCH test

Not all hormone testing is created equal. At Tendwell, we often use advanced hormone testing to obtain a nuanced and full picture of what is happening with an individual’s hormonal function. Sadly, this is not what usually happens in standard primary care. Most of the time, standard medical practices send patients to a company like Quest for blood-based hormone testing. This kind of hormone testing has its place but it often misses information that is truly valuable. A far better method is the one used in the DUTCH test (Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones), which is one of my favorites.

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What is Reverse T3 (rT3)? And why should rT3 testing be a part of a functional medicine approach to assessing thyroid function?

What is Reverse T3 (rT3)? And why should rT3 testing be a part of a functional medicine approach to assessing thyroid function?

Reverse T3 (rT3) is a form of thyroid hormone produced by the body, but unlike T3, it is considered inactive and doesn't play a significant role in regulating metabolism. At Tendwell, we consider the measurement of reverse T3 levels to be an important aspect of comprehensive thyroid testing, which is, in turn, an important component in many holistic health plans. In some cases, an elevated rT3 level can be an indication of a problem with the conversion of the inactive form of thyroid hormone (T4) to the active form (T3). This is important because T3 is the hormone that has the most metabolic activity and is responsible for regulating many body functions such as heart rate, body temperature, and energy levels.

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