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Hormone optimization · For women

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women in North Vancouver, BC

Perimenopause and menopause are worth a proper look.

Hot flashes, broken sleep, brain fog, bladder leaks, a shorter fuse than usual. If you've been told to just deal with your symptoms, you deserve more than that. At 8 West Clinic in North Vancouver, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) starts with a conversation about how you feel, and it's only recommended when it's right for you.

Contact usCall 604-733-1669

Your call with our team is complimentary, and what you share stays confidential.

A woman smiling as she reads her forms in the lounge at 8 West Clinic

What to expect at 8 West

01

Your symptoms, heard

Hot flashes, sleep, mood, focus, your cycle and your sex life. Nothing is too small or too awkward to bring up.

02

Optimal, not just normal

Normal is a wide range, so we look at how you feel and what's optimal for you.

03

Honest about the risks

You'll hear the risks and possible side effects that apply to you, in plain words, before you decide anything.

04

Check-ins as you change

Perimenopause can last years. Regular check-ins mean treatment can change with you.

Why women ask

Is it perimenopause?

These are some of the perimenopause and menopause symptoms women bring to us:

  • Hot flashes or night sweats
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Brain fog or trouble focusing
  • Mood changes, anxiety or feeling low
  • Low energy
  • A lower sex drive
  • Vaginal dryness or discomfort during sex
  • Bladder leaks
  • Thinning hair or drier skin
  • Changes in your periods
  • Weight gain around the middle

Many of these are linked to changing hormones, including the ones women don't always bring up, like bladder leaks or discomfort during sex. Other things can cause them too, so your symptoms are looked at alongside your health history.

Ask our team about your symptoms →
A woman filling in a health history form at 8 West Clinic
Filling in her health history before an appointment.

Your assessment

What happens at a BHRT consultation

We'll ask how you've been feeling and what you've noticed lately.

You'll go through your health history, your cycle, any medications or supplements you take, and your family history.

Some women also want a DEXA scan, which measures bone density, muscle and body fat. It gives you a baseline to compare against later.

How to get started →
A member of our team doing a health check with a woman at 8 West Clinic
A health check at the start of an appointment.
A patient laughing with a member of our team at a desk at 8 West Clinic
Talking through the options.

What affects whether BHRT suits you

  • Where you are in the changeRegular periods, irregular ones, or none for a year or more. Perimenopause and menopause can call for different hormones and doses.
  • Your health historySome conditions, such as a history of clots or certain cancers, and some medications can rule hormones out or change which form suits you.
  • If you could still get pregnantPregnancy is still possible in perimenopause, and BHRT isn't birth control.

Video

BHRT and pellets, in a short video

Jenn, RN, talks about bioidentical hormones and hormone pellets, filmed during a visit at 8 West.

A client in a blue top smiling across the consultation table at 8 West Clinic1:30
Video · 1:30

BHRT and hormone pellets, with Jenn, RN

If BHRT is right for you

Pellets, creams and other options

Bioidentical hormones can be given in different ways. Which hormones, and which form, depends on your symptoms, your health and what suits your routine.

In the clinic

Pellets

Small pellets placed under the skin at the clinic, using the Biote method.

At home

Creams or gels

A BHRT cream or gel you apply to your skin at home.

By mouth

Capsules

Taken by mouth at home.

Each one is explained at your consultation, risks included. Ask our team →

Beyond hormones

More choices than ever

Women have more choices than ever for the changes that come with perimenopause and menopause. BHRT is one of them, and it doesn't replace sleep, food, movement or your family doctor.

If something else would help, you'll hear about it. Nothing is added just because we offer it.

Bladder leaks

Emsella

You sit fully clothed on the Emsella chair for about 28 minutes, usually over a series of 6 sessions.

About Emsella →

Dryness and discomfort

diVa laser therapy

A non-surgical laser treatment for vaginal tissue. About 5 minutes a session, usually in a series of 3.

About diVa →

Bone and muscle

DEXA scan

Measures bone density, lean muscle and body fat, so you have a baseline to compare against as the years go by.

About DEXA scans →

Thinning hair

Hair restoration

Thinning hair can be part of the picture. Non-surgical options include TED, a needle-free treatment for the scalp.

About hair restoration →

Strength

Emsculpt NEO

Uses electromagnetic energy to make your muscles contract during a session. Some women add it alongside their own training.

About Emsculpt NEO →
YOUHORMONESSTRENGTHPELVIC FLOORHAIRSKINalong the way
Some women add strength work, pelvic floor care, hair or skin treatments along the way. Others don't need anything else.
YOUCHECK-INSPERI-MENOPAUSEMENOPAUSEAFTERMENOPAUSEas you change
For example:
  1. 01 How you feelSymptoms, sleep and your cycle, and a DEXA scan for bone density and muscle if you'd like one.
  2. 02 Your consultationYour symptoms, health history, medications and supplements, and goals.
  3. 03 BHRTPellets, a cream or gel, or capsules, in the form you chose.
  4. 04 Other servicesPelvic floor care, strength work, hair or skin treatments, if you'd like them.
  5. 05 Check-inFollow-ups, because perimenopause and menopause keep changing.

Our team

Faces you'll get to know

Hormone optimization at 8 West is a team approach. Here are some of the people you'll see around the clinic, from health and nursing to skin.

Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, MD, in the clinic
Dr. Shehla Ebrahim, MD Family Physician
Jenn Sheaves, RN, Nurse Director
Jenn Sheaves, RN Nurse Director
Natalie Crews, Health Consultant, seated on the red light bed
Natalie Crews Health Consultant
Devin Johal, Kinesiologist, Manager of Health Optimization
Devin Johal Kinesiologist, Manager of Health Optimization
Madison Patrick, RN
Madison Patrick, RN Registered Nurse
Mimi Le Fox, RN
Mimi Le Fox, RN Advanced Cosmetic & Aesthetic Nurse
Oksana Danyliuk, Medical Aesthetician
Oksana Danyliuk Medical Aesthetician
Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC, in surgical scrubs
Dr. Thomas Buonassisi, MD, FRCSC Specialist in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, with a practice limited to facial plastic surgeries

How it works

How to get started

CONTACTCALLCONSULTATIONPLANand check-ins
  1. 01

    Contact us

    Send the form below or call (604) 733-1669.

  2. 02

    A complimentary, friendly call with our team

    We answer your questions and help you figure out your next step, with no commitment.

  3. 03

    Your consultation

    Your symptoms, health history, medications and supplements, and your goals.

  4. 04

    Your plan and check-ins

    Your options, gone over with you. If you start BHRT, regular check-ins keep an eye on how it's going.

Questions

Questions women ask about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses hormones with the same chemical structure as the ones your body makes, such as estrogen, to replace what falls during perimenopause and menopause. At 8 West it can be given as pellets, a cream or gel, or capsules.
What's the difference between BHRT and HRT?
BHRT is one kind of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT, also called menopause hormone therapy, is the wider term: some HRT products use hormones with a different structure from your own, while BHRT uses only bioidentical ones.
How does BHRT help with menopause symptoms?
It tops up hormones such as estrogen that fall during perimenopause and menopause, which is why women ask about it for hot flashes, night sweats, sleep, mood or vaginal dryness. Every woman responds differently, and your check-ins show how it's going for you.
What are the benefits of BHRT for my overall health?
BHRT is mainly used for the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Whether it could do more for your health depends on your health history and how you feel, and that's a conversation for your consultation rather than a list on a web page.
What is bio-identical hormone pellet therapy?
Pellet therapy uses small pellets of bioidentical hormones placed just under the skin, where they release hormones slowly over time. At 8 West, pellets are placed using the Biote method.
How is pellet insertion performed?
Pellets are placed just under the skin, usually in the hip or buttock, through a very small incision during a short appointment at the clinic. It usually takes less than 20 minutes, and the spot is covered with a small bandage.
What hormones are in the pellets?
Pellets for women can contain estrogen or testosterone, depending on your needs.
What are the benefits of bio-identical hormone pellet therapy?
Some women like pellets because there's nothing to remember each day. Others would rather use a cream, gel or capsule, where the dose is easier to change. You choose at your consultation, with every option explained.
How long do the pellets last?
It varies from woman to woman, depending on things like your metabolism, activity level and hormone needs. Your symptoms and check-ins show when it's time for the next one.
Is pellet therapy safe?
Pellet therapy has risks, like any hormone treatment, and some health conditions rule it out. That's why we go through your health history before any decision, and why check-ins are part of treatment.
What are the side effects of BHRT?
BHRT can have side effects, and they depend on the hormone, the dose and the form. Women most often ask about breast tenderness, bloating, spotting and headaches. Testosterone can cause acne or extra hair growth, and with pellets, the spot where they're placed can be bruised or sore.
How do I know if I'm a good candidate for pellet therapy?
Usually a woman in perimenopause or menopause whose symptoms, such as hot flashes, poor sleep, low libido or fatigue, are getting in the way, and nothing in her health history rules pellets out. Some women in the same position simply prefer a cream or capsule.
Can hormones cause bladder leaks or discomfort during sex?
They can be part of it. Lower estrogen around menopause can affect vaginal tissue and the pelvic floor. Depending on what's going on for you, BHRT, Emsella for the pelvic floor or diVa laser therapy may come up as options.
Can hormones affect your hair?
Yes, hormone changes can show up as thinning hair, along with other causes such as genetics and stress. If it bothers you, our hair restoration options can sit alongside your hormone care.
Can BHRT help with weight loss?
BHRT isn't a weight loss treatment. Body changes in midlife have many causes. If you'd like a baseline, a DEXA scan measures body fat, muscle and bone density, and strength work and other health optimization services can be part of your care.
How much does BHRT for women cost?
The cost depends on the treatment you choose. Call us or send the form below for current prices.

Patient reviews

Reviews from our patients

Ratings from patients across both clinics and every kind of treatment.


4.8 average across 1,900+ verified reviews

  • RateMDs, Dr. Buonassisi 4.8 · 520+ reviews
  • RealSelf, Dr. Buonassisi 4.7 · 231 reviews
  • RealSelf, 8 West Clinic 4.8 · 365 reviews
  • Google, 8 West Clinic Vancouver 4.8 · 554 reviews
  • Google, 8 West Clinic North Van 4.8 · 70 reviews

Our clinics

Where to find us

8 West Clinic is in Vancouver and North Vancouver. On your call, we'll tell you where each appointment happens. Financing is available through partner companies, and we can help you choose an option that fits your budget.

Talk to our team →

Every patient is unique and treatment results vary.

Get the Conversation Started

Tell us what you're interested in, and a member of our team will call you for a complimentary, friendly conversation. We'll answer your questions and help you figure out your next step, with no commitment.

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We strive to provide quality services and care in a timely manner. If you require a faster response or have not heard back from us within 2–3 business days, please call us directly at 604-733-1669.