BHRT Methods Ranked: What Works Best for Hormone Health: 2025

Group of women possibly discussing BHRT health

At Infinite Health Integrative Medical Center, we’re all about helping you feel your best and extending your health span by optimizing your hormones, metabolism, mind-body interactions, and physical health. From the hormonal perspective, we only use bioidentical hormone replacement (BHRT). 

What’s the best way to get those hormones working for you, particularly when receiving replacements? We’ve looked at the science and our practical results over the past 15 years to rank 10 BHRT methods from 1 to 10, focusing on how they improve your body, protect against disease, and even turn back the clock on aging. Here’s the scoop, written for you based on complex data and 15 years of real-world experience.

1. Hormone Injections: The Gold Standard (9/10)

What are they? Shots are based on the individual's biological needs and pharmacodynamics. Most cases generally consist of bioidentical estrogen (E2), testosterone (T), vitamin D3, and B12. They are paired with cycling oral progesterone that ramps up and down to mimic the body’s cycles if the patient is post-menopausal or overtly hypogonadic. We tweak dosing according to each patient's measured consumption, with extras as needed.

Why they rock: Our clinic’s data on ~100 women shows these injections don’t just ease symptoms—they rewind your biological age by 9-11 years on average, sometimes up to 20, using biological age testing (a fancy way to check your DNA’s age). Studies (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2024) back this up: among the numerous biological benefits, testosterone boosts muscle and sex drive, while estrogen tames hot flashes and awakens estrogen-sensitive tissues and biology. Vitamin D3 strengthens immunity, metabolism, and bones, B12 sharpens your brain, and we check blood levels every three months to keep them and other essential metabolics at optimum levels.

The catch: No big, long-term studies yet.

2. Hormone Pellets: Steady but Stiff (7/10)

What are they? Tiny implants under your skin release estrogen, testosterone, or other selected hormones for months.

Why they’re solid: Research (Menopause, 2024) shows pellets keep hormone levels steady, calming hot flashes and boosting energy or muscle. They’re better than patches (more on that later).

The downside: You can’t adjust them once they’re in, and the science on preventing diseases like osteoporosis is thin. They’re good but not as flexible as injections, and certain randomized data tell us that the biological cycling of female hormones is necessary to help prevent certain female cancers.

3. Hormone Suppositories: Targeted Relief (6/10)

What are they? Inserts (vaginal or rectal) with estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, or other hormones.

Why they help: Vaginal estrogen works wonders for dryness and discomfort (Menopause, 2019), keeping things healthy down there, but systemic bioavailability and effectiveness are variable and, like creams, exposure to partners and others can be problematic.

The limits are great for specific areas but don’t do much for whole-body health or aging. No data shows they slow the clock.

4. Hormone Creams: Decent but Uneven (6/10)

What are they? Creams you rub on for estrogen or progesterone.

Why they’re okay: Approved creams ease hot flashes and support vaginal or uterine health (Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2004). They soak in better than patches.

The hitch: Absorption varies; partner and contact exposure is undesirable, and they don’t match the precision or flexibility of injectables. Also, no available data links them to biological age reversal or disease prevention.

5. Timing Hormone Doses with Your Body’s Clock: A Smart Tweak (5/10)

What is it? Taking hormones at certain times (like progesterone at night) to match your natural rhythms.

Why it’s neat: Small studies (Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2023) say timing progesterone helps sleep, and morning estrogen aligns with energy peaks. Our progesterone cycle nods to this.

The reality: It’s a nice add-on, but there's no proof it rebuilds tissues or fights aging like injections. In the case of progesterone pellets, the absence of evening administration leading to nocturnal peak levels may compromise sleep cycles and result in excess endogenous melatonin production during the day, causing drowsiness (“progesterone hangover”).

6. Hormone Patches: Overhyped and Underwhelming (4/10)

What are they? Sticky patches for estrogen.

Why they’re hyped: Studies (JAMA, 2007) claim they help hot flashes and bones with less clotting risk than pills.

Why we’re skeptical: After 15 years, we’ve seen patches fail too often—your skin just doesn’t soak up enough, leaving blood levels spotty and results weak, not unlike a placebo. They might help bones on paper, but in practice? We have seen far too many failures using patches, sometimes even multiple patches, and many skin allergies to the patch materials.

7. Supplements for Hormone Health: A Small Boost (4/10)

What are they? Pills like DHEA or zinc to support hormones.

Why they’re modest: DHEA can nudge estrogen and testosterone a bit (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2019), helping sex drive and the other end-organ effects.

The truth: They’re a necessary adjunct to the major players in the injectables, and some data supports their participation in biological age reversal but should be considered cheerleaders to the stars.

8. Biohacking Diets: Eat Well, But Don’t Expect Miracles (3/10)

What are they? Foods like organ meats or fish oils to “hack” hormones.

Why they’re basic: Nutrients like omega-3s might lower inflammation (Nutrients, 2023), but no study ties them to BHRT’s heavy lifting.

The deal: Eating smart helps overall health, not your hormones directly. A low-inflammatory diet can be a major contributor to longevity and health and should be considered the foundation for biologic age reversal

9. Herbs for Hormone Support: Hype Over Facts (3/10)

What are they? Plants like black cohosh or maca.

Why they’re iffy: Some data (Climacteric, 2022) says black cohosh eases hot flashes a bit, and maca might perk up libido. But it’s shaky—barely better than a sugar pill, and could be considered “observer effect.” Objective data acquisition is challenging in this setting, and the jury is still out in most settings here.

The bottom line: No herb rebuilds bones, muscles, or DNA age like the star players. They’re cheerleaders at best, not stars.

10. Glandular Supplements: Skip These (2/10)

What are they? Pills from animal glands (like adrenal or thyroid).

Why they flop: There’s almost no evidence (Endocrine Reviews, 2018)—just tiny hormone bumps with zero impact on your body or biological aging.

Our advice: Save your money. Focus on the star players for now.

Why Injections Win Big

BHRT injections shine because they’re precise and adaptable to the precision changes that your metabolic changes—we check your blood every three months, tweak doses, and use biological age testing to prove they’re slowing your biological clock. Hot flashes fade, energy soars, muscles grow, and bones stay strong, all while your DNA looks younger. Other methods? Pellets and creams help some, but they don’t rewrite aging. Patches disappoint, and herbs, diets, or supplements are too weak to compete. Timing’s a clever trick, but it’s not the main event.

Ready to explore BHRT with us? Let’s talk about turning back your clock with science you can trust. Schedule an introductory consult today at www.YourInfiniteHealth.com