Hormone therapy · Near Ahwatukee
Protea Medical Center provides bio-identical hormone therapy for women and men in south Tempe, a short drive east of Ahwatukee on Elliot Road. If you'd like to learn more before booking, the free Protea Library is a good place to start.
Protea is just across the freeway. Take Elliot Road east across I-10, and the campus is a short drive on the Tempe side. Free parking is available.
The Protea Library
Yes. The Protea Library collects years of his podcast episodes, videos and papers, so you can hear how Protea's physicians approach hormone therapy before your first appointment.
Dr. Brendan McCarthy is a licensed naturopathic medical doctor who founded Protea Medical Center in 2006. He is internationally recognized for his work in hormone replacement therapy, has educated physicians and pharmacists, and wrote Jump Off The Mood Swing, on mental and emotional wellness through hormone balance.
The library holds 204 episodes of his podcast, short videos from our physicians, and white papers on questions such as which form of estrogen to use, by what route, and how therapy is monitored. Many people find it a useful way to prepare questions for a first visit.
Local or online
Online services and local practices both prescribe hormone therapy, and each suits different people. A few practical questions can help you decide.
Hormone therapy is rarely a single prescription. It usually involves an evaluation, lab testing, a dose chosen for you and follow-up to see how you're responding. With any provider, it's reasonable to ask who reviews your history, what testing is done and why, how the dose is chosen, and how often you'll be re-checked.
At Protea, a naturopathic physician handles each of those steps in person. Hormones have downstream metabolites, and the share of a hormone that is free and usable can matter, so follow-up labs are part of hormone therapy here. Keeping up with those visits is easier when your physician is a short drive across I-10.
A conversation about your symptoms, what has changed and what you'd like to improve.
Testing before treatment begins, chosen by your physician for your situation.
The hormone, route and dose are selected based on your results, symptoms and history.
Repeat labs and visits to see how you're responding, with adjustments when needed.
Who we help
Yes. Protea's physicians see women for perimenopause and menopause and men for andropause and low testosterone.
Women
Women often come in with hot flashes, interrupted sleep, changes in their cycle, vaginal symptoms or questions about whether hormone therapy is right for them. Estradiol is the estrogen most menopause therapy is built around. Bioidentical progesterone also acts in the brain, where it may support calm and sleep, and testosterone can have a role for some women, dosed carefully and monitored with labs.
Men
Men often come in with persistent fatigue, low libido, changes in sexual function or concerns about their testosterone levels. A result can read "normal" while symptoms continue, so your physician looks at how much testosterone is bound to protein and how much is free, along with stress and your history, before discussing treatment.
Your first visit
The first appointment is an unhurried visit with a naturopathic physician. Lab testing and your treatment plan follow from what you discuss.
Your physicians
These licensed naturopathic physicians include hormone therapy in their practice. Each profile covers their background and areas of focus.
The same building holds Protea's nutrition team, IV therapy, the Performance Center for regenerative joint and injury care, and the Movement Studio, where classes like hot pilates are open to the whole community. Questions? Contact us.
Get started from Ahwatukee
Start with a free discovery call. A care coordinator will find a time that works, and at your first appointment your physician will recommend which lab tests to start with.
This content is for education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation with a licensed provider, and no one should start, stop or change a medication on its basis.
Questions
Protea is at 850 W. Elliot Rd., Suite 101, Tempe, AZ 85284, just off I-10 at Elliot Road. From Ahwatukee, take Elliot Road east across I-10 and the campus is a short drive on the Tempe side.
Yes. The Protea Library is free and includes Dr. McCarthy's podcast episodes, short videos from our physicians and our white papers on hormones, organized by topic. You can also subscribe to get new articles and resources by email.
You will see one of Protea's licensed naturopathic physicians. Dr. McCarthy founded the practice in 2006, and the physicians who provide hormone therapy prescribe it with lab testing and follow-up. If you would like to see a specific physician, ask our care coordinators about availability.
Yes. Several Protea physicians treat perimenopause and menopause, a short drive away in south Tempe. Care begins with your history and baseline labs. Your physician will discuss whether estradiol, bioidentical progesterone or testosterone may be appropriate, and follow-up labs are used to monitor treatment.
It is an extended visit; our care coordinators will tell you how long to plan for. It covers your medical history, current symptoms, lifestyle and goals, with time for questions. For hormone therapy, your physician will also recommend lab tests before treatment begins.
No. Start with a free discovery call to see if we are the right fit. Call or text (480) 557-9095, or request a consultation online and a care coordinator will reach out.
Complete the new patient forms beforehand, and bring a list of current medications and supplements, any recent lab work or medical records, and the questions you want to discuss.
Our team can answer questions about hormone therapy, explain what to expect, and help you determine the appropriate next step.
Still exploring? Visit our educational library.
