Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/16/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/16/26

Oral vs Transdermal Estrogen and IGF-1: Why Route Determines Peptide Response

Oral estrogen and transdermal estradiol are not the same for IGF-1. First-pass through the liver helps explain why IGF-1 can stall on oral estrogen even when GH or a GH-axis peptide looks active upstream. Route is part of the foundation.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 9/25/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 9/25/26

Does Progesterone Cause Bloating? What the Research Actually Shows

Progesterone gets blamed for bloating and breast tenderness on hormone therapy, but it actually blocks the receptor that causes fluid retention. Here's what's really going on.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 9/18/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 9/18/26

Should You Block Estrogen on TRT? What the Research Shows

Crashing your estradiol on TRT isn't optimization. The landmark trial that separated testosterone's effects from estrogen's found low estradiol drives fat gain, bone loss, and sexual dysfunction.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/31/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/31/26

Does Estrogen Cause Blood Clots and Strokes? What the Actual Trial Data Shows

Estrogen and blood clot warnings usually skip two details that actually determine the risk: timing after menopause and route of administration. Here's what the randomized trials actually show.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/14/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/14/26

GLP-1 and Hormone Optimization Aren't Competing Treatments. Here's Why They're Better Together

GLP-1 medications control appetite. They don't control the hormones that determine your muscle, metabolism, or where you store fat. Here's why combining both gets better results than either alone.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/10/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/10/26

Oral Estradiol and Breast Cancer Risk: What the Evidence Actually Says

Two physicians told her oral estrogen was too risky and offered nothing in its place. Neither had looked closely at which estrogen the research actually studied. Here's what the evidence shows, and why the fear doesn't hold up.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 7/7/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 7/7/26

Injections, Creams, Pellets, Pills, Troches: Which Hormone Delivery Method Is Actually Right for You?

Injections, creams, pellets, pills, troches. The delivery method changes how a hormone actually behaves in your body, not just how you take it. Here's the mechanism behind each route, and how to think about which one fits you.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 6/9/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 6/9/26

Anastrozole in Men on TRT: What It Does, When It Helps, and When It Doesn’t

Many men on testosterone therapy are prescribed anastrozole as a matter of routine. But blanket estrogen suppression often creates the very problems it’s meant to fix—including, paradoxically, the gynecomastia it was supposed to prevent.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 5/30/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 5/30/26

Visceral Fat Is Often a Hormone Problem, Not a Willpower Problem

If you’re doing everything right and still carrying stubborn abdominal fat, the problem may not be discipline. It may be your hormones. Learn why visceral fat is a metabolic and hormonal problem, and how we assess and treat it in our practice.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 5/2/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 5/2/26

What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy — and Is It Right for You?

The term "bioidentical" gets used loosely — but the distinction from synthetic hormones is real and clinically significant. Here's what BHRT actually is, which hormones are involved, and how to think about whether it belongs in your care.

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