Hormone Therapy Available at JCH&L

Hormone screening and therapy is available at Jefferson Community Health & Life. Kirisha Afuh, FNP-C, has received specialized training and sees patients at JCH&L Fairbury Clinic.“Hormones affect all of us,” Afuh said. “My goal is to bring bio-identical hormone therapy here, do it in the safest way possible, and make these services more affordable.”Afuh became interested in hormone therapy from personal experience. She was having some symptoms and had her testosterone level checked and found that it was low. Taking bio-identical testosterone was a game changer for how she felt.She said bio-identical hormone therapy (BHRT) can help both men and women with symptoms such as decreased libido, weight gain, mood swings, memory loss, joint pain, fatigue, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, night sweats and low energy levels. Bio-identical hormones are plant-derived, and are chemically identical to hormones produced in your body. They replace hormones that are out of balance to help alleviate symptoms.Screening is available through JCH&L’s HealthyLife Screenings, available on Wednesdays, either 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Because this is a patient-requested test, the patient is responsible to get results to their health care provider. Insurance is not billed. Afuh often recommends lab screenings available through the JCH&L HealthyLife screenings, including: Estradiol, $50; FSH, $25; Prolactin, $25; Progesterone, $25; Testosterone free, $25; Testosterone total, $25. (To see all lab screenings available through the HealthyLife screenings, go to the website at https://www.jchealthandlife.org/care-services/laboratory/ and go to HealthyLife Lab Testing.)Afuh said hormone therapy medications are typically not covered by insurance, but often the cost is very reasonable. If cost is an issue, she will work with the patient to try to find more reasonably-priced options.She said patients will have charges for office consultations, but unlike some clinics which do BHRT, there are no membership feesShe believes strongly in involving the patient in their care, and listening to their needs, feelings and concerns. She asks patients to keep her informed in how they are feeling if they start on a treatment plan, so that she can adjust if necessary. She said there are not typically many side effects from the treatments, but it’s all individual.She said she is happy to do consultations to determine if a person is a good candidate for BHRT. She will also work with specialists, if needed, to make sure the treatment won’t interfere with other health treatments.“Do you hear about symptoms and wonder if that is you?” she asked.Appointments can be made by calling JCH&L Fairbury Clinic at 402-729-3361, option 1, and asking for an appointment with Afuh for hormone consultation.

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