If you’re feeling tired, foggy, irritable, gaining weight without explanation, or just not feeling like yourself anymore, hormones may be part of the picture.
Many people come to Revive after being told their labs are “normal” — yet their symptoms persist. That disconnect is frustrating, confusing, and often discouraging. Hormone imbalances don’t always show up on basic blood work, but they do show up in how you feel day to day.
This page is designed to help you understand:
- What hormones actually do in the body
- Common signs of hormone imbalance
- Why standard testing often misses the full picture
- When hormone therapy may (or may not) be appropriate
- What hormone testing and treatment look like at Revive in Grand Rapids, MI
What hormones affect how you feel?
Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate nearly every major system in the body — energy, mood, metabolism, sleep, muscle, fat storage, and stress response.
Some of the most important hormones we evaluate include:
- Cortisol (stress and energy regulation)
- Thyroid hormones (metabolism and temperature regulation)
- Estrogen and progesterone (women’s hormonal balance)
- Testosterone (important for both men and women)
- Insulin and other metabolic markers
When these hormones are out of balance — even slightly — symptoms can appear gradually and worsen over time.
Common signs of hormone imbalance
People seeking often experience symptoms like:
- Chronic fatigue or low energy
- Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
- Weight gain or inability to lose weight
- Sleep disturbances
- Anxiety, irritability, or low mood
- Low libido
- Muscle loss or weakness
- Feeling “off” despite healthy habits
These symptoms are often dismissed as stress, aging, or lifestyle issues — but they can be early indicators of hormonal dysfunction.
Why “normal” labs don’t always mean optimal health
One of the most common frustrations we hear is:
“My doctor said my labs were normal, but I still feel awful.”
Standard blood tests are designed to catch disease, not necessarily to identify why someone feels unwell. Many hormone-related issues fall within wide “normal” reference ranges, even when those levels aren’t optimal for you.
At Revive, we take a more comprehensive approach through comprehensive hormone testing, looking at patterns, symptoms, and trends — not just whether a number falls inside a lab range.
This approach helps us identify:
- Subtle imbalances
- Stress-related hormone dysfunction
- Early metabolic or thyroid issues
- Hormonal changes related to aging or life stages
Hormone testing at Revive
Hormone testing at Revive begins with a detailed clinical evaluation, not just a lab order.
Your hormone assessment may include:
- In-depth symptom review
- Comprehensive blood work
- Metabolic and stress markers
- Contextual interpretation based on your health history
Our goal isn’t to treat numbers — it’s to understand why you feel the way you do and determine the safest, most effective next step.
Do you actually need hormone therapy?
Some patients improve significantly with:
- Lifestyle adjustments
- Stress management
- Metabolic support
- Targeted nutrition or supplementation
For others, hormone replacement therapy (HRT or BHRT) may be appropriate when testing and symptoms clearly support it.
At Revive, hormone therapy is:
- Medically guided
- Individually tailored
- Regularly monitored
- Adjusted based on both labs and symptoms
If hormone therapy is recommended, we’ll walk through risks, benefits, and alternatives so you can make an informed decision.
HRT vs BHRT: what’s the difference?
Many people searching for hormone therapy in Grand Rapids, MI encounter the terms HRT and BHRT and aren’t sure what they mean.
In short:
- HRT refers broadly to hormone replacement therapy
- BHRT (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy) uses hormones chemically identical to those your body produces
The right option depends on your health history, lab results, and symptoms. We help patients understand these differences clearly so treatment decisions are grounded in evidence and safety.
You can read a deeper breakdown in our guide on HRT vs BHRT.
Who hormone therapy is — and isn’t — for
Hormone therapy may be helpful for people who:
- Have persistent symptoms supported by testing
- Have not improved with conservative care
- Want a medically supervised approach
- Value ongoing monitoring and adjustment
It may not be appropriate for those seeking:
- Quick fixes
- Cosmetic-only outcomes
- Hormones without proper testing or follow-up
Our approach prioritizes long-term health, not short-term promises.
Hormone care in Grand Rapids, Michigan, that looks at the whole picture
At Revive, hormone health is never treated in isolation. Hormones, metabolism, stress, fitness, and recovery all influence one another.
That’s why our hormone services often connect with:
- metabolic health services
- medical fitness planning
- Ongoing wellness support
This integrated approach helps patients feel better — and stay better.
Hormone Testing & Therapy FAQs:
Hormone imbalances can show up in many ways, including ongoing fatigue, brain fog, unexplained weight gain, sleep issues, low libido, mood changes, or feeling “off” despite healthy habits. These symptoms often develop gradually and may be overlooked or attributed to stress or aging.
Standard blood work is often designed to identify disease rather than explain symptoms. Comprehensive hormone testing looks at a broader range of markers and evaluates results in the context of symptoms, health history, and patterns over time, not just whether a value falls within a reference range.
Not necessarily. Many people experience symptoms even when lab results appear normal. Hormone therapy is only considered when both symptoms and testing support it. In many cases, other interventions may be recommended before hormone therapy is appropriate.
HRT refers broadly to hormone replacement therapy, while BHRT uses hormones that are chemically identical to those produced by the body. The best option depends on individual health history, lab results, and clinical guidance, not just terminology.
Yes. Hormone imbalances can affect both men and women and may contribute to symptoms such as low energy, changes in body composition, mood shifts, or decreased performance. Testing is tailored to the individual and based on symptoms and clinical need.
Schedule a hormone consultation WITH DR. THOMAS BOSCH AT REVIVE GRAND RAPIDS
If you’re experiencing symptoms that haven’t been explained or resolved, hormone testing may be a helpful next step.
A consultation allows us to:
- Review your symptoms
- Determine whether hormone testing is appropriate
- Outline clear next steps tailored to you