Patient Experiences at HormoneSynergy®
Choosing a physician-guided practice is personal. For many people, one of the most meaningful ways to understand a clinic is to hear directly from patients who have been through the process themselves.
Below are video and written testimonials from patients who have worked with Dr. Kathryn Retzler and our team. Their experiences reflect a wide range of concerns, including hormones, fatigue, metabolism, healthy aging, mood, cognition, and overall quality of life.
Every patient is different, and every starting point is different. These stories are shared to help provide context for how patients have experienced care in our clinic, not to promise a specific outcome.
Important note: Testimonials reflect individual experiences. Results may vary from person to person.
Video Testimonials
Tami K.*
Jeff Z.*
Dr. Steve Gardner*
Sheryl M.*
Recent Patient Reviews
Recent feedback from patients who have worked with us. Individual experiences vary.
Many of the patients who find us have already been told their labs are “normal,” that their symptoms are part of aging, or that the next step is simply another prescription.
What they were often looking for was not a quick fix, but a physician willing to listen more carefully, look more deeply, and help connect the dots in a more complete and personalized way.
“I have been trusting Dr. Retzler and her team with my health care for about the last eight years. They are They are very efficient with scheduling appointments and Dr. Retzler is very thorough when answering my questions. I would recommend Hormone Synergy Clinic.”
– Brad Staples
“The best doctor and staff ever.”
– Carolyn Stewart
“Amazing experience filled with care, active listening, and knowledge. I actually look forward to going to the doctor.”
– Wendys Joshua
“Dr. Retzler is an amazing human being. It’s rare to find a doctor so well-versed in all aspects of health — mental, nutrition, hormone therapy, and the human body.”
– Gary Peck
“Credit for my good health over the last 25+ years largely belongs to Dr. Retzler…”
– Linda Tighe
“Dr. Retzler is a kind, compassionate provider who stays current on research in hormones, aging, and longevity. I’ve been a patient for years and plan to continue.”
– Rebecca Seymour
“I’ve been a patient here for a long time - for good reasons. Dr. Retzler is extremely competent and stays up-to-date on all pertinent research, etc. Her knowledge, interests and acumen are wide ranging. Her staff is always courteous and friendly and helpful. Dr. Retzler is my most trusted resource for medical guidance.”
– Greg Prusynski
“I had a follow-up appointment today to review Blood Test Results. Dr. Retzler reviewed & explained my test results in detail and advised recommended prescription changes. Because I mentioned some weight gain, she immediately performed a SECA Body Composition Test (in the office) to check my current Fat and Muscle Mass. She was very thorough and clear. I strongly recommend her clinic for proactive health care.”
– Gary Loos
“Dr. Retzler is simply the best, most informed and informative doctor I have ever been to. She has helped me navigate migraines and menopause. I cannot recommend her enough. All of her staff is fantastic and helpful as well.”
– Sarah Campbell
“Helpful, friendly and competent staff. Dr.R is very knowledgeable and up to date with latest research, developments and health management strategies. Blood work tests are comprehensive and complete to determine health status on my body recognizing any vitamin deficiencies and imbalances. Appropriate recommendations are made concerning supplements and dietary modifications to regulate body physiology as well as life style changes necessary to insure good health. The blood work up and results are sent to my medical internist who then integrates the results in my permanent medical chart at the hospital. It amuses me that the internist marvels at the extent of the blood work that I receive at Hormone Synergy and confesses that my annual Medicare check up is no where near as comprehensive as the testing I get from my Naturopath physician. When it comes to my personal health I am extremely proactive in getting the help and care from those who offer it. Any I’m extremely grateful to have Hormone Synergy and Dr.R monitoring my health and well being.”
– Gerald Melore
“Dr Kathryn Retzler is such a joy to work with. She brings a science based approach to healthspan for her patients. Her ability to make it understandable for the layperson puts you at ease. Her caring manner makes you feel like you have an advocate for your health journey.”
– Ken Remington
“Great advice.”
– John Knowles
“Amazing experience. I practiced Dentistry for 20 years so i have a small amount of medical knowledge and the expertise that Dr Retzler brings is out of this world. Her knowledge of understanding the heart scan and lab results blew my mind. Thank you:]”
– Wayde Elliott
“Dr. Retzler's understanding of my lifestyle and how it was impacting my health was phenomenal. She conveyed in layman's terms what was happening with my body and what my options were to take it to the next level for healing, recovery, and ongoing optimal health. In a world of rushed medical practitioners, I have never felt so "heard" and acknowledged at every step of the way - making sure we were both in complete communication with my present scenario as well as my goals. Dr. Retzler is in a league of her own, and I feel blessed to have discovered her practice and be in her care...”
– Unleash Yourselves
“I consider my decision to become Dr. Retzler’s patient as the single most significant action I’ve taken to combat the negative health effects I’ve suffered due to age related hormonal changes. I’ve been a patient for over 5 years, during which time she’s helped me navigate extremely difficult health issues. She also treats my spouse who’s had the same wonderful experience. Her supplements combined with her extensive knowledge on the aging process have helped me reach a stable, healthy place after years of struggling with weight gain, hot flashes, hair loss and many other issues . I cannot imagine how much more difficult my life would be without her! On top of being an amazing doctor, she’s also an innovative researcher, sought after lecturer/teacher, the developer of her own line of nutritional supplements, a published author and an all around amazing person. I cannot recommend her and her team highly enough!!”
– D W
“Not just quantity of life, but quality of life. I reclaimed my health mentally and physically.”
– Brian Degerness
“Fabulous. Knows her stuff. Has helped me stay healthy for many years.”
– Linda Bryan
“Every program is customized to the individual. Not one-size-fits-all.”
– Steven Holland
Common Themes Patients Mention
- Feeling heard rather than rushed
- More thoughtful interpretation of symptoms and lab work
- A more personalized approach to hormones, metabolism, and healthy aging
- Clear explanations and practical next steps
- Care that looks beyond symptom management alone
Written Testimonials
*Testimonials reflect individual patient experiences. Results may vary from person to person.
I literally cannot say enough about Dr. Retzler and her entire staff. From start to finish, and even beyond the end of our doctor-patient relationship, she has been welcoming, knowledgeable, accessible, professional, and kind. Every bit of medical information I shared with her was met with openness and patience, without a hint of judgment. Once, she spent a full hour simply explaining hormones, brain chemistry, and blood work with me. I always felt that she was fully invested in my health and well-being.
HormoneSynergy is a fantastic medical office that I would still be using if I had not moved away. I would recommend them highly to anyone.*
– Trystan R., Los Angeles, California
Dr. Retzler changed my life. I was in my 40s, on anti-anxiety medication, high blood pressure medication, and cholesterol medication. What I really needed was a doctor who cared about the causes, not just treating the symptoms. I thank God often that I answered the ad for the hormone seminar. My hormones and thyroid were so out of balance that they were contributing to everything else. Fast forward 10 years: I am on no medications other than bioidentical hormones, and I have more energy than I did 20 years ago. I have moved to Utah, but I still travel to Portland to see Dr. Retzler.*
– Gretchen Mortensen, St. George, Utah
This is a fantastic medical practice. Dr. Retzler really goes the extra mile for her patients, examining diet, lifestyle, lab results, and physical findings to make an accurate diagnosis. Without her, I would never have received an accurate diagnosis. When my diagnosis was outside her area of expertise, she made the appropriate referral to local experts at OHSU. However, I chose to return to her for care because the treatment I received there was worse than the condition itself. Dr. Retzler instead helped me with herbal and nutraceutical products that worked well to manage my condition without the side effects of the drugs I had been pushed toward. She has always been there when I needed her, squeezing me into her busy schedule when something unexpected came up and making sure I was taken care of. The staff is friendly, and the products they sell are high quality. Dr. Retzler is dedicated to her practice and is continually researching and learning how to best serve those she helps.*
– Melissa Bosserman, Happy Valley, Oregon
After my first visit with Dr. Retzler and my initial blood testing, the results were not good. I weighed 248 pounds at 6'3". Three years later, I weigh 213 pounds and have dramatically improved my overall health. I take the supplements she recommended and have seen the results reflected in my blood work. The education I have received about what affects my body has been as valuable as anything else. Dr. Retzler has helped put me on track for a healthier and more active life, as well as my wife and several of my friends. My thanks to Dr. Retzler and her staff.*
– Mark Sutherland, Oregon
Sometime in your life, I hope someone cares enough about you to refer you to a healthcare professional they trust and believe can help provide the healing you seek.
Previously, I had been insured with Kaiser, and that exposed me to a number of opinions by providers. Suffice it to say, I had been treated for all kinds of symptoms without ever receiving a legitimate diagnosis. Prescriptions piled up in my medicine cabinet, not to mention how the medications affected my appetite, weight, sleep, concentration, mood, and energy. All of it worked together to impede my ability to perform at the level my job required.
I had serious thoughts about quitting my job and seeking a position with less stress until Dr. Kathryn Retzler was recommended to me by my chiropractor, who is also gifted at what she does. I was excited at the prospect of finally understanding my recent health concerns, but also reluctant because of past experiences. From the moment I met Dr. Kathryn Retzler at HormoneSynergy, I knew I had someone who understood what I was dealing with.
Dr. Retzler rescued me from numerous single-symptom treatments and partnered with me using treatment, education, and nutrition. Daniel Soule was also part of that toolkit, helping me cope with and reduce stress to the point where I had a plan and support in carrying it out.
Dr. Retzler is a patient’s doctor. I work in healthcare, and I know insurance policies create unrealistic expectations for doctors who bill slow-paying insurance companies. When you remove roadblocks from medicine, it gives physicians and healthcare professionals more freedom to actually care for patients well.
I am on my way to living optimally, and I attribute so much of that to Dr. Kathryn Retzler and Daniel Soule, who are caring, talented professionals. The selfish side of me would not want to share them, but I have shared them with friends in need of a lifesaver. Dr. Retzler is awesome.*
– Denice Braxton, Portland, Oregon
Since I became a patient of Dr. Retzler, my health has improved tremendously, and so has the health of friends I referred to see her. She and Daniel are dedicated not just to good health in general, but to quality of life as well. I highly recommend their services.*
– John Knowles, Hillsboro, Oregon
I was referred to Dr. Retzler in 2010 by a friend of mine who is a cancer survivor. Dr. Retzler had greatly helped my friend. I had three surgeries in a three-year period, and my body was completely out of whack. I will admit Dr. Retzler made many suggestions to me that I did not initially follow through on. Over the years, however, she has always welcomed me into her office regardless of my health status. I find her extremely compassionate, honest, and trustworthy. She is the first naturopathic doctor I have seen who has a deep respect for both western and eastern medicine and is happy to refer you to someone she trusts if you have issues beyond her scope.
I have also participated in a group with Dr. Retzler, and it became clear to me that she cares more about helping patients than maximizing business profit. I would gladly refer Dr. Retzler and the staff at HormoneSynergy to anyone who has concerns about their health or simply wants to live better.*
– Michelle Koury, Portland, Oregon
Dr. Retzler is passionate about her work. She has tremendous compassion for her patients. She listens intently and supports you positively where you are.
I suffered four years of misdiagnosed symptoms by other specialists. When I found Dr. Retzler, she asked about my symptoms and requested blood work. Her diagnosis was that I had low testosterone, and she was very thorough in explaining how it was affecting me. She made several recommendations, and within a week of starting one of them, I was feeling stronger, healthier, and happier.
I have been with her for five years. I have always been impressed by her openness, honesty, and compassionate communication style. She is brilliant and is always researching new methods and medications to provide alternatives to help us heal. Her office staff is courteous, friendly, and professional. They always greet you with a smile and help you feel comfortable and welcome. She has researched and composed supplement packages with high-quality products to support health, but I have never felt pressured into purchasing anything. Overall, I would strongly and passionately recommend Dr. Retzler.*
– Robert Rios, Hillsboro, Oregon
For years, I sought a physician who was knowledgeable about hormones, practiced holistically, and had the wisdom and confidence to treat me as a partner in my own healthcare. Dr. Retzler is inquisitive about how the fuller picture of my life impacts my well-being, encourages my ideas and intuitions about my own health, and integrates that information with the depth and breadth of her medical knowledge. Smart. Very smart. My persistence was rewarded. Dr. Retzler is a healer in the true sense of the word. Plus, she loves dark chocolate. Gotta go with that.*
– Karen Beal, PhD, Portland, Oregon
I have been to several other hormone specialists, and Dr. Retzler was the only one who actually took the time to listen and dig deeper. I had my labs drawn in her office the same day and received a detailed printout within days, along with a follow-up appointment to go over the results. She helped explain everything in a way I could understand and that made sense based on how I was feeling. We worked on lifestyle therapy, detoxification, and specific nutritional support for hormone balance. I am feeling so much better. Definitely one of Portland’s premier optimal health clinics.*
– Mike Mutzel, Seattle, Washington
Dr. Retzler, I wanted to report on my progress. This whole thing is extraordinary. As one of over 250,000 post-polio syndrome patients, I cannot even begin to imagine what this could mean to tens of thousands of people like me who may have given up.
- Complete muscle mass regeneration in every part of my body that has muscle. Legs, hips, hands, arms, chest, and stomach. I am beginning to look like I did as a younger man when I was bodybuilding. My balance is dramatically improved. I used to avoid stepping off curbs because of weakness in my good leg. Now I just do it. I am walking upright instead of hunched over for fear of falling. I feel solid.
- Zero fatigue. After a light to moderate workout, before pellets, it would take only a few hours before I would lose control of my legs. Now I feel much stronger after workouts, and my recovery time has decreased.
- Joint pain, other than the left knee, is gone. My right ankle is only a bit sore in the mornings and warms up after a few steps. I am walking around more now.
- I have lost weight, but more importantly inches off my waist. Muscle mass is obviously increasing, so weight loss itself has not been the main marker. I am now sleeping 6 to 7 hours without medication.
- I did not realize when we first met that I was probably depressed, because now my enthusiasm is off the charts and my outlook on the future is wonderful.
- My mind is clearing. I did not realize how clouded it was until it was not anymore.*
– David Halseth, 59, West Linn, Oregon
I had suffered with menopausal symptoms and fibromyalgia for several years. I had been to several specialists, including a pain clinic. I was on a long list of pain, anxiety, and depression medications. I was exhausted and would sleep for days at a time. I no longer recognized the person looking back at me in the mirror. I was searching for a natural alternative to help with all of my symptoms when I found Dr. Retzler.
I called her office, and she took the time to speak with me personally. Upon starting hormone replacement therapy and a regimen of vitamins and minerals my body needed, I noticed immediate results. She was very thorough, and she listened to me. That, I believe, has been the secret to her success. She listens, then finds out why. Within weeks I was looking and feeling significantly better. My pain, energy levels, and mood swings all improved dramatically and continued to improve 18 months later. Dr. Retzler saved my life.*
Thank you, Dr. Retzler, for listening and being open to any and all suggestions.*
– Thanna Dunaway, 55, Milwaukie, Oregon
Following my partial hysterectomy in 2003, I spent several years suffering with depression, melancholy mood swings, anxiety, and extreme lack of mental clarity. Some days I felt suicidal because I could not grasp what had happened to my life and had no idea how to regain the energetic, life-loving person I had once been. Antidepressants were not relieving my symptoms, and in hindsight I believe they may have contributed to the mood swings I was experiencing.
A friend of mine was using hormone pellet therapy, so I immediately started researching a doctor in my area who might be able to help me with bioidentical hormone pellets. Once I located Dr. Retzler and shared my experience with her, she educated me about the physiological processes that were likely taking place and helped me understand my treatment options.
Following pellet implants and appropriate thyroid treatment, I felt like I was getting my life back. Within three weeks, I felt like a new person, and the improvements have continued. Since beginning pellet therapy over a year and a half ago, my symptoms have been relieved. In addition, I have a libido again and my skin is healthier. My experience with Dr. Retzler has been entirely positive. Two of my closest friends have now seen her, and they too are feeling wonderful.*
– Sara Raile, Las Vegas, Nevada
For seven years, I set goals to get fit and lose weight, only to gain weight and lose endurance. Ironically, the year I gave up on fitness was the year I met Dr. Retzler and began hormone replacement. Two weeks after my first treatment, I was working out six days a week. After six months, I had lost 20 pounds and turned my fitness clock back 20 years. What I assumed was laziness turned out to be hormones. Now I am fit, healthier, and did not experience my typical winter depression. It is great to work with Dr. Retzler, who is knowledgeable and clearly loves her work.*
– Bob Eggleston, Portland, Oregon
Shortly after my 42nd birthday, I began noticing some disturbing changes in how I felt and looked. I was sleeping terribly, my hair and skin were drier, and I was getting noticeably fatter despite dieting and daily exercise. I experienced frequent hot flashes, felt exhausted much of the time, had trouble focusing, and was generally depressed. In short, I looked and felt older than 42.
While in the middle of a hot flash, a coworker suggested I attend a seminar Dr. Retzler was giving. After the seminar, I was tested and found to have a fatigued metabolism and abysmally low testosterone. Once I received a testosterone pellet and began a regimen of supplements prescribed by Dr. Retzler, I started to feel better, sleep sounder, and focus more clearly. At the same time, I began exercising more and adhering to a simpler diet. The result: I lost 15 pounds.
I am impressed with how Dr. Retzler seems passionately invested in my well-being. She is interested in far more than just treating hormone issues; she truly seeks to address the fuller picture. She also has help from Daniel Soule, who helped me address long-standing mental obstacles that had kept me from reaching my full potential. I am not there yet, but as I continue toward physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, I am grateful to have Dr. Retzler and Daniel Soule as resources.*
– Suzanne Eggleston, Portland, Oregon
After five years of working with my family physician, being told all tests were within normal limits, and being offered only antidepressants and birth control pills for menopausal symptoms, Dr. Retzler felt like a miracle worker. To put it simply: she listened. She combined lab data with my symptoms and offered real answers. I went home knowing I was not crazy, and within a week my life began to turn around. I am a newer, better version of myself thanks to Dr. Retzler’s sophisticated hormone knowledge and easy-to-follow protocols. I have made it my personal mission to tell others about the power of hormones and send them to HormoneSynergy for the latest strategies in optimal living.*
– Michelle Rios, age 43, Guam
Both in our 60s, our energy levels are higher, our workouts are more fruitful, and our overall health and well-being are excellent.*
– Dick and Gail Dorris, Atlanta, Georgia
After a complete hysterectomy two years ago, I developed insomnia, hot flashes, and several other symptoms. One month after working with Dr. Retzler and starting bioidentical hormones, I feel like a happier person. My hot flashes are very rare now, and I finally sleep soundly.*
– N.F., age 46
I have been Dr. Retzler’s patient for several years, and I consider myself very fortunate to have found her. With her guidance and bioidentical hormone treatment, I have eased through menopause while enjoying vibrant health and well-being. I feel wonderful.*
– Judith Bernards, McMinnville, Oregon
Considering HormoneSynergy®?
If you are looking for a more thoughtful, physician-guided approach to hormones, healthy aging, metabolism, cognition, or preventive longevity medicine, we invite you to learn more about how we work.
Explore the HormoneSynergy® Longevity Medicine Model or contact us here.
Disclaimer: Testimonials reflect individual experiences. Results may vary from person to person.