Digital
Thermography

Thermal imaging is a 15-minute, non-invasive test of vascular physiology. It uses a highly sensitive, high-resolution digital thermal camera to capture your body's infrared heat and display these patterns as a digital image.

The cells of your body produce heat through their normal metabolic function. Processes such as inflammation and changes in blood flow can alter this heat pattern in measurable ways. Thermal imaging is designed to detect these temperature differences, which your healthcare practitioner can consider alongside other clinical findings.

Thermal imaging is not a diagnostic test. It has not been shown to be an effective tool for detecting, screening for, or predicting cancer or other disease, and it should never be used in place of mammography or other medical tests recommended by your physician.

The camera used by Hormones by Design is a Meditherm thermal imaging system, an FDA 510(k)-cleared Class I medical device intended for adjunctive use. This means it is cleared to be used alongside other medical evaluation — not as a stand-alone diagnostic or screening test.

Thermography is a non-invasive procedure with no contact, no compression, and no radiation. Thermography emits nothing — it captures a picture of your unique thermal heat patterns.

It is a quick, painless procedure that can be a comfortable option for tracking changes in heat patterns over time. It is not a substitute for mammography or other medical imaging your physician may recommend and should not be used in place of those tests.

We send our images to Electronic Medical Interpretation, Inc. EMI is a professional group of physicians trained in the protocols of reading thermal images. A formal interpretation and written report, including color images, is prepared and made available to you in approximately two weeks. If you want quicker results, rush service is available for a fee. We will share your report through our secure patient portal, so that you can access it and share it with your other physicians upon request.

Thermography's accuracy varies depending on the condition being evaluated, the equipment used, and the experience of the technician performing the scan. As with any imaging test, results are only as reliable as the person conducting them — don't hesitate to ask about your technician's training and experience with the equipment and procedure.

Thermography is an adjunctive tool and is not diagnostic on its own. No single finding should be treated as confirmation of, or a definitive risk marker for, any disease. Any concerning finding should be discussed with your physician and evaluated with appropriate diagnostic testing.

Thermography may be worth considering for anyone interested in a non-invasive, wellness-focused imaging option, including women with dense breast tissue, fibrocystic breasts, implants, or a history of mastectomy without reconstruction — populations for whom mammography can sometimes be more technically challenging to interpret.

Because thermography captures infrared heat patterns rather than an anatomical image, factors like breast size, density, or the presence of implants do not prevent a scan from being performed. However, thermography has not been shown to be a reliable substitute for mammography in these or any other populations, and there is no valid scientific data showing it improves cancer detection compared to standard imaging. If your screening options feel limited, we encourage you to talk with your physician about the most appropriate imaging plan — thermography can be used alongside standard care, not in place of it.

If your practitioner identifies a temperature pattern of interest during a scan, that finding may prompt closer follow-up or additional evaluation by your physician.

Every woman's thermal heat pattern tends to be relatively individual and stable over time in the absence of significant physiological change. Because thermal imaging looks for changes over time rather than a single snapshot, it takes two sets of images — the first establishes your initial pattern, and a second set 3–4 months later helps confirm that your pattern is stable before it's used as your baseline.

Once a stable baseline is established, it's used as a reference point for future scans, so we can track changes in your surface temperature patterns over time. Thermography is an adjunctive tool and is not diagnostic on its own — it does not detect, screen for, or rule out breast cancer, and it is not a substitute for mammography or other medical evaluation.

Thermography visualizes physiologic changes, such as blood flow and inflammation, in breast tissue. It is non-invasive, does not use radiation, and does not require compression. Thermography is not diagnostic on its own and does not detect, screen for, or rule out cancer, fibrocystic disease, infection, or vascular disease. Any findings should be discussed with your physician.

Mammography is a test of anatomy that uses a low dose of x-ray to look for structural changes in breast tissue, such as masses. It involves brief compression of the breast and a small radiation dose with each view. Mammography remains the only breast imaging method proven to reduce mortality from breast cancer through early detection, and it is recommended by major medical organizations as the standard of care for breast cancer screening.

Thermography looks at breast tissue differently than mammography does, and the two provide different kinds of information. Thermography can be used as an adjunct alongside your recommended mammogram and/or ultrasound schedule. It is not a substitute for mammography. If you are unable to have, or choose not to have, mammography, we encourage you to talk with your physician about the most appropriate screening plan for you.

In the event that something of interest appears on your thermogram, your doctor or healthcare practitioner should be consulted promptly. After a thorough discussion of your options, you and your doctor may decide that a mammogram, ultrasound, or other diagnostic imaging is warranted for further evaluation.

No. Thermography is not diagnostic. Like mammography, ultrasound, and physical/self-exam, it cannot itself confirm cancer — the only way to diagnose breast cancer is through a biopsy and pathological study. Unlike mammography and ultrasound, however, thermography has not been established as an effective breast cancer screening tool on its own. We recommend using it alongside, not in place of, the screening your physician recommends.

This quick and easy procedure starts with you undressing from the waist up and changing into a hospital gown to allow air to circulate, which allows your body temperature to cool down. Cooling time is approximately 12 minutes. Once acclimated, you will be asked to sit in front of the camera, with your hands behind your head. Five different images will be taken. This allows the camera to capture heat patterns across the breasts, neck, underarms, and the surrounding lymph node regions. These images are then sent for interpretation and archived for future comparison.

This procedure is not covered by insurance, and payment is due at the time of your appointment. We accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and HSA/FSA funds.

Patients with commercial insurance plans may request a superbill to submit to their insurance carrier to determine eligibility for reimbursement. As a direct-pay practice, federal law prohibits us or Medicare beneficiaries from billing Medicare. Therefore, Medicare patients are not eligible to receive superbills or submit claims for services provided in our office.

We understand that scheduling conflicts can arise. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please notify the appropriate clinic (Austin or San Antonio) at least one business day in advance. This allows us to offer the appointment to another patient who may otherwise be unable to schedule due to limited availability. Appointments cancelled with less than one business day's notice are subject to a $50 cancellation fee.