Monday, June 23, 2014

What are Bioidentical Hormones?

Bioidentical hormone therapy or “natural hormones” act just like the hormones we produce in the body.  By contrast, conventional HRT uses synthetic hormones, like estrogen that is made from the urine of pregnant horses. These act differently in the body than the estrogen we produce naturally, and so can have side effects. Bioidentical estrogen is typically made from wild yams and soybeans into a chemical structure that is identical to the estrogen produced in the human body. Testosterone and progesterone also come in bioidentical formulas and your doctor determines the dosage and therapeutic combination that is right for you based on blood work.



Bioidentical hormones are typically prescribed for patients that are in hormonal decline. This includes men and women, not just women experiencing menopausal symptoms. Hormones are the driving force of all body processes; chemical messengers that coordinate growth, influence the immune system and play a role in energy, hunger and stress responses, to name only a few. As we age, hormone levels naturally decrease and the human body responds. Replenishing these hormones alleviates some of the unpleasant physical effects and can return the body to a more harmonious balance.

Patients interested in bioidentical hormones start with a thorough blood panel and evaluation by a hormone specialist. The prescription is sent to a compounding pharmacy where the hormone is made into a capsule, cream, injectable, suppository or pellet.

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