Hormone Replacement for Women Do I Need Hormone Replacement?
Many women experience symptoms of hormonal imbalance and don’t even know it. Hormonal imbalance does not just affect women in their 40’s and 50’s approaching menopause but can affect women in their 30’s and even 20’s!
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance of Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen Dominance/Progesterone Deficiency
Headaches
Weight gain
Irritable/anxious mood
Sleep disturbances
Sugar cravings
Water Retention/Bloating
Low sex drive
Irregular/heavy menses
Breast tenderness
Uterine fibroids
Fibrocystic breasts
Hypothyroid symptoms
Estrogen Deficiency
Hot flashes
Night Sweats
Depression
Tearfulness
Vaginal Dryness
Foggy thinking
Memory lapses
Sleep disturbances
Incontinence
Estrogens
There are actually 3 clinically significant types of estrogen that are produced within a woman’s body; estriol (E3), estradiol (E2), and estrone (E1). Under normal circumstances, these estrogens fluctuate based on her menstrual cycle. Often, these hormones are prescribed in combination to re-establish a normal balance.
Synthetic vs Bio-identical HRT Traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) uses synthetic hormones that often differ in molecular structure from those produced naturally within the human body, and therefore, not a perfect match. As a result, traditional HRT has risky side effects including headaches, breast tenderness, weight gain, and an increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a safe and reliable alternative to traditional HRT.
Bio-identical hormones, sometimes referred to as Natural Hormones, are identical in function and organic composition to human hormones. The body can recognize the hormone and knows how to use it. Because BHRT is prescribed and compounded specifically for each individual, it is well-tolerated by the body, reducing and often eliminating symptoms in most women without the side effects reported from the use of synthetic HRT.
Every Woman Is Unique
There is no “one size fits all” approach with BHRT. Every woman is unique and so are her hormonal needs! BHRT may consist of any combination of progesterone, estrone, estradiol, estriol, testosterone, and DHEA. To determine which hormones a woman needs and in what dosage, a physician and a pharmacist must consult with the patient about her symptoms. For some patients, a saliva test may also be necessary to pinpoint exact hormone levels currently within the woman’s body. By utilizing both the symptoms and hormone levels, a course of treatment can then be precisely developed for each patient and tailored when necessary.
Just as each patient’s hormonal needs are unique, so are the dosage forms that best suit her Bio-identical HRT. The compounding of BHRT allows complete flexibility of both the dose and dosage forms. There are many preparations available including: topical creams, sublingual drops, troches/lozenges, capsules and vaginal suppositories. The list goes on!
Why Haven’t I Heard More about Bio-identical Hormones until Now?
There is an astounding lack of awareness and education. Physicians have been trained in medical school to regard synthetic HRT as the standard and acceptable treatment. Some physicians may be legitimately confused by the newly published evidence regarding the health risks associated with synthetic HRT. Last, it’s difficult to complete with the marketing dollars of pharmaceutical companies. BHRT is derived from plant resources and is therefore, unable to be patented. But I ask you, the human body has used bio-identical hormones since the beginning of time…WHY SWITCH NOW???
