Many women experience symptoms of hormonal imbalance and
don't even know it.Hormonal imbalance
does not just affect women in their 40s and 50s approaching menopause but can
affect women in their 30s and even 20s!
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 ...
