Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Is It For You?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is meant to replace the hormones a person has lost before or during the menopausal period. Hormone restoration can relieve the person of the menopausal symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance. The therapy makes use of natural replacement hormones that have been engineered to be chemically identical to the human body’s natural hormones.

When Is the Best Time to Get BHRT?

Because menopause can be unique to every person, the ideal timing of BHRT varies by person. This is because it can take time to recognize the symptoms of menopause. Usually, people may confuse the symptoms with normal signs of aging.

But, bioidentical hormone therapy should be started when a person notices menopausal symptoms which prevent them from enjoying a high quality of life. Sometimes, it is best to combine the therapy with a healthy lifestyle to correct the hormonal imbalance which comes with the onset of menopause and andropause.

How the Therapy Can Benefit a Patient

Bio-identical hormones are commonly prescribed for treating symptoms of hormonal imbalance in both men and women like night sweats, hot flashes, fatigue, loss of libido, mood swings, weight gain, and irritability. A lot of doctors think that those who choose to get bioidentical hormone therapy rather than synthetic hormone replacement therapy will experience fewer adverse reactions. Bioidentical hormones can reduce the occurrence of vaginal dryness and muscle mass, improve bone density, reduce the risk of depression, improve cholesterol levels, improve sleep, improve energy levels, and more.

A lot of patients choose this therapy because it can be customized to the needs of a patient. Every bioidentical hormone prescription is custom-compounded based on the individual diagnostic results of every patient. This makes this therapy safer and more effective than synthetic hormone therapy.

BHRT Administration

BHRT comes in a variety of forms such as creams, implanted pellets, injections, gels, and patches.  It is important to talk to the doctor about the form that is best for the person and their lifestyle. The doctor may monitor the person regularly after starting BHRT to assess the response of their body. But, the FDA warns against hormone level monitoring through saliva and blood tests. This is because these tests can only determine the hormone levels at a moment in time. A person’s hormone levels can vary throughout the day. Also, the FDA recommends using the lowest dose of hormone therapy that produces results. It is also recommended to have the therapy only for the shortest length of time.

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