What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

About 43% of women say hormones have affected their overall wellbeing. Meanwhile, 47% have experienced symptoms of a hormone imbalance. These symptoms can include weight gain, mood swings, hot flashes, and memory fog.

Sound familiar? You could benefit from bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

What exactly is BHRT, and how can it help?

Keep reading to find out! In this guide, we’ll review everything you need to know about treating hormonal imbalances with BHRT. 

Take control of your symptoms and improve your quality of life! Read on to learn more about BHRT today.

What is BHRT?

First, let’s answer the question that’s likely on your mind: what exactly is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy? 

A hormone imbalance can impact a number of bodily functions, including your:

• Mood
• Growth
• Digestion
• Appetite
• Immune function
• Libido

Instead of trying to fix issues like mood swings or loss of appetite, you can solve the problem at the source. BHRT is used for treating hormonal imbalances. It can help patients with a number of conditions, such as menopause.

BHRT isn’t only for female patients, though. It can also help with osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, and adrenal, and thyroid disorders. 

How does it work, exactly?

Scientists create manmade hormones called bioidentical hormones. These hormones are developed using plant estrogens. They’re chemically altered to seem identical to your body’s natural hormones. 

Since they mimic the hormones your body naturally produces, your body won’t recognize a difference between the two.

Scientists can now create different bioidentical hormones, including:

• Micronized progesterone USP
• 17 beta-estradiol
• Estradiol acetate
• Estradiol hemihydrate

Most people are familiar with the hormones testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen. BHRT can mimic these hormones to treat a hormone imbalance. 

Treatment is available in gel, cream, pill, patch, and injection form.

Traditional vs Bioidentical Hormones

What’s the difference between traditional vs bioidentical hormones? Your doctor might suggest both options when reviewing your medical case.

Traditional hormone replacement therapy uses hormones made from a pregnant horse’s urine. Some doctors prefer other synthetic hormones instead.

Bioidentical hormones are made to chemically match the hormones that already exist in your body. They’re created from plant estrogens instead of animal urine.

Since traditional hormones are made from animal estrogens, they’re not natural to the human body.

Some patients prefer BHRT. However, there’s no evidence that BHRT is more effective or safer than traditional hormone therapy. 

Your doctor can create your bioidentical hormones based on a test of your saliva. This test allows them to determine your unique hormonal needs. Since BHRT is custom-made with your needs in mind, it could prove more effective. 

Review your options with your hormone doctor to determine which is best for you.

The Health Benefits

What are the beneficial effects of hormone imbalance therapy?

For starters, BHRT could reduce your emotional lability, anxiety, and irritability. BHRT is often prescribed to older patients, though.

As we get older, our natural hormone levels decline. A hormone imbalance is common in patients who are experiencing perimenopause or menopause. BHRT could help these patients by increasing their natural hormone levels.

By treating your hormone imbalance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, you might relieve symptoms such as:

• Sleep issues
• Memory loss
• Mood swings
• Night flashes
• Hot flashes
• Weight gain
• Loss of interest in sex
• Pain during sex

Other effects of hormone imbalance treatment could include reduced fatigue, bloating, and hair thinning. You might notice your skin feels more moisturized as well.

BHRT can help your skin by improving its thickness, elasticity, and hydration levels. You might notice you have fewer wrinkles, too. 

Remember, hormone imbalance treatment isn’t solely for patients with menopause. You could benefit from BHRT if you have diabetes or cataracts. It could reduce your risk of tooth loss, too. 

In fact, it might even help cancer patients. Cancer treatment might impact your natural estrogen levels. You could experience symptoms like mood swings and hot flashes as a result. 

BHRT can help cancer patients by relieving these symptoms. It could also help with insomnia, incontinence, and migraines.

In fact, patients with breast cancer reported BHRT resolved many of their menopausal symptoms, including:

• Insomnia
• Migraines
• Incontinence
• Loss of focus
• Declined libido

These patients showed general improvement in their quality of life. 

Potential Side Effects

As with any treatment, there are a few potential side effects associated with BHRT.

First, it helps to know that the FDA has approved some bioidentical estradiol and progesterone preparations. Make sure your doctor is using FDA-approved products throughout the course of your treatment. Don’t accept treatment using a product the FDA hasn’t already tested and approved.

The FDA does urge caution when using compounded hormones.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy might increase your risk of developing certain diseases. These can include:

• Vision changes
• Blood clots
• Stroke
• Breast cancer
• Heart diseased
• Gallbladder disease
• Skin changes
• Mood changes

Your doctor might need to adjust your dosage. Otherwise, it can take a few weeks for your body to grow used to hormone treatment. 

As your body adjusts, you could experience side effects such as fatigue, bloating, acne, and weight gain. You might notice increased facial hair and mood swings as well. Let your doctor know if you experience any of these symptoms. 

When starting your treatment, ask your doctor if you can begin with the lowest possible dose. Try to minimize how long you receive treatment as well. 

Otherwise, BHRT might make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose a serious condition.

In the meantime, pay attention to how your body reacts to BHRT. If you experience side effects, talk to your doctor right away. They can make adjustments to your dosage as needed to ensure you experience the desired results.

Your doctor can use regular testing to determine how your body is reacting to the treatment.

Goodbye, Hormone Imbalance: Your Guide to Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

To recap, what is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy? It’s a treatment option that can help resolve a hormone imbalance. With BHRT, you can minimize symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings.

Instead of living out of balance, you can improve your quality of life with BHRT treatment!

Eager to get started? We’re happy to help.

Get in touch with our team today to get started.