How Does My Doctor Select My Dose
People on hormone treatment are watched very closely by their doctors. Most often, doses are adjusted according to a patients symptoms and needs, with the goal of keeping the dose to the minimum required to achieve your goals. Depending on your doctor, you might have routine blood, urine or saliva tests to check your hormone levels. Your doctor may adjust your dose based on your changing hormone needs. It should be noted that the FDA recommends against using hormone levels to guide the dosing of hormone therapy in women, as normal levels fluctuate day to day, and vary between patients. In particular, salivary hormone levels are known to fluctuate widely, and have not been shown to be related to menopausal symptoms.
What Is Pellet Therapy
Pellet therapy is when a hormone pellet is inserted under the skin with the purpose of providing a long-term slow release of one or more hormones. Pellet therapy is one of the many ways you can receive hormone replacement therapy and is a popular treatment plan for patients in wellness, anti-aging, and hormone clinics.
The pellets can be FDA-approved drugs , or they can be custom made in a compounding pharmacy . Subcutaneous pellets of testosterone are prohibited at all times.
Preparing For Your Bhrt Treatment
If you believe you could benefit from BHRT, you should contact a medical professional who specializes in the treatment of hormonal imbalances. You can prepare for your appointment by:
- Tracking your symptoms: List your symptoms, how often and when they occur, as well as their severity.
- Listing your medications: Include any prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, as well as supplements, dosage and how often you take them.
- Preparing questions: Write down questions before your appointment and bring a notebook to record answers. This will give you the information you require and help you assess your options after your appointment to make the most informed decision possible.
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How Do I Know If I May Be Suffering From An Imbalance Or A Deficiency In My Hormone Levels
Hormonal deficiency or imbalance can be caused by many symptoms including:
For Women:
- Lower energy level, endurance, and physical strength
- Reduced exercise tolerance
Of course, there are many possible causes for these symptoms. A complete medical evaluation is necessary to determine whether these are the result of hormone problems or something else.
Side Effects Of Hormone Therapy
Conventional hormone therapy side effects are well documented. The Womens Health Initiative is the most well-known and widely-cited study demonstrating the risks associated with conventional forms of hormone therapy. The WHI, began in 1991, was the largest study ever to review the safety and efficacy of conventional hormone therapy. When it was halted early in 2002 due to an increased risk of cancer and stroke among subjects taking conventional forms of estrogen and/or progesterone, millions of physicians and patients became frightened of the treatment option.
Today, experts have reviewed the data and conducted lengthy meta-analyses of the WHI study, finding a number of flaws in the studys design that contributed to the tragic outcomes. Nonetheless, the same risks have not been associated with bioidentical hormones. Unlike conventional hormones, bioidentical hormones are derived from natural sources, such as soy or yams, and created to be structurally identical to human endogenous hormones . This structural duplication ensures that the supplemented hormones fit perfectly in each of the bodys hormone receptors to maintain optimal function.
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Bioidentical Or Natural Hormones
Bioidentical hormones are hormone preparations made from plant sources that are promoted as being similar or identical to human hormones.
Practitioners claim these hormones are a “natural” and safer alternative to standard HRT medicines.
However, bioidentical preparations are not recommended because:
- they are not regulated and it’s not clear how safe they are there’s no good evidence to suggest they’re safer than standard HRT
- it’s not known how effective they are in reducing menopausal symptoms
- the balance of hormones used in bioidentical preparations is usually based on the hormone levels in your saliva, but there’s no evidence that these levels are related to your symptoms
Bioidentical hormones are not the same as body identical hormones. A body identical hormone, or micronised progesterone, can be prescribed to treat menopausal symptoms.
Many standard HRT hormones are made from natural sources, but unlike bioidentical hormones, they’re closely regulated and have been well researched to ensure they’re as effective and safe as possible.
Alleviation Of Symptoms In Cancer Patients
People who have undergone treatment for cancer that affected their hormone levels have reported that Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy were able to find relief from symptoms such as migraine headaches, incontinence, insomnia, and low libido. Additionally, in a recent study, these patients experienced a recurrence rate of breast cancer that was no higher than average, suggesting that BHRT is a safe and effective treatment for these patients.
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What Are Bioidentical Hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made by your endocrine glands. The glands release hormones into your bloodstream to be carried to the appropriate body part. Hormones control quite a few functions in your body such as:
- Metabolism
- Growth
- Sexual function
Itâs difficult for you to function properly when your hormones are out of balance. A hormone imbalance can cause weight gain or mood swings that affect your day-to-day life. Taking hormones can help people whose bodies donât make enough of a certain hormone, or whose hormone levels are unbalanced.
Bioidentical hormones are just one type of man-made hormones available. Of all the hormones out there, the bioidentical type is the closest to the real thing. These hormones are chemically identical to the ones your body makes, so you can absorb them easily. Bioidentical hormones are made in a laboratory and can come in different forms.
Natural hormones are another type of hormone on the market today. They come from natural sources like yams and soybeans. But donât be fooled by the name itself. Natural hormones require lots of processing for them to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration and sold.
Hormones can come in different forms like pills, creams, injections, and gels.
Hormones That Are Replicated
Any hormone that is naturally produced by the body can be replicated in a compounding pharmacy using plant derivatives, usually from yams and soy products. The most commonly replaced hormones in BHRT are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, triiodothyronine , thyroxine , and melatonin. The specific hormones you will replace are dependent on a test that measures which ones are deficient. We will measure your hormone levels at your initial appointment through a blood, saliva, and/or urine test.
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What Else Can Bhrt Help
Most people use BHRT to combat fatigue, mood swings, and decreased sexual desire.
HRT can also be for:
- Hot Flushes And Night Sweats
- Vaginal Dryness And Pain
- Cognitive Changes, Such As Memory Loss
- Reduced Sex Drive
- Abnormal Sensations, Such As Prickling Or Crawling Under The Skin
- Heart Palpitations
- Hair Loss Or Abnormal Hair Growth
- Dry And Itchy Eyes
Just Because It Seems More Natural Become Better Informed
Given these significant differences in experiences, Dr. Jiang has serious doubts that women who opt for bioidentical custom compounds are not adequately informed about the lack of clinical evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of these products. Nor are they sufficiently made aware that this form of hormone delivery is not subjected to the same level of regulation that standard HRT is required to meet.
Pellet therapy and other compounded hormone products are regulated only be the rules governing vitamins and nutritional supplements, which means very little. They dont have to meet the same rigor as medications reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration , so theres no assurance that what is promised in the bottle is what youll get, or even that it will work as you expect. Rather, these hormonal products gain the attention of the FDA only after there is evidence of harm demonstrated in the people taking these unregulated products.
The study findings should raise red flags for any woman looking to have her doctor prescribe the compounded pelleted hormone therapy. And if you still decide to go this route, Dr. Jiang says: Women on pellet therapy need to be carefully monitored for their estrogen and testosterone levels.
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Why Bioidentical Hormones Work Better
Our hormones are comprised of a solid steroid base , decorated with arms, legs, and tails pinned on here and there. These attachments are what turn hormones into specialized molecules, allowing them to plug into receptor molecules throughout the body, turning on and off much of the cellular behavior that makes us tick.
When we take hormonal replacement therapy that doesnt fit the original design that our cells have evolved to recognize, the end result simply may not feel or act quite right. Hence, all those side effects, ranging from annoying and uncomfortable to downright dangerous, can occur.
Bioidentical hormones, on the other hand, duplicate the structure of our hormones exactly as they are found in our bodies. This is why they work better in our bodies.
What Are The Side Effects & Risk Of Bhrt
In 1965, hormone replacement therapy became available to women in the UK who were struggling with menopause and post-menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, sexual dysfunction, sleep disturbances, mood changes, urinary incontinence, cognitive disturbances , and weight gain. Are you on of the women have this symptoms considering to have a bioidentical hormone therapy?
However, starting in the 1970s, several studies drew concern over the potential health risks of HRT, including increased risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, blood clots, heart disease, and stroke.
One study in particular sounded the alarm over HRT the Womens Health Initiative Hormone Therapy Trials. Between 1993 and 1998, 27,347 U.S. women ages 5079 enrolled in the study. Participants who had had their uterus removed received synthetic estrogen , while those who still had their uterus received synthetic estrogen + synthetic progestin .
The study ended in 2002 for the estrogen-plus-progestin group, and in 2004 for the estrogen-only group when participants were told to stop taking the medication due to the increased rates of serious health conditions, including coronary heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots in the lungs, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, hip fracture, and death.
Procedural Risks
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Bhrt Is About Treating The Root Cause Of Symptoms
Many people are frustrated with medical interventions that seem to treat their symptoms one by one as if they are all disconnected from one another or dont have a root cause. The whole point of BHRT is to address the root cause of the many symptoms of hormone imbalance.
Instead of taking one pill to address insomnia, another to address depression, and enduring lectures about weight gain when your body seems to be fighting you every step of the way, you can deal with the underlying problem that is causing all these issues: imbalanced hormones.
How Much Do Bioidentical Hormones Cost Per Month
The average treatment cost for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is between $200-$500 per month. This cost includes high-quality medications, customized treatment plans, and follow-up appointments. The price of your treatment plan will greatly depend on your individual plan and your insurance eligibility.
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What Is The Best Natural Progesterone Cream
Many women are confused about the use of progesterone creams, particularly regarding the efficacy of yam-based or other plant-based creams. Unlike soy and flax, which contain plant-based adaptogenic estrogens that convert into usable forms in the body, wild yam cannot be converted into progesterone in the body.
The conversion can occur in a laboratory setting, however therefore, wild yam is sometimes used to synthesize the progesterone found in progesterone creams. Some progesterone creams are yam-based, but the active ingredient is not the wild yam itself but the USP progesterone that has been added.
For this reason, while the body may absorb wild yam extract through the skin, which may then confer mild effects on menopausal symptoms, results of research on oral and topical applications of wild yam extract have not detected a significant change in progesterone levels in the blood.
If you want the beneficial effects of bioidentical progesterone, make sure the ingredients on the label include United States Pharmacopoeia progesterone. USP progesterone is available in over-the-counter 2% creams as well as by prescription. Choices for prescription-based bioidentical progesterone include Crinone Vaginal Gel in 4% or 8% concentration or in an oral micronized form such as Prometrium capsules.
Perfect For Men And Women
Traditional HRT is mostly focused on helping menopausal women restore their hormone balance through progesterone and estrogen, and while there is HRT for men in the form of testosterone, its not considered a viable treatment for older men who are otherwise healthy. This is because the risks often outweigh the benefits. With bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, though, men of all ages are able to take advantage of hormones that are structurally identical to the testosterone your body already produces.
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Should A 70 Year Old Woman Take Estrogen
On the other hand, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says: Because some women aged 65 years and older may continue to need systemic hormone therapy for the management of vasomotor symptoms, the ACOG recommends against routine discontinuation of systemic estrogen at age 65 years.
What Are The Side Effects Of Taking Bioidentical Hormones
What are the side effects of taking bioidentical hormones?
How long is it safe to take bioidentical hormones? As experts in the bioidentical hormone replacement field, we recommend undergoing this therapy for a maximum of seven years however, we also suggest that you discontinue treatment when you achieve relief from your symptoms. Unfortunately, when you stop taking hormones, your symptoms may return.
At what age should a woman stop taking bioidentical hormones? Women older than 60 or 65 dont automatically have to stop taking HRT and can consider continuing HRT beyond age 65 for persistent hot flashes, quality-of-life issues, or prevention of osteoporosis after appropriate evaluation and counseling of the benefits and risks of HRT.
Who should not take bioidentical hormones? Certain women should not undergo hormone replacement therapy of any type until detailed studies on safety have been performed. You are not considered for bioidentical therapy if you have a personal history of breast cancer or stroke, or if you have a blood clot.
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What Are Pellets Made From
Testosterone is made from wild yam, and Estradiol is made from soy. Both of these plants have the highest concentration of hormone of any other substance. If you have an allergy to yam or soy, you are still a candidate for bioidentical pellet placement, as all allergens are removed. Once the hormone pellet is made, it no longer consists of yam or soy.
Gender And Hormone Therapy
Regardless of gender, every human body produces the same hormones, however biological gender is determined by the exact amount of estrogen or testosterone produced in the body. Although men and women experience many of the same negative side effects associated with imbalanced hormones, it is important that hormone therapy is personalized for each gender.
The idea behind bioidentical therapy is to replace naturally lost hormones. This is different from cross-sex hormone replacement therapy, which seeks to introduce higher levels of opposite-sex hormones to prompt changes in secondary sex characteristics. Bioidentical therapy only replaces hormones that have been lost.
Lets look at the differences between hormone therapy for women and hormone therapy for men.
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Bioidentical Hormones Are Tailored To The Person
BHRT pellets are made to be a bio-chemical match for natural human hormones, but BHRT even goes a step beyond that. BHRT is tailored to each individual patients unique needs. The goal isnt just to increase one hormone or decrease another. The goal is true hormone optimization for the individual, so each person can get back to feeling completely like themselves again.
Increased Risk Of Heart Disease
Heart disease is the term used to describe numerous conditions with adverse effects on the heart. These conditions include diseases of the blood vessels, congenital heart defects, heart rhythm issues, and many others. An individual’s risk of developing heart disease will naturally increase with age. The use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy will put an individual at an increased risk of heart disease and related conditions. This risk increase occurs because the dosages of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be up to ten times more potent than the doses of traditional hormone replacement therapies. The hormones themselves are known to impact biological indicators of heart disease adversely. The increased impacts precipitated from the high doses given in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can cause an individual to have a substantially higher risk of having a serious cardiac event. The accumulation of additional heart disease risk factors and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can triple these risks for women and double them for men.
Keep reading to reveal more side effects and risks of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy now.
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Why Use Bioidentical Hormones
As stated before, as men and women age, the levels of hormones in the body may go down. These include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone which can lead to certain symptoms including but not limited to the following:
- Hot flashes
- Loss of interest in sex
- Loss of energy
- Memory loss
- Weight gain
Bioidentical hormone treatment is used to replace the hormones that have been lost. This increase in hormone levels can improve symptoms.
Common Side Effects And Risks Of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Bioidentical hormones are hormones made in a laboratory and derived from hormones naturally produced by the body. These hormones are typically used as a treatment for individuals who have low or out of balance hormones in their body. Hormones are chemicals that tell organs and parts of the body when and how to work. When there is a shortage of certain hormones such as progesterone, testosterone, or estrogen in the body, the individual can experience unpleasant adverse symptoms. Common symptoms include energy loss, weight gain, mood changes, foggy thinking, night sweats, hot flashes, problems sleeping, and loss of muscle mass. The goal of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is to raise hormone levels back to normal and alleviate any symptoms an individual may be experiencing.
While bioidentical hormone therapy may be effective for many patients, it does pose certain risks and may cause adverse side effects. Learn more about these now.
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