Bio-identical Hormones
Bio-Identical Hormones
What are Bio-Identical Hormones?
Bio-Identical hormones are medications that match the hormones in your body. They are created in a lab to have the same molecular structure and are plant based. Being made from different plants such as soy and wild yam.
What’s the difference between bio-identical and non bio-identical hormones?
Bio-Identical hormones are created in a lab and are designed to match the hormones that our bodies create. Non bio-identical hormones don’t match our hormones. For example, Premarin is an estrogen that comes from a horse. A horse’s estrogen is different on a molecular level from human estrogen.
Where can you get hormones?
Non-bioidentical hormones will come from a regular (conventional) pharmacy. You can get bio-identical hormones from your conventional pharmacy and from a compounding pharmacy. Hormones that come from conventional pharmacy will contain more inactive ingredients, such as fillers and dyes. A lot of patients react to these inactive ingredients. It’s always best to discuss the different preparations with your doctor in order to determine what is best for you.
Different Forms and Applications
Conventional preparations includes patches, gels, vaginal rings, creams and pills. Compounded preparations includes creams, pellets, suppositories and pills. Each preparation will have its pros and cons.
Noticeable Benefits of Hormones:
Want to know what we can do for you?
• Decreased Joint Pain
• Increased energy
• Increased sex drive
• Resolves hot flashes and night sweats
• Improves skin
• Better sleep
• Improved mental clarity and memory
• Improved muscle mass
• Improved mood
• Decreased UTIs
• Improves Incontinence
• Resolves vaginal dryness
• Improved recovery and healing
Other Benefits:
• Improved lipids
• Improved insulin sensitivity
• Improved bone density
Known Risks of Hormones:
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- Estrogen increase the risk of of getting endometrial cancer. This only occurs in a women that have not had a hysterectomy and are not taking progesterone with their estrogen.
- Oral estrogen increase the risk of blood clots and stroke.
- Progestins (non bio-identical progesterone) increases the risk of getting breast cancer.
The increased risk of heart attack and stroke significantly decreases with trans-dermal preparations (creams, patches, gels and pellets). This is why I never prescribe oral estrogen/testosterone. I only use trans-dermal preparations in my clinic.
How long can I be on Hormones?
There is a debate among the medical community about which preparation is safest to use and the length of time to use them. It’s always best to discuss your risks and benefits with a doctor that is knowledgeable in this area.
More research is needed, but the studies that have been published demonstrate that hormone can be used and prescribed safely.
Remember your doctor should always run labs, while also reviewing your personal and family health history.
Hormones that are prescribed should be different for each person as you are not one-size fits all.