Bioidentical Hormone
Replacement Therapy
Bioidentical hormones: are they right for you?
In recent shows, Oprah has brought bioidentical Hormone Therapy onto center stage. Suzanne Somers also created a huge sudden spark of interest in bioidenticals. In her books, Ageless Breakthrough and in media appearances to promote them, Suzanne Somers describes how bioidentical hormones relieved her menopause symptoms. She also makes it clear that she intends to stay on them for the rest of her life.
Just what are “bioidentical hormones
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
Though bioidentical hormones have been around for years, most practitioners are unfamiliar with them. There are several branded versions now available for use in the kind of hormone replacement therapy typical of synthetic hormones. This is often a one-size-fits-all dosage regime.
In our practice, we have had the greatest success with an individualized approach. We begin with laboratory tests of hormone levels (a so-called “hormone panel”). When warranted, we then prescribe a precise dosage of bioidentical estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, and/or DHEA that is prepared at a registered compounding pharmacy. Each patient is then monitored carefully through regular follow-up hormone panels to ensure she gets symptom relief at the lowest possible dosage. In the initial stages, we will do a hormone panel every three months. Once balance is restored, we’ll do one panel a year at the time of the annual exam.
Is Bioidentical Hormone the first step to hormonal balance?
Bioidentical hormones can work wonders, but they aren’t necessarily the first place to turn when hormonal imbalance is a problem. In our experience, the great majority of women can rebalance their hormones without the use of drugs, and even without Hormone replacement therapy in any form. We have found that about 85% can find relief through a natural approach that combines medical-grade nutritional supplements, gentle endocrine support, and dietary and lifestyle changes. We recommend that every woman start with this combination approach as the foundation to her health.
In our Personal Program for Hormonal Imbalance, we’ve developed a three-pronged approach that supports a woman’s hormonal pathways upstream of where problems arise and develop into full-blown symptoms requiring stronger hormonal replacement therapy. (Our dietary guidelines are based on the latest research in clinical nutrition and dietary endocrinology.) Our Essential Nutrients fill in the nutritional gaps so common in our modern diet. And our Herbal Equilibrium offers phytocrine support to rebalance all three of the major sex hormones most prone to disharmony in perimenopause and menopause: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Even with this foundation, a minority of women will need to add prescription-strength hormone supplements to get complete relief, at least through a transition period. We recommend they use bioidentical hormones, preferably in a compounded form personalized to their needs by an experienced practitioner. When a woman can’t find a practitioner to prescribe compounded bHRT, there are now numerous trademarked bHRT options that conventional practitioners can prescribe for her.
Either way, it’s important that the hormones be used in addition to the combination approach outlined above.Note that Suzanne Somers and Oprah are among this minority — they began with a healthy diet and lifestyle that supported the endocrine system, but still experienced intractable symptoms.
We don’t recommend that any hormones be used long-term unless essential for symptom relief, and then only with a complete risk assessment. We also don’t support the idea that bioidentical hormone therapy should be used indefinitely as some kind of fountain of youth.
We long ago concluded that the answer to this question is yes. But that doesn’t mean bioidentical hormones are perfect.
The great appeal of bioidentical hormones is that they are natural, and our bodies can metabolize them as it was designed to do, minimizing side effects. Synthetic hormones are quite strong and often produce intolerable side effects. Moreover, the compounded bioidentical hormones can be matched individually to each woman’s needs — something that’s just impossible with mass-produced products.
Are bioidentical hormones safer than synthetics?
European medical studies suggest that yes, bioidentical hormones are safer than synthetic versions. This makes perfect sense. But we must be cautious here, because they have not been well studied, especially for long-term use. And in any case, we recommend that women never think of any drug as completely safe.
Can bioidentical hormones be used for breast cancer patients?
The pendulum has swung so far that today, very few practitioners will prescribe any type of Hormone replacement Therapy — synthetic or bioidentical — for women who have had breast cancer or even a family history of breast cancer. In fact, many such women are given anti-estrogen drugs.
At Suddenly Slimmer Spa, our goal is to help inform women about their options so that they can make the choice that’s best for them. A woman’s hormonal balance is ideally in a dynamic equilibrium that shifts from day to day, week to week, and through the years. When you give your body the support it needs, it can effectively reset itself, because it’s equipped and programmed for balance and wellness. So we recommend beginning with the gentlest form of support possible to allay your discomfort and tweaking it as you go. We’ll support you in any way we can, each step of the way. The good news is that women can feel incredibly well right through menopause.
The Personal Program we offer promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance. To learn more about the program please book an appointment with one our licensed physician. Call 602-952-8446