There are a number of different types of hormone treatments available, and one of them is bioidentical hormone treatments. To find out what they are, how they work and who would receive these treatments, continue reading!
Bioidentical Hormones: What Are They?
Bioidentical hormones are hormones that are made from plants, specifically from the estrogens that are found in plants. These bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones that are found in our bodies, but they are manmade. The sex hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can all be made using plant estrogens.
Who Would Use Bioidentical Hormone Treatments?
Bioidentical hormone treatments can be used by people who are suffering from a lack of particular hormones in their body, or whose hormones are unbalanced. Bioidentical hormones are commonly used to treat the symptoms of menopause, and can also be used to treat conditions such as insulin resistance, adrenal or thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia and osteoporosis. Bioidentical hormones are also thought to be beneficial for treating diabetes, tooth loss and cataracts, while also improving the skin by reducing wrinkles and boosting elasticity and thickness.
Bioidentical Hormones for Treating the Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Some of the treatments of breast cancer can affect the levels of certain hormones in our body, including estrogen. As a result, people with breast cancer who have received these treatments may suffer from declining estrogen levels. Bioidentical hormones can be used to replace the lost hormones and research has shown that symptoms such as low libido, insomnia and migraines have been reduced due to the use of bioidentical hormones. This can provide breast cancer patients with a better quality of life, and it has been shown that using bioidentical hormones does not increase the risk of recurrence of breast cancer.
Bioidentical Hormones for Menopause Symptoms
When women go through menopause, their hormones change and the levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone all decline. Therefore, bioidentical hormones can be used to replace these hormones. By using bioidentical hormones, some of the symptoms associated with menopause can be alleviated, such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, memory loss, weight gain, issues with sleep and pain during sex.
Bioidentical Hormone Treatment VS Hormone Replacement Therapy
The hormones that are used for bioidentical hormone treatment are made from plants and are chemically identical to the hormones that we have in our bodies. This is different from those used in traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as these hormones are made from urine from a pregnant horse and other hormones that are synthetic. Although the hormones used in the two treatments are different, there is little evidence to suggest that one is better than the other.
Bioidentical Hormones: How Do I Take Them?
Bioidentical hormones come in a variety of forms and can be taken in multiple ways. You should talk to your doctor about the different options that are available if you think that you would benefit from this treatment. Bioidentical hormones can come in the form of creams, patches, injections, gels and implanted pellets.
