Hormones are chemical messengers that inform different parts of your body to coordinate different functions. They have complete power, from your brain to your digestive tract and sex drive. Your body produces fewer hormones as you get older, and you start to notice symptoms that make you feel less like your younger, more vibrant self. Thankfully, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can help you feel better again.
Hormone Depletion Symptoms
You may feel as if your life has been drained out of you if you have hormone depletion. Low hormone levels related to aging can cause the following symptoms:
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Hair loss and dry skin.
- Insomnia
- Irritability and mood swings
- Anxiety and depression
- Hear palpitations
- Having trouble concentrating
- Night sweats and hot flashes (in women)
- Vaginal dryness (in women)
Understanding Hormone Replacement Therapy
Are you experiencing irritability, poor sleep, increased stress, increased food sensitivities, decreased exercise endurance, or low libido?
As we age, our bodies typically slow or stop the production of certain hormones. A hormone deficiency can be difficult to deal with for both men and women. The symptoms might feel like they’re taking over your life.
For women, estrogen production drops dramatically during menopause. Hot flashes, sweating, mood swings, headaches, low sex drive, and trouble sleeping are all common symptoms for menopausal and postmenopausal women that intrude on their quality of life.
Men, on the other hand, may experience a similar condition known as andropause. This “male menopause” happens from a decrease in testosterone production and can lead to decreased muscle mass, hair loss, a lower sex drive, and depression.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can ease these symptoms and help men and women boost their energy, balance their mood, increase libido, and improve sleep.
HRT involves taking hormones to replace the ones that the body has stopped producing or doesn’t make enough of. For women, this is usually estrogen and progesterone. For men, it’s testosterone. There are several ways to take these hormones — pills, dermal patches or gels, creams, or suppositories.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
In recent years, there has been a growing movement towards bioidentical hormones instead of synthetic hormones. Bioidentical hormones are defined as “compounds that have exactly the same chemical and molecular structure as hormones that are produced in the human body”. The attention surrounding BHRT has definitely grown since it promises a more natural solution to hormone issues.
BHRT can be used by both men and women to control drops in hormone levels or imbalances. It’s often used to ease symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. It may also be used to improve cancer treatment symptoms or to treat the following conditions:
- Insulin resistance
- Adrenal and thyroid disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Fibromyalgia
Is BHRT Safe To Use?
Perhaps you’ve heard that using standard hormone therapy for a long time can increase your risk of breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, and heart disease. BHRT is a non-synthetic hormone alternative that was created in response to such safety concerns.
While bioidentical hormones are created in a laboratory, they have the same chemical structure as the hormones produced naturally by the human body. The synthetic lab-made hormones work by attaching to estrogen receptors and increasing their sensitivity. Consequently, your body cannot distinguish between natural sources of hormones and bioidentical hormones.
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Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Has Many Benefits
Hormone replacement is suitable for both men and women, despite the popular belief that it is solely for women going through menopause. After all, both men and women experience hormone-related aging symptoms, which can be physical, mental, or emotional.
Patients who receive personalized BHRT frequently experience an improvement in their quality of life. The following are some of the advantages of BHRT:
- Higher libido.
- Improved mental clarity.
- Less anxiety and depression.
- Increased feelings of happiness.
- Improved fat-burning and muscle-building abilities.
- Hair growth is thicker.
- Skin that is healthier.
- Less bloating.
- More energy during the day.
- Ability to have a better night’s sleep.
- Fewer hot flashes and night sweats.
Benefits of BHRT Pellets
Creams, gels, patches, pills, injections and implanted pellets are all options for BHRT delivery. Compared to these other possibilities, the pellet form has distinct advantages. This small implant is the size of a rice grain and it continuously delivers a consistent and personalized dose of hormones to address your symptoms. This eliminates the highs and lows caused by other hormone administration systems. It’s also useful because it provides long-lasting results with no effort.
BHRT has significantly revolutionized healthcare. Pharmacists often prefer using the pellet to administer a specially made, long-release dose of medication for your specific needs. It’s a more modern and more successful version of an older hormone replacement therapy.
Who Isn’t a Good Candidate for Hormone Replacement Therapy?
BHRT isn’t appropriate for everyone. Your doctor will examine your medical history to see whether hormone replacement therapy raises your risk of developing health problems. If any of the following criteria apply to you, HRT may not be suitable.
- Having had uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer in the past (in women).
- Prostate cancer in the past (in men).
- A history of blood clots.
- Uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure).
- Liver disease.
Hormone replacement therapy isn’t the same for everyone. The most popular synthetic hormone is created from progestin, a synthetic version of progesterone.
Bioidentical hormones, on the other hand, are molecules that have the same biological structure as hormones the body produces. They can be made from natural materials and synthesized in a laboratory. The final molecule is biologically similar to your body’s natural hormones.
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Hormone Replacement Has Many Advantages
Women and men can expect the following benefits from a custom BHRT dosage:
- Improved sex drive
- Increased energy
- A better fat-to-muscle ratio
- Better sleep
- Boosted mental clarity
- Improved mood and overall well-being
- A reduction of night sweats and hot flashes.
What Are The Side Effects Of Hormone Replacement Therapy?
HRT comes with side effects. Call your doctor if you have any of these:
- Bloating
- Breast swelling or tenderness
- Headaches
- Mood changes
- Nausea
- Vaginal bleeding
Bottom Line
To determine if hormone replacement therapy is a good treatment option for you, talk to your doctor about your individual symptoms and health risks. Be sure to keep the conversation going throughout your menopausal years (in women).
As researchers learn more about hormone replacement therapy, recommendations may change. If you do decide to take HRT, it should be the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time needed. You should check if you still need to take HRT every 3–6 months. If you continue to have bothersome symptoms, review treatment options with your doctor on a regular basis.
At King’s Pharmacy and Compounding Center, we have a combined 30+ years of pharmaceutical experience and have received one of the most regarded accreditations through NABP®. We use our years of expertise in the field to create quality custom-made medications that cater to each individual patient’s needs.
