Bioidentical Hormone
Replacement Therapy
What is Bio-identical
Hormone Replacement
Therapy (BHRT)
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is the practice of prescribing hormones in the exact same structure (“bioidentical”) that your body made when your hormone levels were optimal. The goal is to optimize your hormone levels to those seen in healthy individuals, improve quality of life, and prevent diseases associated with decreased levels of these hormones. The goal is to NOT ignore your symptoms despite you having “normal” lab levels.
Hormones control many of the basic functions of our bodies. They are an internal communication network between the body’s cells. Every cell in our body depends on hormonal stimulation for optimal cell repair and reproduction. Some of the roles that hormones coordinate include digestion, mood, appetite, immune function, and libido. When our hormone levels are too low, cell repair and reproduction is very compromised– as in normal aging. Replacing the needed bioidentical hormones enhances cellular repair and reproduction without risks, making each gland in your body function optimally. Thus, when there is an imbalance in your hormones, it can affect health and entire well-being.
BHRT does NOT use
Synthetic Hormones.
This is very important to understand. Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy has specific associated risks, such as increased chance of stroke/heart attack and increased risk of cancers. None of these risks are associated with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
Why Do People Use BHRT?
As we age, our bodies experience a decline in the levels of various hormones. Hormone imbalance can happen to anybody but is much more common as you increase in age. If you have the following signs or symptoms, hormone imbalance might be the culprit:
- Weight gain
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Hair thinning
- Weakness
- Lower muscle mass
- Depression
- Low libido
- Anxiety
- Erectile dysfunction in men
- Pain
- Vaginal dryness in women
- Poor Memory
- Hot flashes in men and women
- Mood fluctuations
Bioidentical hormones are available
in the following forms:
Discuss with the doctor on what form can suit you and your lifestyle. Once you start bioidentical hormone replacement, the doctor may need to track you often to see how your body responds
Patches
Creams
Pills
Injections
Gels
Pellet Insertion
What are the Benefits
of Bioidentical Hormone
Replacement Therapy?
Optimizing your hormones can improve your overall sense of well-being, energy levels, muscle tone, decrease body fat, improve sexual function and sleep. Hormone optimizing hormones can also help to prevent diseases such as:
- Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease
- Cancer (specifically breast, uterine and prostate)
- Osteoporosis
- Heart Disease
The main goal of BHRT is to increase quality of life. That is as well our mission of practicing Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Phoenix, AZ. Our BHRT patients remark that bioidentical hormones have made a profound impact on their mental and physical well-being.
What are the Risks of
Doing BHRT?
There has been bad publicity with hormones in the past that should not be applied to BHRT. Research using synthetic hormones, such as the Woman’s Health Initiative, Million Woman Study, and many more have shown synthetic hormones can promote cancer and diseases. As mentioned earlier, BHRT does NOT use synthetic hormones. BHRT is safe when used appropriately. Your doctor will discuss with you the risks based on your personalized conditions. Please talk to your BHRT specialist if you have:
- A history of breast cancer
- Hypertriglyceridemia
- A history of endometrial cancer
- Thromboembolic disorders
- A history of smoking/or
currently are smoking cigarettes - Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- A long history of birth control
- Endometriosis
- Porphyria
- Fibroids
- Severe active liver disease
How Do I Get
Started With BHRT?
If you’ve had your hormone levels checked previously please send us your results, or bring them into your first BHRT appointment. New labs may be needed before starting BHRT. Our doctor(s) will have your blood drawn in our Healthcare Institute in Phoenix or send you to a lab (Sonora Quest). We will discuss what the best form and dosages are to start with based on your labs and personal history. We then determine a personalized BHRT plan and, once your hormone levels are optimal, bloodwork is repeated in 6 months and then annually after that.
The main goal of BHRT is to increase the quality of life. That is as well our mission of practicing Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Phoenix, AZ. Our BHRT patients remark that bioidentical hormones have made a profound impact on their mental and physical well-being.
