Bioidentical hormones are an increasingly popular treatment for menopause. They are hormones that are manufactured in a laboratory from plant extracts and are designed to have an identical molecular make-up to the hormones produced in the human body.
They are usually made from yam or soy extracts, and they mimic the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone because they are used to treat hormone imbalances. Read on to learn about the use of bioidentical hormones as a treatment for menopause.
Bioidentical Hormones and Menopause
Menopause is the moment of transition experienced by a woman during her 40s or 50s, when her body stops menstruation, and goes from being fertile to infertile. The changes in the body that occur during menopause, including the cessation of the menstrual cycle, are instigated by hormones. During this time, the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone enter a state of flux, as they bring about these bodily changes.
The fluctuations of hormones in the body can have unpleasant symptoms and side effects. Symptoms of hormonal fluctuations during menopause include: hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido, and mood swings.
Bioidentical hormones are a popular treatment for menopause, since they address the hormone imbalance that causes these unpleasant symptoms. By introducing bioidentical hormones into a woman's body, the hormone fluctuations that take place during menopause are eased, and severe menopause symptoms can be eliminated.
Read on to learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of using bioidentical hormones to treat menopause.
The Advantages of Using Bioidentical Hormones
Bioidentical hormones are a popular way to treat menopause because of the many advantages that they have over other menopausal treatments. Not only can bioidentical hormone replacement therapy tackle menopausal symptoms, but it can also help prevent the following:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Postpartum depression
- Endometriosis
- Infertility
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypoadrenalism
- Osteoporosis
The Disadvantages of Using Bioidentical Hormones
Despite their popularity, there are a number of disadvantages in using bioidentical hormones as a method for treating menopausal hormonal imbalance. The risks and side effects associated with bioidentical hormones include:
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Headaches
- Fibrocystic breasts
- Decreased sex drive
- Increased risk of blood clots
- Increased risk of breast cancer
- Increased risk of gallbladder disease
It is important to be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of different ways of dealing with menopausal hormone imbalance, before embarking on a session of treatment.The popularity of a treatment may be a significant factor in your decision-making process, but it is more important to focus on which kind of treatment works best for you, and your hormonal needs. For more information on the different alternatives to bioidentical hormones, click here.
