Are you suffering from menopause symptoms? Looking for some way to get your old self back? Worried you are going to be stuck with hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats forever? Sometimes it can feel like you can't see the light at the end of this menopausal tunnel. But rest assured: there will be a treatment out there for you. One treatment that has helped many women kick their menopausal blues is bioidentical hormones. Keep reading to find out more about this therapy.
What Are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a term used to describe the use of hormones that, on a molecular level, are identical to endogenous hormones, or hormones that are produced naturally in the body. The specific hormones that are used in bioidentical hormone therapy vary, but can include estrone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and estriol.
BHRT is popular in the U.S., and is considered a form of alternative medicine. Not only are bioidentical hormones promoted to fight menopausal symptoms, but also as a treatment that can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Bioidentical hormones are not approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but this doesn't necessarily mean they are unsafe. The reason they are not approved is because they can be taken in so many forms and combinations, which means they are extremely difficult to regulate. BHRT carries many of the same risks as regular hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but may also carry more risks if the treatment is combined in a compounding pharmacy, as the safety of the final product cannot be guaranteed.
How Bioidentical Hormones Can Help
Some researchers believe that bioidentical hormones do fight the symptoms of menopause, including mood swings, vaginal dryness, and hair loss. Bioidentical hormones have the exact molecular structure of the hormones that a woman's body produces naturally, and can help balance the fluctuating hormones that are at the root of menopause and its symptoms.
However, because bioidentical hormones also work to prolong higher levels of estrogen in the body, some researchers believe it can have similar risks and side effects to synthetic hormone replacement therapy. If you do decide to use bioidentical hormones, it is important to remember that these hormones must be taken under the supervision of your doctor to ensure you are taking the correct amount and the proper mixture of hormones.
There are other measures you can take to prevent or eradicate menopause symptoms. It is advised to begin with the least invasive, for example lifestyle changes and natural supplements, before resorting to stronger medication such as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
If you are curious about what bioidentical hormones could do for you, be sure to talk to your doctor and get the facts. And if you want to learn more, click on the following link and find out more about alternatives towards bioidentical hormones.
