Hair loss is a known side effect of menopause, and many women find it to be one of the most frustrating and annoying. Women grow used to having thick hair, and when it begins thinning or falling out altogether it can be tough to cope with. Many women search high and low for products and treatments that will keep their hair loss to a minimum. One treatment menopausal women turn to is bioidentical hormone therapy. But what is bioidentical hormone therapy, and how does it help fight hair loss? Continue reading to find out what bioidentical hormones could do for you, how they combat hair loss and most importantly, whether they are safe.
What Is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?
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. The specific hormones that are used in bioidentical hormone therapy vary, but can include estrone, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and estriol.
BHRT is almost solely practiced 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 and Hair Loss
Some researchers believe that bioidentical hormones do fight the symptoms of menopause, hair loss included. Bioidentical hormones have the exact molecular structure of the hormones that a woman's body produces naturally. In other words, these hormones are no different from the hormones that women's bodies produce from about age 12 through 51. Bioidentical hormones are just as effective in eliminating symptoms of menopause as synthetic hormones at balancing the fluctuating hormones that cause hair loss and other menopausal symptoms.
Are Bioidentical Hormones Safe?
Many doctors and researchers agree that bioidentical hormones, when used in smaller doses, carry little substantial risk. The risks also depend on how, and with what, the hormones are made. But some of the side effects of bioidentical hormone therapy include increased risks of cancer, stroke, and heart attack. If you are considering using bioidentical hormone therapy as a treatment for your menopause symptoms, such as hair loss, you must first consult with your doctor to establish if it is the right move for you.
Want to learn more? Click on the following link about other alternatives to bioidentical hormones.