Menopause and Bioidentical Hormones
Can menopause symptoms be safely comforted with
bioidentical hormones?Recent research suggests
that menopause can be treated with bioidentical
hormones, a natural replacement for a woman's
body, with no reported side effects.In the past,
menopause has been treated like a disease - primarily
with Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT (including
Premarin, which is made from pregnant mare's urine,
Prempro and Provera), which meant ingesting synthetic
chemicals on a regular basis.
Now we know that
these drugs are causing the very problems we're
trying to avoid including breast cancer and heart
attacks.Bioidentical means the hormone molecule
in the product, for example progesterone cream,
acts exactly like the molecules produced by the
female body. They function in your body in a natural
and normal way unlike synthetic chemicals.
A "natural hormone" is really a compound synthesized
in the lab from a natural source (such as soybeans
used for estrogens and testosterone; or wild Mexican
yam in the case of progesterone and sometimes
testosterone).Synthetic hormones are typically
only available in oral form, but bioidentical
hormones come in a variety of delivery systems
such as oral, transdermal patch, cream, lotion
or sublingual drops.
Bioidentical hormones recently
caught mainstream attention in part because of
Suzanne Somer's new book, The Sexy YearsTypically
a successful approach to dealing with a woman's
menopausal symptoms is to begin with laboratory
tests of hormone levels called a "hormone panel."
The doctor can then prescribe a precise dosage
of bioidentical estrogens, testosterone or DHEA
that can be made for you at a Compounding Pharmacy
This is contrary to HRT treatments that are typically
"one size fits all.
"Most doctors prescribing bioidentical hormones
find that a large percentage of women find some
relief by using medical-grade supplements, over-the-counter
bioidentical progesterone, and dietary and lifestyle
changes (including the proper nutrition and exercise).
And, for the percentage of women who need a little
more help, most doctors don't support the idea
that bioidentical hormones should be used indefinitely
as some kind of fountain of youth.
Is it right
for you to treat your menopause with bioidentical
hormones? First you need to Consult with a Doctor
to get the right answer for you. Once you know
what you need, your doctor and you can work out
the best alternative for your body.Anti-Aging
Directory, Answers All Your Questions About Bioidentical
Hormones and NutritionThe information in this
article is for educational purposes only, and
is not intended as medical advice.
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