Bioidentical hormones are not the same as synthetic hormones. Extensive research supports that not all hormones are alike, and bioidentical hormones are different and better for individuals.

 

Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones already in the body. They are derived from a natural plant source and professionally compounded to be biologically identical to human hormones. These human-identical hormones are the preferred method of hormone therapy in Japan, France and other countries. They not only help individuals feel better, but optimizing them can help prevent disease and improve one’s health. By replacing what is already produced, they avoid many of the unpleasant and dangerous side effects of synthetic hormones.

Synthetic hormones, such as Premarin, Prempro and others, were very popular until 2002 when the Women’s Health Initiative was stopped early after showing increased risk of strokes, breast cancer, heart attacks, clots and more. This study changed how doctors and patients viewed all hormones. A recent shift back the other way has many doctors again prescribing short term hormonal therapy, but they overlook the important long-term benefit of hormone replacement therapy. These long-term benefits include decreasing the risk for heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Pellet therapy for replacement of testosterone and estrogen has been around for more than 75 years but most people are unaware of this method. This proven method provides much more consistent blood levels and better benefits than creams or pills. This office procedure is straightforward and virtually painless. A brief sting while the skin is numbed makes placement of the pellets into the upper buttock fat painless. It only takes about 10 minutes and pellets provide a steady release of hormones, unlike the daily up and down fluctuation of creams and pills. Female patients receive placements every three to four months, and every five to six for males.

Many pharmacies compound pellets; find one that compounds with tight tolerances for potency and uses pellets that are sterile. Some produce pellets with only 3 percent variation in potency; this is the best and most consistent. Also, avoid added fillers; the pellet should only contain the hormone itself and the pellet.

The goals of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy should be to restore and optimize natural hormone balance. Testosterone can help with stabilizing moods, improve mental clarity and “brain fog”, joint pain, problems sleeping, libido, night sweats and weight gain. Estrogen replacement helps with hot flashes, vaginal wall thinning and pain during intercourse and aging-related skin changes. The combination of optimized hormones can decrease fatigue, depression, irritability, muscle aches and joint pain.

Thyroid hormones also can be optimized. Often a physician not trained in hormones will tell a patient that they are fine based on a normal TSH level. A thorough thyroid evaluation is more complex than that. Often adjusting thyroid levels to bring them toward the upper range of normal will make a person feel much better, gain more energy, restore the ability to exercise, function better and have more zest for life. Bioidentical hormone replacement by pellet therapy has been used with great success since 1938. Find a practitioner willing to share the science, feel better and be healthier.

For more information about Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, contact Dr. Gert Walter, M.D. FACEP, at Medical Aesthetics of New England, PC. Visit MedicalAestheticsNE.com.