What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are artificial, man-made hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced by the human body. They are not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Bioidentical hormones are used as treatment for both female and male patients whose own natural hormones are low or out of balance.
Examples of compounded hormones include estriol, estradiol, Bi-Est (estrogen preparation based, most often, on a ratio of 20% estradiol and 80% estriol on a milligram-per-gram basis), progesterone, pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and testosterone. Compounded bioidentical hormones are available in various routes of administration, including transdermal, oral, sublingual, suppositories, injectables, or as implants (“pellets”). Compounded preparations are custom-made for a patient by a compounding pharmacist according to a health care provider’s specifications.
Developing a Treatment Plan
Before I prescribe any hormone replacement therapy, I start by measuring a baseline of the hormone levels in blood or saliva and urine. I will also ask about your medical and family history concerning any hormone related cancers. For women I require a most recent PAP smear, breast imaging report (mammogram or thermography results), and, in some cases, pelvic/vaginal ultrasound.
Once the therapy begins, it takes up to three months for the cells to develop receptor sites. Hormone testing is repeated at three months, six months, and then annually. Depending on the route of hormone administration, blood, saliva, or urine will be tested.
In women, most common effects of low hormone levels are: fatigue, lack of energy, sleep disturbance, weight gain, loss of muscle mass, lack of sexual drive, vaginal dryness, pain during sex, hot flashes, night sweats, “foggy” thinking, memory loss, mood swings, and anxiety or depression.
In men, low testosterone is most commonly associated with: reduced sex drive, erectile dysfunction, symptoms of depression, feeling tired, loss of lean muscle mass, loss of body hair, and increased body fat. Each patient experiences those changes to varying degrees.