Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy which is also referred to as natural hormone therapy is hormones that are identical on a molecular level to endogenous hormones that can be used for hormone replacement therapy.
It is a very well-known fact that hormones are an important part of our body’s messenger system and play a key role to control one’s mood, growth, and even body hair.
Manmade hormones are referred to as bio-identical hormones and it is designed in such a way that the body uses them as a hormone secreted by the body itself. Bioidentical hormones can be of great use to people whose body does not produce or make hormone naturally. In BioTE hormone replacement therapy, pellets comprising minute cylindrical-shaped supplements are inserted into the skin. These pellets are intended to deliver the precise amounts of hormones from time to time in order to keep the body in an optimum condition to function properly for a longer time.
Endocrine glands are the ones that secrete or produce hormones in the body and act as messengers for different body parts to act accordingly.
Plants play an important role in Bioidentical hormone therapy as the hormones that are processed and used in Bioidentical hormone therapy come from the plants. There are basically three hormones that are mostly used as bioidentical hormones and they are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy:
Hormone replacement therapy is a form of medication that contains female hormones. This form of medication is prescribed in females i.e., Hormone replacement therapy for women to replace estrogen that the female body stops making during menopause condition. This therapy is mostly administered to treat common menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and vaginal discomfort. This therapy is also found to be beneficial in preventing bone loss and reducing fractures in postmenopausal women.
Types of Hormone Therapy:
There are basically two types of hormone therapy. They are Systemic hormone therapy and low-dose vaginal products.
- Systemic hormone therapy uses a pill, skin patch, ring, gel, cream, or spray form, which typically contains a higher dose of estrogen and is absorbed in the body.
- Low-dose vaginal products are preparations of estrogen and come in the form of cream, tablet, or ring with a minimal amount of estrogen absorbed in the body.
Hormone Replacement Therapy for menopause:
Menopause is a condition in which there is a marked decrease in ovarian estrogen production which results in low serum estradiol concentrations and vasomotor symptoms i.e., hot flashes in the majority of women. The majority of women have their final menstrual period between the age of 45 to 55 years. Hormone replacement therapy in menopause relieves women from hot flashes, night sweats, better sleep, eases vaginal dryness, and makes sex less painful.
The risk with Hormone Replacement Therapy:
Everything comes with its risk and cons. These therapies consist of estrogen-progestin pill that increases the risk of certain serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, blood clots, breast cancer, etc.
With reference to study and research work being carried out throughout the world, it is observed that the risks associated with Hormone replacement therapy vary depending upon age, type of hormone therapy used, one’s health history, etc.
So, it is always advisable to think about and plan the risk associated before proceeding with the said hormone therapy.
One can also reduce the risk associated with Hormone replacement therapy by finding the best product, regular follow-up for care, minimizing the medication dose as per requirement, making necessary lifestyle changes and choices, etc. To sumup, Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be a good or bad treatment methodology depending upon the condition of the patient and the risk associated. If the risk associated can be outweighed by major improvement in the patient, then it is deemed to be the best fit treatment and if the risk associated cannot be outweighed by no major improvement in the patient, then it is deemed to be the worst fit treatment.
