A more natural approach to hormone therapy frequently referred to as “natural hormone therapy” has placed attention on bioidentical hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones that the male and female body produce naturally. Although not found in this form in nature, they are derived and made from plant compounds extracted from yams and soy, as opposed to the synthetic forms most patients are offered.
The results our patients receive from Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is very often relief from symptoms of hormone deficiency, such as insomnia, chronic fatigue, mood swings, memory loss, loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, and an overall sense of well-being just to name a few, leading to benefits which include calmer mood, reduced body fat, increased energy levels, increased sex drive, stronger mental clarity, and improved muscle tone and mass, among others.
Blood tests that measure total estradiol or testosterone are utilized to detect both deficiency or excess estrogen or testosterone that the body produces as well as to monitor the effects of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
On the other hand, Premarin (made from horse urine), the old standby estrogen used for decades, is metabolized into various forms of estrogen that can be dangerous and cannot be measured by standard laboratory tests. Proponents of bioidentical hormones say that an advantage to BHRT is more precise monitoring of hormone levels and more precise individualized treatment.
