Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Q & A
What are bioidentical hormones?
Bioidentical hormones help restore the hormones your body no longer makes (or makes very little of) after menopause. Because they’re made from plant-based materials, bioidentical hormones are considered more natural alternatives than synthetic hormones.
Bioidentical hormones contain all of the same properties as the hormones your body used to produce before menopause. By restoring your hormones levels, bioidentical hormones help to relieve perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms.
What is bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)?
BHRT helps to relieve the symptoms of perimenopause (which are the months and years prior to menopause) as well as menopause. The therapy generally involves taking bioidentical estrogen and bioidentical progestin. Taking the two hormones together is sometimes referred to as combined hormone therapy.
If you no longer have your uterus, your Prescott Women’s Clinic practitioner recommends taking estrogen alone. If you do have a uterus, taking progestin helps lower your chances of getting uterine cancer, which is a risk when you take estrogen by itself.
What are the benefits of BHRT?
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may relieve uncomfortable menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Estrogen replacement also protects against bone loss, which dramatically increases after menopause, to help prevent you from developing osteoporosis. Combined estrogen and progestin therapy may lower your risk of colon cancer.
What are the risks of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?
Your Prescott Women’s Clinic practitioner discusses potential risks with you, such as an increased risk of certain types of cancer, heart attack, and other medical conditions. Together, you weigh the pros and cons to decide on a course of treatment that’s best for you.
How is BHRT administered?
Your provider most likely will recommend pellet therapy because this form of hormone therapy carries less risk than oral treatments.
If you opt for this method, your practitioner inserts a grain-sized pellet under your skin during a quick outpatient procedure. The pellet slowly releases a constant level of hormones into your body. You don’t have to worry about remembering to take pills or use creams with this form of treatment.
If you’ve been suffering from menopausal symptoms and are searching for a natural option to balance your hormone levels, Prescott Women’s Clinic has helped countless women like you with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. To find out more, call the office today or book an appointment online.
