Written by Robert Rand, MD |
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (B-HRT) is a “new hot subject” thanks to coverage by Oprah Winfrey and Suzanne Somers. There is a lot of excitement and controversy about this subject.
B-HRT is exactly what it sounds like. Bio-Identical hormones are hormones identical to those the body produces on its own, unlike the synthetic hormones developed by pharmaceutical companies. The main reason for this difference between B-HRT and pharmaceutically developed hormones is very simple. It is impossible to get a patent on a hormone exactly identical to what the body makes. If the pharmaceutical companies cannot get a patent there is no real reason for them to produce these hormones. As a matter of fact this is why these companies are fighting against these hormones being more readily available!
The hormones identical to what your body produces can easily be made in a local compounding pharmacy. They have less deleterious effects, are in many ways safer, more effective, and easier to use than the pharmaceutical alternatives, which have been chemically altered and may not even be recognized by the body in the way that they should be; hence some of the dangerous side effects.
B-HRT has been around for years but most practitioners of medicine have not yet adopted them into their practice of medicine. Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are used in “aging” patients for any number of medical conditions. These hormones are administered in such a way as to return the patient’s levels to normal “physiologic” levels. In other words these hormone levels often drop as we age and we simply endeavor to maintain a level of hormones considered to be “healthy” in a younger population.
Another advantage of the bio-identical hormones is that we can test the levels and monitor them to ensure optimal hormone levels for health. For women any number of hormonal, menopausal symptoms and syndromes can be safely treated. For men, there are numerous advantages to incorporating B-HRT into a health regimen. Many studies suggest that the bio-identical hormones are much safer in most cases than the synthetic alternatives, and offer a much better therapeutic solution.
All medications have risks as well as benefits, and it is advisable to discuss the option of B-HRT with your physician or find a physician who is comfortable with this type of treatment.
References:
1. Nieschlag E. Testosterone treatment comes of age: new options for hypogonadal men. Clin Endocrinol.(Oxf). 2006 Sep;65(3):275-81.
2. L’Hermite et al, “Could transdermal estradiol+progesterone be a safer postmenopausal HRT? A review,” Maturitas 2008 Vol 60, Issue 3, Pages 185-201.
3. Fournier et al, “Breast cancer risk in relation to different types of hormone replacement therapy in the E3N-EPIC cohort,” Int J Cancer 2005 Apr 10;114(3):448-54.
4. Eskelinen SI, Vahlberg TJ, Isoaho RE, Kivela SL, Irjala KM. Associations of sex hormone concentrations with health and life satisfaction in elderly men. Endocr Pract. 2007 Nov;13
For more info, contact Dr. Robert Rand, Board Certified Family Medicine, Medical Acupuncturist at (775) 826-7263.
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