Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a term used to indicate the procedure of substituting hormones that the body fails to produce adequately. This particular term usually involves estradiol, estrone and estriol, which are common estrogen hormones in the human body.

Facts

• BHRT is used as a method to alleviate deficiencies in hormones such as during menopause and andropause. What makes it natural is that only molecules that are the same to the female and male hormones are administered. It is unlike traditional hormone replacement therapy, where artificial molecules and those that are derived from animals are used. Proponents of natural hormone therapy point out the differences between natural and non-natural hormones. According to them, the use of natural hormones not only relieves the symptoms of hormone deficiencies but also improves overall health.
• Bio-identical hormones are chemically identical to the hormones produced within the body. Thus, they operate in the same way like as if they were produced by the body itself. Most synthetic hormones are produced from a chemical called diogensin, which is derived from plants. The exception to this is premarin, which comes from the urine of pregnant horses and contains both horse and human estrogen.
• Compounded hormones are products that are specially formulated by a pharmacist for the patient. These are done with the prescription of the doctor in accordance to the identified needs. The dosage of compounded hormones can then be adjusted to adapt to the results of blood tests conducted after treatment. In other words, a drug is essentially reformulated. For example, a progesterone product may be found to contain peanut oil. If it is to be compounded, then the peanut oil is removed to cater to the needs of a patient who is allergic to peanuts.
• BHRT is used to counteract the reduction in estradiol in a woman’s body. This particular condition can result in symptoms that include hot flashes, poor memory and insomnia. It can even have mental effects in a woman such as through depression. In more extreme cases, the loss of estradiol in the body has been linked to osteoporosis, dementia and atherosclerosis. Natural hormone replacement therapy aims to relieve, slow down, and even partially reduce the effects of these conditions.
• BHRT is often administered to the body topically, or through the skin, using creams and solutions. This is seen by most experts as an advantage because it does not give the liver additional stress and thus reduces the risk of liver disease. The dosage given to the patient is based on the assessment of the doctor. Once the treatment has begun, the dosage can be adjusted according to the response of the patient’s body to the hormones. Tracking can also be done through a urinalysis.