There are many benefits to bioidentical hormone replacement and balancing your body’s hormones in a natural way. First and foremost, it is of the utmost importance that you work with an experienced physician who has trained in this area extensively and has a firm understanding of how the hormones work and interplay. Much of the controversy surrounding hormone replacement, in general, is due to misinterpretation of news headlines regarding studies as well as not using the hormones in their natural way or at the correct dosage.
Benefits of Bioidentical Hormones
- They are NATURAL. Unlike synthetic hormones that are used commonly in traditional practices, Bioidentical hormones are made from natural ingredients and more closely mimic your body’s own hormones. Bioidentical Hormones are derived from plant sources and are modified to EXACTLY replicate the structure of human hormones. Synthetic hormones are made from horse hormones. They are NOT Bioidentical to humans. Because of this, they can create some “Intermediate Products” through their metabolism in the body that can be dangerous. This does not happen with Bioidenticals.
- The Key analogy: Like a key, Synthetic hormones can fit in a hormone receptor (the lock), like the Natural Hormones. However, they may not be able to turn the key. Or, the key may turn, but may not be able to be turned “off”.
- They are INDIVIDUALIZED. Once Dr. Ohms reviews your labs and levels of hormones in your body, she can determine the best formulation of BHRT for YOU. This is done through a compounding pharmacy, that can tailor the ingredients to match your specific hormone needs.
- They are SAFE. As previously mentioned, when you use natural hormones, they most closely mimic your own hormones. If they are balanced correctly, this means that they act in a way that enhances your health, rather than causing harm. While it is important to emphasize that no drug can be deemed 100% safe, there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that supports the claim that BHRT is safer and more effective than synthetic hormone replacement.
- They can IMPROVE QUALITY of LIFE. Natural hormones can be used for a variety of symptoms and imbalances:
- Perimenopausal/Menopausal Symptoms
- Andropause/Male Testosterone Deficiency Symptoms
- Thyroid Disorders
- Chronic Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Weight Gain
- Immune Dysfunction
- Aging
- Mental Decline
- Many, Many More!
- TREATMENT is EASY. Once a regimen is determined, Dr. Ohms will use a tailored approach to treat the hormone imbalances that are present. This is a gradual process that may take several weeks to see the full improvements, but usually by the first month and sometimes even before that, patients notice a difference in their symptoms and level of vitality. Once the hormones are balanced, maintaining that balance requires less labwork and less collaboration with the Doctor. Depending on what the imbalance is, sometimes treatments are only needed for a short period of time. You will likely be the best judge of this, based on your symptoms.
- THEY ARE EFFECTIVE!. Once a patient’s hormones are back in balance, the symptoms typically improve. The following are just a few of the primary benefits that can be derived, depending on what the initial imbalance was.
- More Energy and Vitality
- Diminished Night Sweats and Hot Flashes
- Improved libido and sexual arousal
- Improved erections and sexual performance
- Slowing aging process
- Improved skin and hair
- Increased mental acuity
- Less anxiety, irritability and mood swings
- Better sleep
- Decreased Fat and Weight Loss, especially abdominal fat
- EVEN MORE BENEFITS. As more and more research is being done in this area, we are finding more possible benefits for Natural Hormone Therapy. They are:
- Decreased risk of Diseases in general
- Decreased risk of Osteoporosis
- Decreased risk of Heart Disease
- Decreased “bad” cholesterol and improved “good” cholesterol
(*Derived from information on the bioidentical therapy.org website)
The Process
The good news is hormone imbalance is correctable. In order to fully evaluate and treat you, Dr. Ohms will ask you to complete some paperwork describing your symptoms, your health history and your family history. She will also have your hormones tested. These tests can be done using blood, saliva and/or urine. These tests are very important to determine existing hormone levels, as well as assess for your risk of other health issues. Then she will set up a consultation to discuss the findings from the lab testing, as well as your goals and expectations for treatment. Hormone balancing should be a “big picture” process. The goal is to positively influence every portion of your well-being and improve your overall vitality. Therefore information on improving your health, setting up a plan for lifestyle modifications (including fitness and nutrition and stress reduction) will all be discussed.