Hormone FAQ’s
Bioidentical Hormone
Replacement Therapy

The FDA approves of bioidentical and synthetic hormones and both have been available at all standard pharmacies for decades.

Bioidentical or “natural,” hormones have the same chemical structure as hormones the body naturally produces. They aid in creating harmony and restoring balance throughout the body. In addition, they reduce the harmful side effects of synthetic hormone therapy because bioidentical hormones fit the body’s receptor sites perfectly.

Explaining Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy:
A Natural Method to Balance your Hormones

Watch the video here on Youtube

The FDA approves of bioidentical and synthetic hormones and both have been available at all standard pharmacies for decades.

Synthetics, like Provera, Premarin and all oral contraceptives, resemble natural hormones but do not fit the receptors in the body exactly. This causes synthetic hormones to alleviate only specific symptoms. In addition, they do not have the exact same reaction in every circumstance which results in inadvertent consequences. These unintentional reactions come in the form of side effects such as an increase in the risk of blood clots and breast cancer.

Bioidentical hormones do not impose the risky side effects of synthetics because they have the exact same chemical structure as hormones the body naturally produces. These hormones fit the receptor sites perfectly and are indistinguishable from the body’s natural hormones. Bioidentical hormones do not have adverse effects because they behave in the same way as natural hormones throughout the entire body.

Bioidentical hormones have exactly the same chemical structure as the body’s natural hormones. They react with all of the tissues in the body which eliminates negative side effects in almost all cases. People who are ineligible for synthetic hormone replacement therapy because of health risks, can receive BHRT. In fact, BHRT typically reduces the risk of health conditions.

Patients who could benefit from hormone replacement therapy cannot receive treatment through synthetics if they have, or are at risk for, certain conditions. These health conditions include breast cancer, endometrial cancer, blood clots and Factor V Leiden. In fact, the high level of risk for these conditions is often a side effect of synthetic hormone therapy because synthetics do not function exactly like the body’s natural hormones.

Virtually any health concern which results from the aging process improves through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Hormones are chemical messengers sent out by the brain. They tell the entire body how to function. During the aging process, the body’s hormone production declines and this results in negative side effects. These negative side effects include a decrease in libido, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression and anxiety.

Bringing the hormones back into a youthful balance with BHRT improves even non-hormonal conditions. For example, BHRT boosts the immune system so it can fight disease efficiently. It increases the energy production capabilities of individual cells which improves focus, memory and energy levels throughout the body. BHRT also improves circulation and the body’s natural anti-inflammatory efforts, which can improve conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis. BHRT even enhances results from PRP joint pain therapy, medical aesthetics and weight loss.

Hormones can be given in the clinic or at home depending on the needs of each patient. Bioidential hormone administration takes place using the following methods:

• Transdermal creams: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone
• Oral Capsules: DHEA, estradiol, melatonin, pregnenolone, progesterone, thyroid and Vitamin D3
• Subcutaneous injections: HCG and testosterone (self-administered)
• Intramuscular injections: testosterone (self-administered)
• Subcutaneous pellets: testosterone and estrogen

One of the main benefits of using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy instead of synthetics is the mitigation of negative side effects. Patients rarely, if ever, report negative, long-term side effects of BHRT. Occasionally, short-term side effects can occur as the body adjusts to an increase in hormone levels. These short-term side effects can include tender breasts and swollen joints. However, these side effects can decrease by simply adjusting hormone levels.

The body’s inability to produce adequate hormone levels progresses with age and is a permanent condition. However, BHRT reverses negative symptoms of the aging process by treating the root cause, imbalance in hormone levels. Patients will receive relief from their symptoms as long as they continue BHRT. Our medical staff specializes in this treatment and will monitor the body’s hormone levels periodically to make sure the patient’s needs are being met. If an individual chooses to stop the program, the body will return to its previous level of hormone production.

The body naturally produces testosterone in both men and women. In addition, this hormone commonly decreases with age. Women typically need approximately one percent of a man’s testosterone replacement therapy dosage. However, testosterone replacement therapy offers important health benefits in women, especially when practitioners administer estradiol and progesterone at the same time. These health benefits include:

• An increase in libido
• Prevention of osteoporosis (by increasing bone density)
• A decrease in heart disease
• A lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease
• A lower risk of cancer

Testosterone supplementation to the extreme has given testosterone replacement therapy unfavorable press. Virtually all of the problems surrounding testosterone therapy are non-existent for the average individual, especially when using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy at physiological levels. Here are common myths surrounding testosterone replacement therapy:

Myth One: Men need an estrogen blocker when taking testosterone replacement therapy.

Male bodies naturally convert some testosterone into estradiol. At proper levels this is beneficial. In men, estradiol:

• Improves mood
• Improves healing
• Increases fat burning
• Reduces diabetes
• Reduces Alzheimer’s Disease
• Reduces risk of prostate cancer
• Improves sexual response

Estrogen conversion problems only occur when practitioners use synthetic testosterone drugs or excessively large amounts of bioidentical testosterone. This results in high amounts of estrogen which could lead to bloating, water retention and (in rare cases) gynecomastia.

Myth Two: Testosterone replacement therapy increases the risk of prostate cancer.

No medical research shows testosterone replacement therapy increases the risk of prostate cancer. On the contrary, new research shows testosterone therapy actually REDUCES the risk of prostate cancer. In fact, medical trials have shown higher doses of testosterone replacement therapy actually reverses prostate cancer.

Myth Three: All men will go bald with testosterone replacement therapy.

Men’s hair follicles on the top of the head can be genetically sensitive to DHT (the active form of testosterone). These men will experience loss of hair despite testosterone replacement therapy. However, testosterone replacement therapy may accelerate the rate of this hair loss in men who are DHT sensitive. Although it is possible to block the formation of DHT with various drugs, Freedom Healthcare does not suggest this treatment. This blocking treatment negates the short-term (or “feel-good”) and long-term health benefits of testosterone replacement therapy.

There are treatments which can slow down the rate of hair loss such as Rogaine and PRP scalp treatments. PRP scalp treatments are platelets with a high concentration from a patient’s own blood sample which practitioners inject into the scalp. This PRP scalp treatment stimulates rejuvenation of the hair follicles. A permanent solution for male pattern baldness is hair transplant surgery. This surgery distributes hair follicles over the entire scalp which do not contribute to male pattern baldness.