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You have no doubt heard about it. It's on many of the talk shows and in many
of the newspapers and magazines that you read. It is bio-identical
hormone replacement therapy and many women and men are starting to ask for it and
benefit from it.
As a woman heads toward menopause the normal cyclical rise and fall of
estrogen and progesterone decreases. It is at this point that she and her
doctor may start to explore the options of hormone replacement therapy
(HRT). The same is true for men. As men age the levels of many hormones
decrease,
including progesterone and testosterone.
Although a woman may choose to go through menopause without hormone therapy,
many physicians recommend it. Hormone therapy can control the hot flashes
and other symptoms that come with this time of life.
If you decide to utilize hormone therapy, you have two alternatives - synthetics
or bio-identicals. Traditional hormone replacement therapies (synthetics)
include estrogen products (Premarin, Estratab, Vivelle, Climara, Estrace)
and progestins (Provera, Cycrin, Aygestin).
We have had many women complain that traditional therapies make them "not
feel right". They have tried various products and are just not happy.
Uncontrolled hot flashes and other various complaints lead women to discontinue
hormone therapy altogether. Women have stood at our counter and sobbed because
the "best years of my life" are uncomfortable and intolerable. This
is very unfortunate.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapies (BHRT) include Tri-Est or Bi-Est
(bio-identical estrogens) and progesterone. In addition, some doctors practicing
BHRT will add small amounts of DHEA and testosterone. Progesterone and
estrogen in the correct combinations will relieve symptoms associated with
change of
life, without the harmful side effects of the synthetics. They have the
additional benefit of providing protection from osteoporosis and premature
cardiovascular
problems.
To fully understand what BHRT is, we must look carefully at the body's
bio-identical composition. In women, circulating estrogen is made up of
six compounds of which only three are in any significant quantity. Those compounds
are Estriol (80%), Estrone (10%), and 17 b-Estradiol (10%). The ovaries
produce
estradiol, the primary estrogen. Estrone is formed by the conversion of
estradiol in the body, and is thought to be the estrogen primarily responsible
for breast
cancer. Estriol is produced in very high amounts during pregnancy. It is
thought of as the estrogen that is responsible for preventing breast cancer.
Premarin, the number one prescribed synthetic estrogen replacement, is
made from the urine of pregnant mares. The end product after urine collection
contains six chemicals: estrone, 17 a-estradiol and 4 other chemicals only
found in horses. As you can see, Premarin is far from bio-identically occurring,
unless you are a horse! The only major synthetic progesterone replacement
commercially available (progestin) is medroxyprogesterone. Just from the
name you can tell that medroxyprogesterone is not the same as progesterone.
BHRT products are made from bio-identical plant products in a laboratory
and are the only product that is structurally identical to the bio-identical
hormones made in the human body. It is their identical structure that allows
them to work like bio-identical hormones.
Hopefully by now you're asking yourself what BHRT is and how you can get
it. There are numerous over-the-counter products that claim to be estrogen
and progesterone therapies. Most are creams and gels made from soy and
yams. I would recommend none of these.
The person looking for BHRT really needs to open a good dialogue with their
physician. This should include an evaluation of symptoms, testing for hormone
levels, and writing of a prescription designed to meet the individual's
specific needs.
Bio-identical hormones can only be obtained with a physician's prescription
and from a compounding pharmacist. Compounding pharmacists have the ability
to obtain the bio-identical products in powder form. We then make them
into the preferred delivery form (lotion, cream, gel, capsule, or suppository)
according to your doctor's exact orders.
At Specialty Medicine Compounding Pharmacy we have had great success with
BHRT products. People in our care truly enjoy the difference that bio-identical
hormones have made in their lives.
Another benefit of BHRT is that the medicines are made for each individual
patient. Since we compound them one prescription at a time they are the
exact strength and dosage form that the physician and patient want. If
you are considering a switch to BHRT there are a few books that I can recommend.
It really pays to educate yourself about these issues, so you
can work in partnership with your doctor to help discover the best therapy
for
you.
Speaking of doctors, we recognize that many doctors are unfamiliar with
prescribing BHRT products. For that reason we provide BHRT training for
physicians and their staff. Have your doctor contact us if he or she would
like to take
advantage of this service.
If all of this has raised questions in your mind, or if you'd like additional
information, please stop by the pharmacy or give
us a call.