Bioidentical Hormones Benefits Are Extensive

During menopause, many women experience uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia, among others. While hormone therapy with a combination of progestin and estrogen has been a popular treatment to help relieve some of these symptoms for quite some time, women who have undergone hormone therapy often have higher rates of breast cancer, stroke, heart disease and blood clots.

As such, many women do not wish to undergo hormone therapy but need help relieving menopausal symptoms and other aging effects such as weight gain.

One option is bioidentical hormones, which have an identical molecular structure to the natural hormones in the body but come from soy and yams. The hormones include 17 beta-estradiol, estriol and estrone, as well as finely ground progesterone.

Bioidentical hormones are often considered natural since they derive from plant extracts but offer many of the same benefits of traditional hormone therapy without some of the potential risks.

Moreover, the body cannot distinguish between naturally occurring hormones and those that are bioidentical.

Including traditional pill form as well as lotions, creams and gels rubbed onto the legs or arms by a few different methods. The hormones then enter the bloodstream when absorbed into the skin.

One of the most effective forms of bioidentical hormone therapy is custom compounding, wherein a doctor determines the specific hormonal doses for an individual to achieve the best results. The compound is then custom-mixed to create an individual hormone therapy replacement program.

There may be other benefits to the use of bioidenticals, such as anti-aging effects like younger-looking skin, improved sleep and perhaps even reduced risk of breast cancer, stroke, heart disease, endometrial cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Bioidentical hormones may also help improve weight loss, especially if the weight gain is due to changes in the body due to menopause. The hormones may also help increase metabolism and reduce belly fat.

Some research studies have shown that bioidentical hormone therapy can reduce menopausal symptoms such as vaginal dryness and hot flashes.

Many doctors and clinicians use saliva testing to monitor the hormone levels in the body once bioidenticals are in use, although traditional blood tests work as well.

Note that you should work with a clinician with extensive experience with hormone replacement therapy, specifically bioidenticals and custom mixing in an effort to make sure the therapy as is effective and safe as possible.

When used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, such as eating well and exercising, bioidenticals may further help reduce menopausal symptoms, improve overall health and boost metabolism, weight loss and lower body fat.