Everything You Want to Know About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be used to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of menopause. If you are suffering from moderate to severe menopausal issues, then bioidentical hormones may be for you. Information on the procedure and its benefits can be found below in order to help you make the decision that is right for you.

What is it?

Menopause symptoms are generally caused by the sudden disturbance in hormone levels that occurs in the body during this time. By restoring balance to these levels, and replacing diminishing levels of one hormone or the other, you can stop the symptoms or at least drastically reduce them. That is where bioidentical hormones come in.

During bioidentical hormone therapy, a saliva test is done on the patient to assess various hormone levels and see where balance can be restored. Over the years, every woman's hormone levels diminish in a unique way. This is one of the only treatments for menopause that allows for customized dosages that are tailored to meet the needs of each woman.

Bioidentical hormones are formed from parts of different plants and animals, which are then altered to have the identical chemical makeup of the hormones that are found naturally within your body. For women, the most common are estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and estriol.

The Advantages

There are a wide variety of benefits to using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in order to restore balance to the body. Besides the obvious fact that it can reduce and even eliminate your menopause symptoms, it also is able to reduce some forms of cancer through the addition of estriol.

Bioidentical hormone therapy is generally administered by a topical method such as injections and creams, and this can cut down by liver damaged that is caused by the hormone replacement pills used in other methods. The mixture of hormones that is administered is customized exclusively for each person, which makes it much more effective than other methods as well.

If you are a woman who has been suffering with painful or embarrassing menopause symptoms, then stop being a victim today. Bioidentical hormones can help to restore balance to your body's hormone levels, and alleviate the symptoms that are associated with this condition.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy - What is It?

One alternative to the sometimes harmful synthetic hormones is the use of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). These are much more effective due to the exact match of the hormones naturally produced by the body. Bioidentical hormone therapy has afforded a near identical match to the natural hormone with the use of a soy and wild yam base. Unlike (BHRT), synthetic hormones are foreign to the body and in turn cause a palette of potential adverse reactions.

The human body produces hormones through body cells. These hormones target a destination and travel through the bloodstream carrying important messages to and from cells throughout the body.

Testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen deficiencies are common in women both before and during menopause, or if they have had their ovaries removed. Mood-swings, vaginal dryness, headaches, achy joints, and sleep disturbances are typical symptoms involved with a lack of hormone production. BHRT is referred to as a successful form of treatment used to rid women of these symptoms.

Andropause, the male version of menopause, usually affects men during their aging process. Hormones production is slowed during this time and a testosterone deficiency is a common occurrence. Low levels of testosterone (in men) are usually the cause of a reduction in bone density, muscle mass, and sex drive, along with irritability, insulin resistance, and depressed feelings.

Bioidentical hormones can be applied as topical creams, or orally/sublingually taken in a pill form. It usually depends on what form of treatment the patient prefers. The cream is a slower-absorbing form of therapy, while the other forms are quickly absorbed.

Disease prevention is the target goal of using bioidentical hormones. If left untreated or improperly managed, severe symptoms and conditions may develop. It is important to gain control of hormone regulating to successfully combat and prevent disease and illness. Prompt management helps prevent the development long-term conditions and life altering symptoms. The result of treatment is a substantial improvement in health and an improved quality of life.

Researchers have provided an extensive amount of information on the different affects of BHRT on the human body. There have been many positive results, but they have also found connections of this treatment with an elevated risk of heart disease, stroke, blood clots, and breast cancer. This has causes debate between health professionals for many years, which is why only some of them offer this form of treatment.

Hormone deficiencies affect many people and can go unrecognized for a long time. Hormone imbalances that are left undiagnosed and untreated can cause many serious complications for the person with the condition. It is important to seek professional advice from an endocrinologist or an internal medicine doctor if symptoms of hormone loss develop. These doctors have more in-depth experience in dealing with hormonal issues than family doctors, and are capable of providing a quick diagnosis with simple blood tests. Many doctors offer BHRT, but there are a large percentage of them that are against it due to the different risks that are involved with their usage.

Current Treatments For Depression - Hormone Therapy, Happy Pacemaker, Magnetic Healing

Depression is a major mental disorder but is treatable. There are various depression treatments and some are in experimental stage. Some of the effective current treatments for depression include hormone therapy, "happy" pacemaker and magnetic healing.

Scientists have spent years to find the best treatment for depression. Ultimately they now know about serotonin and its effect on the brain. It is finally proven that the major imbalance in this hormone may be the prime cause of depression in men and women.

They are of opinion that hormones have great effects on our brain and mood because they act as stimulants for us. For example the female hormone estrogen is more powerful than any drug stimulant.

Hormones provide a strong cooling and sleepy effect on the mind of the patients of depression. It makes one feel better. An irritated and aggressive patient might get cool with the administration of a mild dose of hormone. There are reports that women suffering from depression have shown significant improvements with the application of mild hormone. Earlier they were declared untreatable.

Before hormone treatment for depression one should consult a neuroendocrinologist to get a hormone profile. knowing the level of estrogen and progesterone in the beginning and at the end of the month. Accordingly hormone is administered to reduce he severity of depression. The use of get happy pacemakers is also getting popular for the treatment of depression. The principle of get of happy pacemaker is based on vagal nerve. This nerve connects the brain with heart, lungs and stomach.

This nerve is mainly responsible for carrying information from the central nervous system to the other parts of the body. Nowadays a small pace maker is being implanted in the vagal nerves to help stop the seizures in the sufferers. But it shows some other critical functions. It makes the patient's mood "happy". It is unclear how it works.

Doctors are of opinion that it affects two chemical substances serotin and norepineephrine. These chemicals are associated with mood. With the implantation of the pacemaker a patient shows improvements to some extent. Forty percent of patient with pacemakers show diminished depression. The depression level is tested by verbal test. Patients themselves accept improvements.

Magnetic stimulation is also a remarkable treatment for depression. it targets brain structures that responsible for the depression in human beings. Studies have also indicated that the magnetic stimulation given to the brain for at least two weeks at a stretch provide relief to the patients suffering from depression. It reduces the severity of depression up to 30 percent.

Nowadays various clinics and hospitals are providing this treatment to the patients with considerable success. Very soon it would be a very common treatment for depression. In addition to it more researches are being done on the current treatments for depression.

The Dangers of Hormone Therapy

For many years, Hormone therapy has been used to ease the symptoms of menopause. However, it has also been widely prescribed for preventative purposes in the belief that it would help protect women against future heart disease, weak bones and dementia. In July 2002, the women's health initiative (WHI) ended its research on combinations of estrogen and progestin therapy after it showed that women who underwent this treatment would have a substantially increased risk of breast cancer, heart attacks and stroke. In 2004, the WHI also halted a portion of the study for estrogen only therapy. This was done after finding that the hormone did not offer any protection against heart disease, but instead increased the risk of stroke and blood clots.

A recent survey has shown that most women are not aware of the research that was carried out that the WHI, or the disturbing information that it contained. Although the number of prescriptions had initially declined by 38% in 2003 and 2004, it had increased again and has almost reached previous levels. Drug companies claim that these hormone therapies are safer than the previous versions and doctors continue to prescribe it.

How well do our doctors actually understand the dangers of prescribing hormone therapies? Can we as patients truly trust that they know what they are doing? For years, doctors told menopausal woman that taking a pill made from extracts of horse urine would help prevent hot flashes, heart disease and osteoporosis. More than that, it would greatly extend a woman's youthful years. What was found however is that all that the pill did was to prevent hot flashes. There was no other benefit. This was known for many years. However, aggressive marketing had convinced women and their doctors that this was still the best way to go.

This leads to serious questions that have to be asked. How many of these treatments are actually effective in replacing hormones where the body's natural hormones are deficient. What is the difference between synthetic hormones, plant hormones and hormones that derived from horse urine? Surely there has to be a danger of taking hormones from an animal and transplanting them into a human being. If compatibility is not an issue, what other dangers do they pose? More importantly, how do injecting extra hormones impact on the functionality of our glands and the hormones that they produce?

The Negative Inhibitory Feedback Loop (NIFBL) is a system that controls hormone levels in the body. For example, when the brain detects that the sugar levels are too high, Insulin is produced to process the sugars. When sugar levels drop below a certain level, insulin production is stopped which allows sugar levels to rise again, and so the cycle continues. How does the NIFBL perform this function, and how does hormone replacement treatment affect the NIFBL? Understanding how the endocrinal system works and how hormones are regulated is imperative if we are going to avoid the high risk of serious danger posed by hormone replacement therapies. It is always best to find information that is easy to understand and logical as well as to discuss with your medical practitioner before embarking on any therapies.

Is There Successful Treatment of Endometriosis With Acupuncture?

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which tissue that typically lines the uterus grows elsewhere such as around the ovaries, bowel, or around the pelvis. In rare cases, endometrial tissue may grow outside of the pelvic region. The condition can be very painful. The main symptom is pelvic pain during the menstrual period. Pain during intercourse may be present, as well as during bowel movements or even during urination. Other signs of this condition include excessive bleeding and infertility. Many turn to medical procedures and treatments such as hormone therapy or surgery to treat this condition, although some find pain relief through acupuncture.

Many women with endometriosis who desire to become pregnant but experience infertility as a result of the condition turn to acupuncture instead of certain medicine treatments and surgeries. Medications to treat the condition may affect the ovaries, and while surgery may remove endometrial tissue, it may recur in the future. Acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments may be helpful in relieving this condition. One study published in late 2002 in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine notes that of 67 women with painful periods due to endometriosis, half were given ear acupuncture as treatment, and 81% noted less painful periods following treatment.

So why does acupuncture work? Experts do not fully understand why acupuncture is successful, but some speculate that it could have something to do with the promotion of blood circulation as well as the regulation of the endocrine system, which involves hormones. Many couples have found success through acupuncture, and hearing success stories of others may inspire some couples or individuals to give acupuncture a try to overcome infertility or endometriosis, or both.

One woman, whose story is relayed at Endo-Resolved.com, notes her success through acupuncture after four laparoscopic surgeries over a four year period. "He's been treating me for the Endometriosis for a little over 3 months and I am completely pain free! This September will be one year since my last surgery and I am going to celebrate! It's such a relief to be out of the constant pain, but even more of a relief because I'm able to move on with my life."

One activity that some recommend is speaking with others who have been through, or are going through, the same thing as you to exchange stories, tips, and support. Relieving stress can be helpful when trying to become pregnant, and can even help to promote overall well-being. This is a good way to get rid of a little stress.

Breast Enlargement Hormones

Hormones are a great proven way for women to cause their breasts to enlarge. Hormones can be reacted in a similar way to how women grow their breasts in puberty and pregnancy to cause them to enlarge.

There are four main hormones that are great breast enlargement hormones. They are estrogen, progesterone, the growth hormone and prolactin. Increasing your levels of estrogen is the first step because it is the most effective hormone in breast development. Estrogen also causes your testosterone level to lower which is not only another positive for breast growth it also causes you to gain a more feminine figure.

Another great breast enlargement hormone is progesterone. Progesterone is a great hormone in particular for men who are going through a sex change to grow breasts. It also works in promoting breast growth for women too and has many great properties.

The growth hormone is also involved in breast development. The growth hormone is made in great amounts by females during puberty and assists with the growth of the entire body, including the breasts. Using this hormone to get bigger breasts is very effective and can cause you to have large perky breasts.

Prolactin is another breast enlargement hormone which is naturally produced by teenage women during puberty. This hormones job is to help the development of the mammary glands and to increase fat storage in the breasts.

The most common forms of available hormone treatment with these types of hormones that are designed to increase the breast size are used in breast enlargement pills and creams. The creams and pills cause the hormones to react making your breasts bigger and firmer. These pills and creams can be bought online on certain websites. Although it is a good idea when buying these breast enhancing products that you shop around and read reviews so you can see what will suit your needs best. Results using hormones can vary from woman to woman but results generally tend to show around the first month of using breast enlargement hormones.

There are many Hormone therapy's available and they are used simply to enact breast growth. Hormones will generally work to increase breast tissue, but it is advised to consult your doctor as there are health risks to using breast enlargement hormones. They can cause a variety of significant health issues including organ failure. If used safely they are a great alternative to having breast enlargement surgery.

Signs of Perimenopause - Menopause and Treatment Options

Perimenopause is a period of 2 to 10 years before Menopause actually sets in. Menopause is said to have begun if you miss your period for a full year or more straight.

Perimenopause and menopause are inevitable parts of a life if you are a woman. It doesn't have to be as dreadful as some have made it out to be. All women go through them but not all of them will have the same symptoms and neither will the intensity of the symptoms be the same. As one woman, your symptoms can vary from month to month and in intensity.

Signs of Perimenopause - Menopause

Weight gain could indicate early menopause and can occur for two reasons. One reason is due to an increased appetite and a decrease in exercising. The second reason could be due to the body's retention of water.

Mood swings can be associated with the fluctuating hormone levels which can be very erratic in many women. Depression, anxiety, and irritability may accompany mood swings.

Fibroid cysts in the breast and/or uterus may form. These are benign growths that can be surgically removed. They are not life threatening but could cause some discomfort. In the uterus, they may reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. Vaginal dryness and a less intense libido may also be signs of Perimenopause, menopause.

Hot flashes and night sweats are very common signs of perimenopause, menopause. Night sweats are hot flashes that occur at night. Many complain that the night sweats wake them up and their night clothes and bedding will be damp or wet. After they cool down and get back into bed, the bed may feel very cold because of the dampness. This could be avoided if the damp bedding were changed. A nice, dry bed is so comforting.

Insomnia or sleeplessness is another reported problem. You might have trouble getting to sleep or you may have trouble staying asleep. You might not be able to sleep long enough to be rested. Sleep problems could lead to fatigue/exhaustion.

Treatment Options

Option 1 - Pharmaceuticals can include over the counter medications and supplements as well as prescribed medications. There are two prescribed medications that are in common use: HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy where the depleting levels of estrogen and progesterone are kept at a stable level. This is to hopefully relieve symptoms for many women. Anti-depressants are often prescribed to help relieve the depression many women feel during perimenopause and menopause. Unfortunately, there are some very serious side effects and these include ovarian, breast, and uterine cancers. This is why many women search for more natural and safer treatments.

Option 2 - Natural treatments particularly herbal supplements are much safer and have far fewer if any side effects. It is strongly recommended that you discuss adding herbal supplements to your regimen because some of the herbs can affect the performance of any medication you may be taking for other health conditions. Your doctor should be a good source of information.

Herbal supplements are not standardized as most known medications are by the FDA. This leaves room for the manufacturers to put as little or as much herbal contents that they want in their supplements. Some companies have gone so far as to list ingredients that are not in the supplement at all.

Many manufactures though are working to create the most effective, safe, and high quality herbal supplements they can make. There are a few things to note that will help you choose a high quality supplement. They use only standardized herbal extracts because this helps to ensure that the same amount of product is in each capsule and from bottle to bottle.

Standardized herbal extracts is also where the most active ingredients of the herbs are found. The ingredients are extensively tested. The metabolic pathway of the ingredients is studied at the molecular level and how the ingredients' interact is observed.
High quality herbal supplements are made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. All of this guarantees you that what is on the product label is actually in the supplement and that you have a safe, potent, effective product.

Option 3 - Lifestyle changes, just basic ones could help your body work at relieving your menopausal symptoms. Reducing the amount of alcohol that you drink may help to relieve hot flashes or night sweats. Alcohol makes you feel warm and make your skin appear flushed, most likely worsening the symptoms of hot flashes/night sweats.

Quit smoking! Smokers have problems with lung function due to the inhaled smoke blocking oxygen production. If you are a smoker, you could have far less stamina (endurance) for physical activity. As your heart and lungs work harder to give you as much oxygen as possible, you become winded and that's why you may huff and puff after physical activity.

A healthy diet and getting regular exercise will not only help to build your stamina, help you to lose weight, and benefit your over all health; they can also help to boost your libido. Your body will work more efficiently as well.

Conclusion

The signs of perimenopause, menopause includes hot flashes/night sweats, mood swings, and Depression to name but a few. These symptoms will be experienced by every woman to a greater or lesser degree. Each woman will have the symptoms affect her differently from month to month.

The good news is that there is a variety of treatments available that help to relieve or get rid of the most bothersome symptoms. Hormone Therapy Replacement and other medications are very effective but have serious side effects. Herbal supplements are available that are specifically made to deal with menopausal symptoms. Your pharmacist, doctor, or a Naturalist Pharmacist can help direct you to the best quality supplements available. There is relief and it has much fewer, if any side effects. They may also benefit your over-all health.