Important Information About Bioidentical Hormones

What You Need to Know About Bioidentical Hormones

What are Bioidentical Hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers, delivered to the tissues through the blood, that affect almost every bodily process, including growth and development, metabolism, mood, tissue regeneration, sexual function and reproduction. Bioidentical hormones are identical to the hormones produced naturally by your body: estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone and testosterone. Bioidentical hormones are produced from botanical plants – like soy or yams – pharmaceutically processed to exactly replicate the chemical structure of our endogenous hormones.

What are the Potential Benefits of Using Bioidentical Hormones?

Hormone depletion affects almost every function of your body, from your blood vessels to your brain. The use of bioidentical hormones – also known as Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, or BHRT – replaces lost hormones with identical replicas to help rebalance and restore your body’s systems. The result is often relief from the symptoms of hormone deficiency, from chronic fatigue to insomnia, from memory loss to loss of libido.

How are Bioidentical Hormones Different from Synthetic Hormones?

Both bioidentical and synthetic hormones are produced in pharmaceutical laboratories using chemical means. But bioidentical hormones are made to be molecularly identical to our endogenous human hormones, while synthetic hormones involve altering the molecular structure.

Since bioidentical hormones are exact replicas of your body’s natural hormones, their effects are more like your own hormones. According to some studies, patients responded more quickly to bioidenticals – finding relief from hot flashes, mood swings and vaginal dryness within just a few days of use. Also, bioidentical hormones aren’t mass-produced; they are individually compounded in pharmacies, so they can be customized to meet your unique needs. In order to be patented, synthetic hormones must differ from human hormones, so they interact differently with your body’s hormone receptors, allowing for a higher chance of undesirable side effects.

Where are Bioidentical Hormones Available?

Bioidentical hormones are available with a prescription at compounding pharmacies. Compounding uses raw ingredients the pharmacist can combine into a personalized blend, strength and dose, as prescribed by your healthcare practitioner. They are typically compounded into creams to be applied on the skin (transdermal) or vaginally (transmucomal). Compounding pharmacies are regulated by state pharmacy boards.

Especially for Women

What you need to know about menopause & perimenopause

What is Menopause?

Menopause is the natural, gradual process of a woman’s reproductive system shutting down as she ages. Her lifetime supply of eggs is depleted, and her ovaries produce declining amounts of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Natural menopause typically happens between ages 41-59; a woman is considered to have reached menopause when she hasn’t menstruated for a full year. Common symptoms of menopause include flushing, hot flashes, night sweats, cold flashes, feeling clammy, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, sudden tears, depression, insomnia, diminished libido, weight-loss difficulties, chronic fatigue and more.

What is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the period of transition for a woman to natural menopause, during which hormone production is declining, causing bodily changes. Signs of perimenopause can begin as early as age 35; the average length of this transition is four years, but it can last longer six years. Common symptoms of perimenopause include irregular menstrual periods, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia and more.

How can Bioidentical Hormones Help?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy replenishes your hormone levels, which can help relieve your symptoms and revitalize your overall sense of wellbeing. The proper BHRT program can help you maintain your energy, mood, passion and weight, among other benefits.

Especially for Men

What you need to know about andropause & low-T

What is Andropause?

Andropause is like a male version of female menopause; it is the time of a man’s life during which the testosterone hormone levels produced by the testicles decline. Natural andropause typically happens between ages 45-55. Common symptoms of andropause and low testosterone levels – also known as low-T – include fatigue, insomnia, weight gain, muscle loss, aching joints, thinning hair, emotional unevenness, low libido and more.

How can Bioidentical Hormones Help?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy replenishes your hormone levels, which can help relieve your symptoms and revitalize your overall sense of wellbeing. The proper BHRT program can help you be stronger, feel sharper and sleep sounder, among other benefits.

Bernhoft Center for Advanced Medicine

1200 Maricopa Hwy., Suite A

Ojai, California 93023

What are Bioidentical Hormones?

Important Information About Bioidentical Hormones

What You Need to Know About Bioidentical Hormones

Especially for Women

What you need to know about menopause & perimenopause

Especially for Men

What you need to know about andropause & low-T

Bernhoft Center for Advanced Medicine

Center for Integrative and Age-Management Medicine

Center for Integrative and Age-Management Medicine

Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Ocean Obstetric & Gynecologic Associates

HealthBridge

Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Jefferson

Marianna Abrams, M.D.

Blackwater Osteopathic Clinic

Atlas Drug & Nutrition Center

True Balance Institute

Dr. Maria Fabbro

Spa Vitality Anti Aging Centre

Heartful Wellness Centre

Markham Natural Health Centre

An Optimal You

Healthy Aging Medical Centers

The BEST Program, Inc.

Gateways to Integral Health

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Natasha Fuksina M.D.

Anti-Aging Medical Group

GSH Medical

Signature Hormones by Dr. Arnold

Water’s Edge Natural Medicine

Center for Nutrition & Preventive Medicine

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center

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Radiant Health SF

Mark Sherfey, M.D.

Revita Life Wellness Center

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ProMD Health

Sloan Natural Health Center

Dr. Scott’s Restorative Health & Wellness

Healthy Living Liberty Lake

Wayzata Cosmetic Surgery & Spa

Ovation Med Spa

Babcock Health & Wellness Clinic

Integrated Functional Medicine

Embody Wellness

ReVitalize Health & Wellness Center

Marsha E. Gorens, M.D.

Water’s Edge Natural Medicine

Evolved Medical

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KC Wellness Center, Inc.

Christopher Hermanson, M.D.

A Better You, LLC

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Centre for Restorative Medicine

Care for Womens Medical Group

Community Health and Wellness Cenegenics Alaska

Preventive Medicine Centers

Freedom Healthcare

Healthy Natural Aging

The Center for Wellness

Women’s Health Care of Garden City

Kimberly Haycraft, M.D.

Dr. Sheila Hughes Weight Loss & Wellness

Brooke Lucas, MSPAS, PA-C

Vitality Bioidentical Hormones

Charles Moss, M.D.

Loren Frankel, M.D.

Carrie Ballas, BSN, MS, FNP-C

Robert T. Motazedi, M.D.

BioHarmony Medical

Tikva Butler, APRN, ND

Nu-Living Optimal Wellness and Longevity Center

FoundationMED

OptiHealth Institute

Age Well MD