Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a name that's been given to the diagnosis of hormonal imbalances, prescription of hormones, and preparation of replacement hormones that are biologically identical to hormones produced by the human body. BHRT has been used primarily to treat symptoms of menopause, but it is also used to treat peri-menopausal symptoms that begin to occur prior to menopause as well as problems that women experience after menopause.

There are pros and cons to BHRT. Determining whether BHRT would be a beneficial course of treatment depends on an individual assessment of each individual's unique health and life situation by a qualified physician.

Pros

The arguments in favor of BHRT include the fact that discomforts associated with menopause can be diminished by supplementing the body's natural but imbalanced supply of hormones. Mood swings and fatigue can be abated through hormone replacement therapy. Joint pain, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, and night sweats can also be less pronounced or perhaps even absent with the use of appropriate types and amounts of hormones.

A number of women have successfully used BHRT to maintain their vitality and libido in the years following menopause. A lack of appropriate hormone levels in the body has been implicated as the cause for a number of health problems including stiff joints and weight gain. BHRT has been able to diminish a number of symptoms that have been associated with inappropriate levels of hormones, making women more comfortable in their daily lives as they navigate through the years leading up to, during, and after menopause.

Cons

It's important to see a doctor and have the appropriate tests done too determine your hormonal levels with accuracy. As with all medications, there are situations in which the risks of doing BHRT outweigh the benefits, but BHRT has been associated with fewer adverse effects than synthetic hormone replacement therapy (which utilizes hormones that are synthetically derived and are not biologically identical at the molecular level to treat symptoms associated with hormonal issues). Because BHRT utilizes hormones that are biologically identical to those produced by the body, the cons associated with BHRT tend to deal primarily with getting the dosage right, in contrast to some of the health risks posed by synthetic hormone replacement therapy.