Hormones used in replacement therapy are identical to the hormones produced by a female’s ovaries and are referred to as ‘bioidentical’. In other words, compounded hormones that exactly match the ones produced by women.
Doctors agree that bio-identical hormones are an effective and safe alternative to synthetic hormone replacement because the chemical and molecular structure of the hormone matches exactly the hormones manufactured inside the human body – this is not true for synthetics that only closely mimic that produced in the human body and can be very dangerous.
These natural hormones provide the building blocks from which chemically-identical replacement hormones can be produced and which the human body recognises and knows how to interact. Synthetic hormones only mimic natural human hormones and do not work well inside a human body in the long term and can eventually cause very severe health problems and even death.
Synthetic hormones replacement therapy makes use of equine hormones (i.e. extracted from horse’s urine) and a host of other chemical additives to create a blend that is thought to achieve the same effect as those hormones which are produced naturally by the human body. After researching the exact effects they have, the introduction of these foreign elements into the body has caused unwanted side-effects. Synthetic hormones differ chemically from the body’s hormones and are often rejected. They are also often difficult to eliminate and remain for long periods of time in the body. Bioidentical hormones are identical to the patient’s own hormones.
Bio-identical hormones replacement can provide relief from a large number of symptoms. It can also be essential for the maintenance of cardiovascular health, bone density, memory and providing a boost in general well being.
Benefits of Estrogens are:
- Helps maintain memory
- Increases concentration
- Improves energy levels
- Decreases blood pressure
- Decreases plaque on arteries
- Reduces risk of heart disease
- Improves quality of sleep
- Improves mood
- Maintains bone density
- Decreases risk of bowel cancer
- Increases sexual desire
- Reduces wrinkles
Benefits of Progesterone are:
- Natural calming effect
- Builds bone
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol
- Helps thyroid function
- Protects against endometrial cancer
- Protects against fibrocystic breast disease
- Helps balance estrogens
- Increases metabolic rate
- Natural diuretic
- Natural anti-depressant
Benefits of Testosterone are:
- Increases libido
- Helps maintain memory
- Increase sense of well being, self confidence and motivation
- Decreases body fat
- Maintains bone strength
- Increases muscle mass and muscle tone
- Natural anti-depressant
So why haven’t these natural hormones replacement therapies been openly available until now? The reason boils down to a more monetary, then medical reason. Bio-identical hormones are considered identical to naturally-occurring human hormones, and therefore cannot be patented. Just as one cannot patent blood cells or muscle tissue. This has led to the large pharmaceutical companies having little incentive to offer bio-identical hormones replacement therapies, instead preferring to synthesize and patent artificial hormones.
