Traditionally when one thinks of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), they immediately think of menopause. That hormone therapy is used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. But in the last 10-15 years, hormone replacement has become more than a fix for hot flashes. But did you know that you can use BHRT for memory, energy and even libido? Did you know that men and women of all ages use BHRT? There are many other conditions that BHRT can treat. Below are a few conditions that BHRT can address that you may not know about.
Hypothyroid:
When people think of hypothyroid medication, you may think of Synthroid or the porcine thyroid (Armour/Nature Throid). However, Compounded Thyroid, which is a combination of Levothyroxine and Liothyronine, is an excellent option to treat hypothyroid.
PMS:
Using bioidentical progesterone helps to alleviate some of the symptoms related to PMS. You can use progesterone in many different dosage forms depending on the situation. From creams to capsules, to troches to vaginal suppositories. You can use bioidentical progesterone all month long or just part of the month or even a few days of a woman's cycle for PMS symptoms.
PCOS:
The conventional approach to PCOS is to prescribe birth control pills. However, this is such a limited treatment approach, and there are some potential side effects associated with birth control. But with BHRT you can individualize the doses of BHRT to the patient. This can help with PCOS symptoms but also help with the long-term effects of PCOS on the body such as the androgenic effects and fertility.
Perimenopause:
My patients in perimenopause describe it as feeling like they have PMS symptoms all month long. Plus, it is not healthy to use birth control pills in a perimenopausal female. Bioidentical hormones can be used effectively and safely to help women with perimenopausal symptoms. The symptoms range from irritability to trouble sleeping. From low libido to hair loss and acne. Bioidentical hormones can even help with perimenopausal weight gain.
Low Testosterone aka Low T :
Men can use Bioidentical Testosterone to address Low T. Conventionally low testosterone is treated with injections and gels, which can be expensive and cause some unwanted side effects. Besides, conventional testosterone cannot be tailored to the patient. Whether it is personal symptoms or family health history, hormone replacement therapy needs to meet the needs of the patient. Conventional this can be difficult to do. But with BHRT you can design the testosterone to the patient.
Adrenal Dysfunctions/Adrenal Fatigue/ Adrenal Insufficiency:
There is more to Bioidentical Hormone options besides just the reproductive hormones. You can use BHRT to treat Adrenal Fatigue. BHRT for adrenal fatigue can include pregnenolone, DHEA, and hydrocortisone. These hormones can also come in creams, sublingual, capsules, and tablets.
Menopause:
This is what everyone thinks of when they hear Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). The great aspect of BHRT is you can make any dose you want depending on the particular patient's symptoms. For women in menopause, there are many different symptoms and goals for each person.
For some women, their goals are to reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Other goals for women in menopause are low libido, vaginal dryness, and pain with intercourse. Others, it's dry skin and tonicity. Other women help with preserving bone density. With BHRT you can custom design the doses for the goals of the person.
As you can see Bioidentical Hormones Replacement Therapy can be helpful for more than just menopause. BHRT can be prescribed for men and women of all ages. There are exceptions to who is and is not a candidate for BHRT, but that is another episode in itself.
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