Many women deal with the mental and physical toll of the symptoms of hormonal imbalances such as weight gain, fatigue, migraines, and more.
Birth control pills are one common trigger, even if it’s been years since you’ve taken them. Environmental pollutants are others, from chemicals in skincare products and plastics to fire retardants in furniture and pesticides in food. And a poor diet intensifies all these effects.
Without such triggers, the natural hormonal changes during a woman’s life aren’t likely to cause severe symptoms. But today, it’s virtually impossible to avoid disrupting toxins.
The problem isn’t in your head
“It’s stress.” “You must be depressed.” “You’re getting older.” When women seek help, that’s what doctors typically say, as they scribble a prescription for anti-depressants. The drugs mask how a woman really feels. Yet the very real, physical causes of the problem are ignored.
Hormonal imbalances ― no matter what triggered them ― can be corrected with the right type of treatment: bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, available by prescription.
What are bioidentical hormones?
The word “bioidentical” means that a substance is biologically identical to one made by your body. For example, the molecules that make up bioidentical progesterone are shaped exactly like your own progesterone. In contrast, the progesterone in birth control pills is similar to, but not exactly like your own hormone.
Consider the different effects: Your own progesterone is essential to conceive a child, while the progesterone in birth control pills ― let’s call it “synthetic” ― prevents pregnancy. Not surprisingly, synthetic progesterone disrupts the way your own hormones function.
Bioidentical progesterone is exactly the same as your own progesterone and can actually relieve the side effects of birth control pills ― without reducing their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
Estrogen can also be a synthetic form that increases health risks. Some prescriptions, for example, are made from the urine of pregnant mares. However, bioidentical estrogen is exactly the same as your own estrogen. It relieves symptoms and reduces health risks.
Symptoms relieved by BHRT
Used correctly, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy restores balance and relieves symptoms such as these:
- PMS
- Hot flashes
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Loss of sex drive
- Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
- Dry skin
- Sagging breasts
- Tender breasts
- Depression
- Brain fog
- Memory lapses
- Lack of energy
- Depression
- Anxiety
Women using BHRT also experience fewer wrinkles and other visible signs of aging skin. Studies show that women who use BHRT look younger than their age, and women who do not use BHRT after menopause look older than their age.
Is hormone replacement dangerous?
That depends on the type of hormones. Synthetic hormones increase risks, while bioidentical ones decrease risks.
A large study, the Women’s Health Initiative, found that synthetic estrogen and progesterone increased the risk of breast cancer, heart attack, blood clots, and stroke. However, other research shows that a combination of bioidentical estrogen and progesterone does not increase risk and one bioidentical type of estrogen, estriol, protects against breast cancer.
Health Risks reduced by BHRT
We can’t see most health risks until something happens. For example, a bone breaks from a minor injury but long before that, osteoporosis was silently developing. These are some key risks that BHRT reduces:
- 50% less risk of stroke and heart attack
- 50% less risk of broken bones from osteoporosis
- 80% less risk of Alzheimer’s
- 40% less risk of osteoarthritis
- 40% less risk of periodontal disease and tooth loss
- 30% less risk of colon cancer
What hormones do I need?
Although estrogen and progesterone are commonly viewed as the key female hormones, there are others that directly affect a woman’s health and well-being. These include testosterone, DHEA (a precursor to other hormones), and growth hormone. And, thyroid hormone disorders are very common.
Each woman’s situation is unique. Individual needs must be determined by testing, considering symptoms, and prescribing to achieve balance.
Why hasn’t my doctor helped me?
Most doctors are trained to treat diseases, not to relieve non-optimum health situations. Sadly, that’s how our health care system is designed. Hormonal imbalances are not diseases and defy conventional diagnoses ― even if they ruin women’s lives.
And, there’s a financial reason why most physicians are unaware of the value of bioidentical hormones. Synthetic hormones are patented drugs that are highly profitable. Like other drugs, they are aggressively marketed to doctors. In contrast, bioidentical hormones cannot be patented because they occur naturally in the human body. So, drug companies cannot make huge profits on bioidentical prescriptions and, as a result, do not market them to doctors.
Where to start
At The Holtorf Medical Group, we respect each woman’s unique situation. We understand that your symptoms are manifestations of very real hormone imbalances, and we work with you to identify what needs to be corrected.
The process begins with an initial consultation and testing. We use bioidentical hormone prescriptions and nutritional supplements to address your personal concerns, and recommend dietary and lifestyle changes that will enhance your well-being.
Our doctors are the most highly trained and experienced in this field. Call us today at 877-508-1177 and schedule an appointment.
