When it comes to hormone replacement therapy, it is important to understand the difference between non-bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormones as well as their potential risks and benefits.
First, non-bioidentical hormones are not identical to the hormones naturally produced by the human body. These hormones may be derived from animal sources, such as pregnant horse urine, or just formulations that are foreign to the human body. Non-bioidentical hormones are just not the same as the hormones we make. The term 'HRT' encompasses many non-bioidentical hormone-like drugs and a few bioidentical hormones. All contraceptives are non-bioidentical hormone-like drugs.
Bioidentical hormones, on the other hand, are derived from natural sources and are identical to the hormones naturally produced by the body. This means our body recognises them and uses them just as if we had made them ourselves.
There is a significant difference between non-bioidentical hormones and bioidentical hormones, specifically in regard to effectiveness and side effects.
Studies have shown that non-bioidentical hormones may increase the risk of certain health conditions, including breast cancer, heart disease, and blood clots and trigger side effects such as mood issues, weight gain, headaches, and loss of sex drive.
In contrast, numerous studies indicate that bioidentical hormones may be more efficacious for symptom relief with a higher safety profile.
Bioidentical hormones may also be less likely to cause adverse side effects, such as headaches, weight gain, and mood swings.
The other key part is whether your practitioner tests your hormones and individualises the doses.
All too often, the conventional lens approaches the problem as: "you're either in menopause or you're not." Typically hormone tests aren't done and if you're in menopause you might get some standard HRT (bioidential or synthetic) and if you're not you might get offered a contraceptive (which are always synthetic hormone-like drugs - not hormones). This won't help if (for example) you have low progesterone in your 40s - which requires an individualised approach.
Hormone decline doesn't happen overnight. Shifts in your hormone balance can start occurring as early as the 30s – yes, it’s not just a 50+ phenomenon! But to get the right treatment you need to work with Drs that individualise doses. That means testing your hormones, giving you just what you need and tweaking the dose as things change.
All too often, the conventional lens approaches the problem as: "you're either in menopause or you're not." Typically hormone tests aren't done and if you're in menopause you might get some standard HRT (bioidentical or synthetic) and if you're not you might get offered a contraceptive (which are always synthetic hormone-like drugs - not hormones).
We test hormones, we individualise our treatment plans and we change are prescriptions as your needs change. That means we make a difference to the people who have been told they just have to put up with it or who have put on weight and had other side effects with standardised doses.
Choosing A BHRT Provider
If you're based in the UK, book a free discovery call to find out more here.
If you're not based in the UK, you can't work with our BHRT Drs but you can still work with our functional medicine nutritionist and coach: please call the clinic on +44203 303 0237 to find out more.
London Bioidentical Hormones is a Virtual Practice in the United Kingdom and serves patients throughout the United Kingdom.
