There is so much confusion and misinformation when it comes to “bioidentical hormones.” Let me see if I can set the record straight.
• “Bioidentical hormones” does not mean that the hormones are “organic.”
• “Bioidentical hormones” does not mean that the hormones are “natural.”
• “Bioidentical hormones” does not mean that the hormones are “not really hormones.”
“Bioidentical hormones” means that the chemical makeup of the hormones exactly matches the chemical makeup in the same hormones in your body. It can be man-made but the molecular components are exactly the same as that same hormone in your body. For example, if you look at bioidentical estrogen under a microscope it would look exactly the same as the estrogen your body makes. It could have been created all chemically, in a laboratory, but the components of the compound match your body.
“Hmmmm…” you ask, why would anyone make non-bioidentical hormones to replace those in your body. Well, for one thing bioidentical hormones can’t be patented. The same way you can’t patent water, unless you add some flavorings to it, you can’t patent estrogen unless there is something different about your estrogen. So drug companies are incented to change the chemical compound. Sometimes makers of specific hormones suggest that the difference they have made is a “good” difference and thus justify the changes. We haven’t found that to be the case. In general we find that women seem to respond better to bioidentical hormones.
But don’t worry about the drug companies. Now that many realize that women prefer the bioidentical compounds they have found ways to patent their product by developing better or unique delivery systems: a specific cream to hold the compound, a patch, a pellet.
So, if a practitioner wants to prescribe a hormone, you can ask if it’s bioidentical…and now you’ll even know what that means.
Tags: bioidentical hormones, estrogen, hormones, hot flashes, HRT, menopause, sex drive
Hormones fit onto their receptors just like a “lock and key”, so any slight alteration of their chemical structure creates a “monster hormone”. These resulting “monster hormones” are never found in the human body or anywhere else in nature. The reality is that these synthetically altered monster hormones should never have been approved for marketing and sale to the American People, and yet that is exactly what your mainstream medical doctor will offer you if you ask for hormones.
Years ago, after the invention of synthetic monster hormones, an information war was launched by the drug industry creating confusion in the public and even among medical professionals about the difference between natural human hormones and synthetic monster hormones. Because of this information war, we must now use the terminology, “bioidentical” hormones which really means human hormones in order to different these from the monster altered hormones.
http://jeffreydach.com/2008/10/06/the-importance-of-bioidentical-hormones-by-jeffrey-dach-md.aspx
Good read! My wife and I have been researching bioidentical hormones for a few years now and we have come to the conclusion that this is a healthy treatment option for her menopausal symptoms. Here is a website that has helped us learn a lot,
http://bodylogicmd.com/research/hormone-therapy
I agree that bioidentical hormones is a better option for treatment of menopausal symptoms because I believe these can be customized to address women’s exact needs so it’s safe. However, it is still a good idea to check with your health provider about your risk this hormone will give you.