Hot flashes. Lack of energy. Poor concentration. Sleep disruption. Dry skin. Loss of libido. All are inevitable side effects of aging, right? No. While these are all side effects of aging and more specifically the result of fluctuating and waning critical hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, these symptoms are not inevitable by any means and do not need to occur. Enter bioidentical hormones.
Estrogen and progesterone decline as men and women age, why bioidentical hormone therapy can help.
These natural hormones are plant-based hormones that are designed to mimic our own hormones. Bioidentical hormones can offer women and men relief from the symptoms of aging, restoring wellbeing and quality of life. These bioidentical hormones may also help reduce the increased risk of certain diseases as we age, namely cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s. Sounds too good to be true? I am here to tell you that it definitely is not too good to be true. This is why I now offer my patients bioidentical hormones.
What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are derivatives of plant extracts that are modified to be structurally indistinguishable from the hormones that our own body makes and produces. These hormones are typically compounded, which simply means the hormones in them are balanced to meet each person’s own individual needs.
Hormones in our body act as messengers; they’re designed to interact with specific cells and organs to provoke a change or result. They’re responsible for cognitive function and mood, development and growth of the body, digestion and metabolism of food, maintenance of body temperature and thirst, and reproductive growth and health.
Now imagine that one of these hormones starts fluctuating. And then another hormone does the same. This has a domino effect on how everything works in the body. Bioidentical hormones can help bring the body back into balance. I’m not a fan of synthetic hormones (aka made-in-a-lab hormones designed to mimic the body’s own hormones), but I am a huge fan of hormones that are already found in plants that can mimic the body’s own native hormones. I’m a fan because I also take them myself.
Estrogen has so many effects on the body, why bioidentical hormones can help as we age.
Benefits of Bioidentical Estrogen Replacement in Women
Decreased hot flashes, improved memory and concentration, less mood swings, less irritability, improved vaginal dryness, improved sleep, fewer headaches or migraines, less depression and anxiety.
Benefits of Bioidentical Testosterone Replacement in Women
Enhanced libido, lower cholesterol, increased HDL (good cholesterol), heart protection, increased energy, enhanced sleep, feeling of overall well being, reduction of body fat, stronger bones and muscles, relief of anxiety and depression, reduced brain fog, and enhanced memory.
Benefits of Bioidentical Testosterone Replacement in Men
Cardiovascular protection, increased energy, feeling of overall well-being, reduced body fat, improved erectile ability, lower cholesterol and increased HDL, increased muscle mass, reduced anxiety and irritability, and cognitive clarity.
Benefits of Bioidentical Thyroid Hormone Replacement (in both Men and Women)
Thyroid hormone regulates body temperature, metabolism, cerebral function, and energy. It increases fat breakdown and lowers cholesterol. Thyroid hormone protects against cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, fatigue, and memory loss.
What Does the Thyroid Have to Do with Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Thyroid deficiency has many symptoms: feeling weak, tired, cold, and fatigued; thin hair, thin skin, and thin nails; weight gain and increased body fat, loss of energy and motivation; loss of cognition; poor memory and mood; and a poor sense of well-being.
Thyroid hormone has two main forms, T3 and T4:
Free T3 is the most metabolically active form of the thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone binds to cell receptors. In the body, T4 is converted to the active form of T3.
As we age, several things happen that affect the thyroid hormone and our metabolism:
The amount of thyroid hormone produced is decreased.
The conversion of T4 to T3 is reduced.
The thyroid hormones do not bind as well to the receptors; this causes low thyroid symptoms despite having “normal” blood levels of thyroid hormone.
Some people are iodine deficient and iodine is necessary to make thyroid hormone.
Many people have hypothyroidism, or low thyroid hormone. Often, patients are prescribed synthetic Synthroid that supplies only T4. The problem with taking only T4 is that often the very important free T3 level remains low because of low conversion of T4 to T3. For this reason, people with hypothyroidism will feel better taking natural thyroid which supplies both T3 and T4.
Isn’t Taking Hormones Bad for You?
Hormone replacement therapy has gotten a bad rap because of the results of studies on synthetic hormones, that is, hormones that are not bioidentical. One Women’s Health Initiative study was misinterpreted by many to find that hormone replacement therapy or HRT increased invasive breast cancer risk and that “overall health risks exceeded benefits from use of combined estrogen plus progestin.”
The studies and media failed to distinguish between synthetic and bioidentical hormones and all hormone replacement was lumped together in one group. As a result, bioidentical hormone replacement, which is safe, was equated with synthetic hormone replacement.
A subsequent study and analysis found that that hormone replacement therapy is actually beneficial for women, but the damage had already been done: many women still believe that taking hormones has negative health risks—and that doing so increases their risk of cancer—and so they don’t take them. The ensuing results on their health and quality of life have been negative with peri- and menopausal symptoms affecting them and increasing their risk of diseases like heart disease and osteoporosis.
What’s Involved in Taking Bioidentical Hormones?
What I love about the BioTE bioidentical hormones that I offer is that they are not administered through oral or skin patches, which can sometimes offer inconsistent dosing of hormones throughout the day. These hormones are administered through smaller-than-a-grain-of-rice pellets. I insert these pellets about 0.5 centimeters (a pea-size depth) under the skin on the upper buttocks and close with a steri-strip (no stitches necessary). This is a two-minute treatment that is painless thanks to local anesthetic, which makes the area completely numb. These pellets administer a continuous supply of hormones, which is similar to how our own body secretes hormones.
After insertion, you can do almost everything you typically do immediately except for swimming, hot tubs, and baths, which you should avoid for three days. Showers are okay. You should also avoid any strenuous exercise that works your gluteal muscles.
Women should have new pellets inserted every three months and for men, every five months. The dose of the hormone given is based on your lab results and also on your symptoms. Rarely, people develop some side effects, such as water retention, facial breakouts, and hair growth. These are easily treated. Uterine bleeding can also happen though this is very rare.
Taking Estrogen and Progesterone When estrogen is being supplemented, progesterone must also be taken. This balances the estrogen and is necessary to prevent abnormal effects on the lining of the uterus. A bonus of taking progesterone is that it helps you sleep!
Taking Testosterone Women of all ages can benefit from testosterone, even those in their 20s. Women who are in menopause benefit from taking both testosterone and estrogen. Men need only testosterone.
How Do I Get Started?
Simply call my office to schedule an appointment to discuss your symptoms. This can be done in person or by Zoom. We will order your labs; these labs are almost always covered by insurance. I will call you to review your results and discuss what improvements you can expect once you start bioidentical hormone therapy. You’ll come in to the office and have your treatment. The total appointment takes about 15 minutes. Four to six weeks after the first insertion, we will re-evaluate your symptoms and re-check your blood hormone levels. If you need a booster to optimize your results, this is done free of charge.
The cost is $350 for the initial consultation and $800 per pellet treatment with no charges for the boosters. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is not covered by insurance. I also ask that patients follow up with a round of nutritional supplements (the first round is covered in the costs; after that we charge a small fee for supplements). These supplements help support the body during hormone therapy. These include iodine which is vitally important, DIM (dinndolylmethane)—a phytonutrient found in cruciferous veggies like broccoli that helps prevent the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, and vitamins D3 and K2.
