The decision to begin Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) should take place between a patient and their qualified provider. Look for years of experience, board certification, and qualifications in preventive and age management medicine. A good baseline evaluation to determine each patient’s best course of treatment begins with a comprehensive blood panel, physician consultation, and diagnostic testing.
Believing that you can begin a BHRT treatment without customizing the hormones to each unique patient profile is a common mistake made by providers leaning on pharmacies as the primary oversight for BHRT treatment. A combined look at health history, patient symptoms, blood work, and other relevant health factors is a critical first step to benefiting from natural hormone optimization. Ongoing monitoring with your provider once Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapies begin ensures the best results over time.
Be cautioned about “one size fits all” BHRT programs in a box. The focus should be on overall health and wellness. Concentrating on one sole benefit, such as libido, may place you out of balance for other critical disease management and wellness benefits. Hormone management that is bioidentical includes hormones that have the same molecular structure as the human body’s natural hormones. Therefore, both human hormones and bioidentical hormones have the same biological action. Treatments may include:
- estrogen hormones
- progesterone
- testosterone
- adrenal hormones such as DHEA and cortisol
- pregnenolone
- thyroid hormones
- melatonin
- Vitamin D
Bioidentical hormones are custom formulated for each individual patient. Bioidentical hormones generate normal, physiological responses from the human body when replaced in the doses required by the body. Doses should be managed routinely in conjunction with your provider.
