Natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical hormones are created in a laboratory at a compounding pharmacy, and have the same molecular structure as hormones made by the human body. Unlike mass-produced synthetic hormones, bioidentical hormones are compounded individually for each patient, and are based on specific estrogen and testosterone levels.

Bioidentical drugs are used by women experiencing severe menopausal symptoms. The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) regimen is used in conjunction with diet and exercise to balance hormones. HRT is also helpful in maintaining a more youthful appearance and higher energy level, but most proponents of bioidentical HRT recommend using the prescription-grade drugs only until the body's own hormones are balanced.

Side effects of both natural and synthetic HRTs include blood clots, increased risk of breast cancer and reduced mind function. The Food and Drug Administration does not recommend the use of HRT. Studies by the Women's Health Institute, however, have narrowed the risks to specific populations and time frames: Women over 60 and more than 10 years past the onset of menopause are at the greatest risk for serious side effects; women under 60 with fewer than 10 years of menopausal symptoms receive the greatest benefits, outweighing the potential for complications. Studies of bioidentical HRT continue, but the more individualized treatments are believed to have better odds of avoiding risks.

Women taking HRT experience withdrawal symptoms if treatment is suddenly stopped. The endocrine system, which produces hormones, relies on the extra hormonal input from the prescribed drugs. Some women experience more severe menopausal symptoms than before treatment began, while others have problems with sleep or digestion. Removal of HRT drugs should be done gradually under a doctor's care, allowing the body adequate time to resume producing hormones on its own.

Bioidentical hormone replacement drugs are used for weight loss as well. Some doctors prescribe a compound of human growth hormones that is believed to reverse many signs of aging, including decreasing the amount of body fat,increasing lean muscle and bone mass and reversing neurological damage that causes dementia. Practitioners ordering bioidentical HRT for weight loss tout the therapy as a means to achieving prime metabolic function and a more youthful look.

Online pharmacies offer patients a virtual office setting to research bioidentical HRT and receive prescriptions. Physicians recommend a personal check-up and continued follow-up, but the decision to take HRT ultimately belongs to each patient. Sites, such as Body Logic MD, provide useful information for patients considering treatment, and allow them access to medical consultations as well as HRT prescriptions.