Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Integrative Health Physicians - Dr. Roberta Foss-Morgan
This type of hormone replacement
therapy is not new to medical science, physicians have known about
it for quite some time, especially in European countries. The word
"bioidentical" simply refers to hormones that have been
chemically synthesized in order for them to be the same or
identical to the endogenous hormones Testosterone, Estrone,
Estradiol, Estriol and Progesterone that we produced when we were
much younger, say 20 years old. Over the years, we ingest hormones
from the air, our drinking water and the fruits, vegetables, meats
and fish we eat that are not essentially the quality of hormones
that our bodies require as we age. In fact, some of these hormones
are not really hormones at all. Physicians say they simply create
a hormone-like effect in the human body which in turn causes our
bodies to interrupt the production of the natural hormones that it
makes for us to stay healthy. Bioidentical hormone replacement
therapy is primarily used by integrative health physicians for the
treatment of menopause, as well as perimenopause and
post-menopause.
Bioidentical hormone replacement is
a "natural" alternative to the hormones and steroids in
the commercial market which are largely synthetic. Bioidentical
hormones are made from plants like soy beans and yams or from
animals such as pigs and horses. The hormones that are produced
from plants must be chemically altered in their molecular
structure in order to be identical to that which is naturally
produced by the human body. Although hormones are indeed vital to
plant growth, plants do not have glands for the secretion of
hormones like that of animals.
Integrative health physicians know
that custom compounding by special pharmacies is a critical step
in the success of hormone replacement therapy that utilizes
bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical hormones are natural, in that,
while they are manufactured in a lab they are identical to the
hormones that are naturally produced by our bodies and cause few
side effects. Bioidentical hormones can be matched individually to
each woman's needs by their integrative health physician.
The purpose for hormone replacement
varies from woman to woman and often depends on many different
factors according to physicians including but not limited to
preexisting health conditions, a patient's age and a patient's
history of reproductive health. Each hormone replacement regimen
by integrative health physicians is dependent on the chemical
balance and make-up of the patient. It is individualized for
maximum health benefit and should only be administered by a
physician. Hormone replacement therapy using bioidenticals is the
natural health solution to many different illnesses and maladies.
Integrative health physicians find that this type of therapy is
conducive to good health and well being for the mind, body and
spirit.
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