Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
What is BHRT?
BHRT is a method of balancing hormones that decline with age. It includes the replacement of Testosterone, Estrogen, and Progesterone with their NATURAL forms and NOT SYNTHETIC derivatives.
Important Points:
- Bioidentical hormones are the safest and most effective way to treat menopause and andropause symptoms.
- Because bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical to your body’s own natural hormones, they fit the hormone receptors in your body like a key fitting into a lock. When administered correctly, they will work exactly as nature intended.
- Synthetic hormones are not identical to natural hormones and will not be absorbed properly by hormone receptors.
- Synthetic hormones can cause increased risk of cancer and other side effects. For example, the synthetic hormone progestin has been linked to breast cancer in women.
Signs & Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance
Hormone imbalance can manifest in many different ways. Depending on the hormone affected symptoms include but are not limited to:
- FATIGUE
- CONFUSION
- IRRITABILITY
- DECREASED LIBIDO
- MUSCLE ACHES
- ANXIETY
- HEADACHES
- DIZZINESS
Why do we test hormones in saliva?
Steroid hormones in the bloodstream are 95-99% bound to carrier proteins, and in this form are unavailable to target tissues. Saliva testing measures the amount of hormone available to target tissues – the bioavailable amount. For this reason, saliva testing better relates to specific symptoms of excess or deficiency, and is a good option for monitoring hormone therapy.
