What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Are you curious if hormone replacement therapy is right for you? Wondering what the differences are between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones? Then you’ve come to the right place. At Bion Aesthetics and Med Spa in Indianapolis, IN, we can help you understand the differences and why we use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with our patients.

BHRT is the balancing of hormones in one’s body. The levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone are key lab markers to look at when evaluating if a patient is a good candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormones have the exact same chemical structure as those produced by the body, making them easily absorbed and put into action.

Bioidentical hormones act exactly like a man or woman’s own hormones because they are exactly like a man or woman’s hormones.

Non-bioidentical hormones, often called synthetic, are made of substances that are foreign to the body. Synthetic hormones are not exactly like your endogenous hormones – so it’s not surprising that there are many unwanted effects from synthetic hormones, which are not experienced by men or women using bioidentical hormones.

A large body of evidence shows that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is safer and more effective than synthetic hormone replacement. During your BHRT treatment, your provider Annamarie Salyer FNP-C will regularly measure and monitor hormone levels (along with patient symptoms) to ensure optimum results.

Side effects of hormone imbalance may include:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Brain fog and poor memory
• Painful sex
• Decreased sex drive
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety
• Weight gain

Benefits of hormone replacement may include:

• Improved lean muscle mass
• Improved libido
• Improved sexual performance
• Improved energy
• Improved quality of sleep
• Reduction in hot flashes
• Reduction in menopausal symptoms

YES! Both men and women can receive benefits from BHRT. When men get their hormones tested we can see a few different markers that can be improved. Testosterone, estrogen, PSA, SHBG. Some men need testosterone. Some men need lifestyle recommendations to lower estrogen, and potentially supplements help with the detoxification of excess estrogens. It all depends on your labs.

Women can benefit from just a small dose of testosterone, progesterone, or estrogen. Some women are overproducers of estrogen, under-producers of estrogen, under-producers of testosterone, etc. Women that are recommended testosterone – it will not make you “manly” or grow excessive facial or body hair.