Because of some recent big-time celebrity endorsements, bioidentical hormones and their use in hormone replacement therapy have been getting a lot of press and even a little bit of controversy. We’ve narrowed down the facts you need to have at hand before you start figuring out what this is all about. Read through these and keep yourself informed!
#5: The Difference in Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Has to do With the Makeup of the Hormones.
Here’s the key fact to keep in mind — bioidentical hormones are chemically equal — yes, ‘identical’ — to those that are produced by the human body. This isn’t the same for other hormones, which don’t always match up.
#4: There’s a Perfectly Good Reason Some Aren’t FDA Approved.
The FDA doesn’t have a system in place to approve compounded hormones when they’re made by a special type of pharmacy. The reason this system doesn’t exist is simple — the hormones are ‘customized’ to each person, so the FDA would have to sit down and approve literally hundreds of thousands of hormone replacement therapy solutions every year.
#3: Make Sure Your Compounding Pharmacy is Reliable.
As a result of #4, it’s essential to make sure the compounding pharmacy you’re dealing with has been fully vetted, either by your doctor, or by a relevant approval board — take a look at the PCAB (Pharmaceutical Compounding Accreditation Board) for a good barometer, and make sure whoever you go with employs a lot of quality assurance.
#2: Oprah is Taking Them!
Yep, we know — there’s nothing like an Oprah recommendation to drive interest in a specific product sky-high. Acai berries were just one example of this, and unfortunately it means that you can find a lot of misinformation online by people looking to make a quick buck. Make sure you rely on a source that’s highly quoted and checked out.
#1: Keep A Balanced Approach For the Best Results.
There’s simply no substitute for proper nutrition, exercise, and lowered stress — in other words, an over-all approach to health. Especially if you’re dealing with menopause, remember that hormone replacement therapy (bioidentical or not) is never going to solve all your problems. Stay realistic and you’ll have a much better chance of success.
Finding a bioidentical hormones doctor can be done online. There are plenty of bioidentical hormone therapy doctors who will provide you with information and advice on how bioidentical hormones can help you.
