There is lot of hype around bio-identical hormones. Bioidentical hormone therapy is a form of treatment to fight menopausal symptoms. There is countless debate in medical science, whether this therapy is safe and risk free, and is it safer than any other hormonal therapy. If you are also here to find answers to the questions regarding the safety measure of BHRT then you are at right place. Let’s begin now.
What is bioidentical hormone?
There is a lot of confusion about the right meaning of “bioidentical”. In simple words, these hormones are medications that are prepared using chemical matches to balance the hormones in women during menopause.
Are there different types of such hormones available?
The answer is yes. There are basically two types of hormones available. One is prepared by the drug companies. This type of hormones is FDA approved and it is always sold in standard amounts. Second type is those prepared at special drug stores called as compounding pharmacies. These hormones are customized to meet the need of individual patients. Remember these are not the FDA approved ones but still work on menopause symptoms when taken under recommendation of a well qualified doctor.
Why FDA doesn’t approve compounded bioidentical hormones?
FDA does not approve compounded hormones for the simple reason that these products are not standardized ones. Even without FDA approval they are safe to take when prescribed by a doctor. Such products are given to patients who are allergic to FDA products that contain an additive.
Are compounded hormones safer than FDA approved ones?
Compounded products do not have different safety profile compared to those approved by FDA. They are safe only when taken under the supervision of qualified doctors. This is because, doctors do a thorough check on the patients and find out if the patient is allergic to stabilizer used in FDA products. If yes, only then he recommends compounded products.
Can bio-identical products be taken for an indefinite period?
The answer is no. Any medicine taken for indefinite period unless it is strictly required brings health risks along with it. Hormone therapies do bring risk of breast cancer along, and therefore, health experts recommend a minimum dose of such products for shortest possible time depending upon the need of patients going through menopause. However, it doesn’t mean that taking these hormones for longer period of time is not safe. It all depends on the symptoms and needs in individual patients.
What are the different tests performed to find out hormone imbalance in the body?
There are two types of tests performed. This includes ‘Saliva Test’ and ‘Blood Test’. For few patients only saliva test gives the result while some have to undergo both the tests. This totally depends on the doctor and the symptoms of the patients’.
Are the two tests FDA approved?
Yes. These tests are approved by FDA, but only to diagnose menopause systems not for tailoring hormone treatments.
Can this hormone treatment be taken without consulting an expert?
It is never advisable to do so. There are many reviews and blogs available on the internet that talks about bioidentical therapies. Even celebrities talk about it. It is a good idea to read these reviews before consulting an expert, as you will know what to look for and ask the expert. However, never take any medications without the consent of an expert.
Author’s Bio : Tracy Stacy has written this article about the questions and concerns that are commonly associated with bio-identical hormones therapy. They also offer specialized treatments on medical weight loss at their Denver clinic. For more information, please check out their website.
