Bio-Identical hormone replacement

Suzanne Somers and Dr. Tang at Anti-Aging Conference in Las Vegas 2010

Dr. Travis Stork from The Doctors and Dr. Tang Dr. Tang with Travis Stork from The Doctors

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is the replacement of hormones that diminish with the body’s natural aging process with hormones that will restore a physiological equilibrium. When the therapy is administered properly by a fully qualified HRT physician, it can greatly improve the patient’s quality of life. As with most hormone replacement therapy, BHRT has been immersed in ongoing controversies for over a decade.

Women’s Health Initiative conducted multi-center studies of menopausal women. Studies and research halted upon the discovery of a significantly increased risk of invasive breast cancer and coronary heart disease, and these discoveries by far outweighed any benefits a patient received from HRT. Naturally, a media and public frenzy resulted in panicked women and a multitude of concerns and questions about being on the hormones. The media, however, failed to inform the public that WHI studies used oral, synthetic hormones not Bio-identical hormones.

At Rejuve, our goal is to help inform women about their options so that they can make the choice that’s best for them. A woman’s hormonal balance is ideally in a dynamic equilibrium that shifts from day to day, week to week, and through the years. When you give your body the support it needs, it can effectively reset itself, because it’s equipped and programmed for balance and wellness. So we recommend beginning with the gentlest form of support possible to allay your discomfort and tweaking it as you go. We’ll support you in any way we can, each step of the way. The good news is that women can feel incredibly healthy right through menopause.

What are bio-identical hormones?

Bio-identical hormones are designed to mimic the body’s naturally produced hormone chemicals. “Bio-identical” simply means that the chemical structure of the replacement hormone is a close to identical to the body’s natural hormones as possible. This being said, the Bio-identical hormone is metabolically processed in a similar way as the body’s natural hormones. BHRT allows for a higher bio-availability, more effective and efficient hormone utilization by the human body, as well as less side effects as the traditional HRT. The traditional means of hormone replacement is metabolized by the liver causing hypertension, elevated cholesterol and increased clotting issues and strokes.

BHRT is a safe and very effective therapy that endocrinologists and anti-aging physicians have prescribed to their patients for many, many decades. Just a few of the benefits of BHRT include, but are not limited to fewer side effects than with synthetic hormones; improved cholesterol levels; decreased risk of endometrial and breast cancer; reduced hot flashes and vaginal dryness; better sleep, mood, and concentration; and increased libido.

Suzanne Somers at the A4M Meeting talking about Bio-identical Therapy – Part 1

This therapy is used to aid in the treating of menopausal, perimenopausal, and post-menopausal symptoms. Relief for all symptoms is provided by BHRT. Mood, feeling of well-being and your overall satisfaction with yourself and your life are all improved with this treatment.

BHRT hormones are typically created via a unique “cocktail” of hormones specific to the individual patient’s body and needs based on hormone deficiencies discovered via the analysis of the patient’s blood samples. These hormones are often labeled as “custom-compounded” hormone products. Again, a major benefit to this type of treatment is that our physicians use hormones deficiencies found within your own body to personalize your specific hormone replacement therapy.

Even though BHRs have been around for years, most physicians are not very familiar with them or their benefits. Currently, there are several branded BHRs available for use in the kind of hormone replacement therapy typical of synthetic hormones, which are typically all one-dose-fits-all regime. In our practice, however, we find that we are most successful while administering a much more individualized therapy. We begin the process with lab tests of hormone levels, also known as a “hormone panel.” When needed, we then prescribe a precise, individualized dosage of bio-identical estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and/or DHEA, thyroid, growth hormone. We then monitor the patient carefully via regular hormone panels to ensure she gets symptom relief at optimal dosage level. In the initial stages of the therapy, we perform a hormone panel test every three to six months. Once hormone balance is restored, a panel is needed only once a year at the time of the patient’s annual exam.

BHRT can provide answers to many questions, but it is not necessarily the first place to begin when hormonal imbalances occur. In our vast experience, a majority of women can rebalance hormone levels without drug use or HRT. A large percentage of women can find relief through a much more natural approach combining medical-grade nutritional supplements, adrenal support, and dietary and lifestyle modifications. It is a fact of life that as women age they will need some form of hormonal balance aid, which often does include estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, thyroid, and growth hormone.

To date, there are numerous case studies and massive amounts of research proving that synthetic hormones do have the potential of causing long-term side effects. BHRT have yet to be well-studied and vigorously researched. Dr. Tang always takes the cautious approach by recommending his patients never think of any drug or therapy as 100% safe. A common sense approach is recommended: ongoing evaluation and blood test monitoring to decrease any possible risks until more studies are performed to confirm BHRT as compared to synthetic treatments.

Suzanne Somers on hormone therapy for Menopause Part 2

Suzanne Somers on hormone therapy for Menopause Part 3

Dr. Tang will discuss both benefits and risks of BHRT so that you may make an educated decision that is right for you and your health. Also discussed will be the importance of good nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle choices and possible changes along your journey to better health with natural hormones. Eating right and exercising are both critical aspects of BHRT. However, if your hormones are imbalanced, your body will not respond at the optimal level to improved nutrition and exercise. As your hormones become more balanced and your lifestyle choices improve, you will begin to feel like your old self with improved energy, vitality, and overall great results.

Men experiencing male menopause who want to get a grip on weight gain, lost libido, fatigue, stress, energy, muscle mass, and body fat are also finding solutions through natural hormone therapy. For men, andropause happens gradually and when diagnosed, the symptoms are successfully treated using bioidentical HRT such as testosterone, HGH, DHEA, along with other vitamin supplementation.

BHRTs include:

A comprehensive review of symptoms, medical, family, and personal history
Testing of saliva, urine, blood, and stool
Natural hormone balancing
Vitamin analysis and supplementation
Liver detoxification
Colonic health check
Ongoing evaluations
Quality compounded pharmacy
Highest quality supplements

BHRT comes in a cream, a suppository, oral, sublingual or injection form. The best form for each patient is based upon individual deficiencies and symptoms along with personal preference