HORMONE RESTORATION THERAPY

Bio-identical hormone restoration therapy (BHRT) is the process of  restoring hormones that are normally produced by your body. This therapy uses synthetically derived hormones made from yams, soy or another plant sources and is also known as natural hormone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, there often seems to be much confusion surrounding the use of the terms ‘natural’ and ‘bio-identical hormones’, and I hope to address such confusion here!

Conventional hormone therapy, which uses commercially available products, sometimes claims to be natural, but this only refers to the source from which it was derived. While the hormones used in conventional treatment may be taken from a natural source (such as plants or even horse urine!), alterations to the chemical structure of the hormone generally results in a product that is far from bio-identical. These unnecessary modifications are made for patent and market purposes and are often presented to doctors by drug representatives.

Because commercially available hormones are often altered versions of those naturally produced in the body, they are not always recognized. These hormones will roughly fit the body’s receptors and produce a similar function that your natural hormones induce, but not without a long list of side effects. Very often, commercially available hormones will produce effects that are several times stronger than what the body generally requires, while also occupying hormone receptors that would otherwise be occupied by your own hormones. This leads to improper hormonal functioning. Some side effects include bone-loss, increased cholesterol levels, elevated risk of certain cancers, sleep problems and many more.

But the news is not all bad. While conventional hormone therapy can lead to unwanted health risks, there are many scientific studies showing the benefits of BHRT over conventional hormone therapy, and I would encourage patients to educate themselves on the difference between the two. Please feel free to contact the Ageless Me clinic to find answers to any questions that you may have. Ageless Me offers consultations and all of our staff have the knowledge to help you make an informed decision about your own treatment.

Michael Forbes
Owner / Pharmacist
Forbes Pharmacy