What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy? An Expert Explains

For as long as I’ve been a compounding pharmacist, I’ve worked with patients on bio-identical hormone therapy and it’s also an area that has consumed a great deal of my research. Because pharmacy compound fuses research-based evidence with more natural and suitable therapies, I’m always on the lookout for the best ways to help our clients feel better. There is a lot of information out there on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), but because it’s a topic many often misunderstand, I’d like to explain it in more detail so you understand how it works and who it’s for.​

What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?Bio-identical hormones have the same chemical structure as hormones that are made by the human body. They are derived from plant sources (e.g. yams or soy), yet they are identical in chemical structure to the hormones produced by the human body. This makes them far more able to naturally rebalance a person’s hormone levels because it’s done so in a way that the body recognizes.

Synthetic, or “conventional” hormones, such as Premarin or PremPro, have been chemically altered and therefore are not identical to the hormones found in the human body. The structure of these hormones may be responsible for the side effects that are experienced when using “conventional” synthetic hormone replacement therapy, such as weight gain, acne, facial hair in women, breast tenderness, spotting, and moodiness. For this reason, hormone replacement therapy is often given a bad rep, but if it’s bioidentical, there is scientific evidence to support it is far safer for the body and typically much more effective.

How Patients Take BHRTBHRT is available in various dosages and delivery systems. Here at Pioneer Health Center, we work in collaboration with patients and practitioners to meet each individual’s needs to ensure proper dosing and delivery. Pharmacy compounding can address these unique preferences and requirements by customizing every prescription based upon a thorough analysis of expressed symptoms and hormone level test results.

For example, if a patient has a gluten or dairy allergy, we can easily compound their medication to be free of these ingredients. Or, if a patient prefers a certain delivery form, such as oral or topical, we can develop that for them so that it’s easy for them to take.

BHRT is One Part of the EquationBHRT, just as any other medication or supplement, is not a “magic pill”, but rather one of the components of a multi-faceted approach to hormone health. Effectively restoring hormone levels also includes blood sugar management, cortisol regulation, making changes to the diet, reducing stress, and eliminating environmental toxins. All of these factors can contribute to hormone imbalance in the first place, which is why we take a holistic view of a patient before administering something like BHRT to ensure all facets of the equation are addressed so they have the greatest chance of achieving their goals and feeling better.

Balance Your HormonesBecause we’re both a compounding pharmacy and functional medicine practice, we can work with clients to not only provide BHRT but also do hormone testing via functional lab work and help clients implement all other parts of the hormone health equation.

To begin, apply to work with us and we will be in touch with you soon!