What is Bioidentical Hormone Therapy?

Bioidentical hormone therapy, also known as bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) or natural hormone therapy, is a treatment that boosts the levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone when your body isn’t making enough of them.

Estrogen and progesterone are the female sex hormones that regulate fertility and reproduction. Levels of these hormones naturally decline as you enter menopause, signaling the end of your reproductive years.

What are the advantages of bioidentical hormone therapy?

Conventional hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, primarily uses synthetic, laboratory-derived hormones. Because of the mass-produced, artificial nature of the product, there are two drawbacks to conventional HRT that don’t apply to bioidentical hormone therapy.

Firstly, the hormones used in conventional HRT may not be biocompatible with your body, meaning you either don’t absorb them fully or they cause side effects. Bioidentical hormones are refined from plant sources and have the same chemical structure as the hormones your body produces naturally, ensuring effective absorption and minimizing the risk of side effects.

Secondly, conventional HRT has a uniform composition, so every patient receives the exact same product. Meanwhile, BHRT enables customization to better meet your precise needs.

Why would I need bioidentical hormone therapy?

Bioidentical hormones are most often used to treat the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. While some women find they experience few difficulties during the transition into menopause, others struggle with any number of uncomfortable and distressing problems, such as:

• Hot flashes

• Night sweats 

• Mood swings

• Irritability

• Loss of libido

• Fatigue

• Thinning hair and dry skin

• Vaginal dryness

• Incontinence

• Painful intercourse

One of the most problematic symptoms of menopause is the effect it has on menstruation, which can become unpredictable for several years before stopping altogether.

Endometrial ablation is an effective solution for most of the symptoms caused by menopause, as the procedure removes the lining of your uterus (the endometrium).

Why would I need hormone therapy after endometrial ablation?

For most women, endometrial ablation reduces or resolves some of the more unpleasant aspects of hormonal imbalance, making the transition into menopause less of a trial. The endometrium is responsible for many hormonal problems, but endometrial ablation removes it with minimal discomfort or disruption to your day.

In some cases, however, patients continue to experience hormonal symptoms following the endometrial ablation procedure, in which case a course of bioidentical hormone therapy can ease any remaining symptoms.

Schedule a consultation at The Ashford Center online or by phone today for more information on endometrial ablation and bioidentical hormone therapy.