What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

Our sex hormones naturally decline as we age. Women experience menopause and men experience andropause. We all feel the best in our 20s and 30s. As time goes on, more and more young people who should be in their prime are having hormonal issues. Fertility issues, PCOS and low sperm counts are rampant. The EDCs are also causing children to enter puberty at an earlier age than in the past. What can I do about it? I always recommend a good liver detoxification program along with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

What's Causing These Hormonal issues?

Our environment is very toxic. There are over 400 new chemicals that are introduced every year. These toxic chemicals are call endocrine disrupting compounds or EDCs. These EDCs are even found in umbilical cord blood and breast milk. These EDCs can hijack our hormone receptors so our hormones can’t dock with the proper receptor. They can also interfere with our hormone production.

Estrogen

You have estrogen receptors on your reproductive organs, breasts, brain, gut, kidneys, eyes, bones, lungs, vocal cords, immune system, hair follicles, skin (collagen) and blood vessels and many more. Estrogen deficiency causes fat deposition around the hips, waist and thighs, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, memory lapses, decreased muscle mass, insulin resistance, bone loss, increased inflammation, weak immune system, aging skin and blood vessels.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

FSH is follicle stimulating hormone. It triggers the release of estrogen in women and drives spermatogenesis in men. High FSH in women in women occurs during menopause. High FSH in in men indicates that the testicles are not functioning properly which leads to a low sperm count.

Progesterone

You have progesterone receptors on your reproductive organs, breasts, brain, gut, kidneys, eyes, bones, lungs, vocal cords, immune system, hair follicles, skin (collagen) and blood vessels and many more. Premenopausal progesterone deficiency can cause heavy bleeding during your period, acne, depression, headaches, infertility, irregular periods, low libido, metabolic syndrome, mood swings, PCOS, sugar cravings and weight gain. Perimenopausal progesterone deficiency can cause anxiety, low libido, hair loss, headaches, hot flashes, insomnia, irregular periods, metabolic syndrome, mood swings, night sweats, rapid aging, sugar cravings, tender breasts, weight gain. Postmenopausal progesterone deficiency can cause anxiety, depression, hair loss, headaches, insomnia, mood swings, sugar cravings, weight gain. Low progesterone in men can cause depression, anxiety, mood swings; sexual issues: low libido and erectile dysfunction; physical issues: loss of muscle mass, bone density, hair loss, weight gain, memory loss, prostate enlargement and increased risk of certain cancers.

Testosterone

Testosterone is a sex hormone (androgen) that helps male features develop. Testosterone is made in the testes and the adrenal glands in men. The pituitary gland in your brain controls the amount of testosterone your body makes. Testosterone levels in men drop as they age. Low testosterone in men can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, hair loss, loss of muscle mass, increased body fat, low libido, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, swollen breast tissue, hot flashes, poor sleep and osteoporosis. Testosterone is made in the ovaries, adrenals and peripheral tissue in women. Low testosterone in women can cause low libido, fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of muscle mass, mood changes and reduced cognitive function. It is important for reproductive health; the development of new RBCs and it helps with vaginal lubrication.

What can I do about it?

I always recommend a good liver detoxification program along with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. It is best to detoxify your liver as that is where the majority of your hormones are converted and their metabolites are then removed from the body. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) uses compounds found in nature that look exactly like the hormones we make. They behave exactly as hormones do in our bodies. Because these compounds are natural, they cannot be patented. Prescription hormone replacement medications are not natural compounds and can be patented, these compounds don’t look exactly like our own hormones, don’t behave exactly like our hormones and have significant side effects. BHRT protects our bones, brain, memory, muscle mass and motivation as well as many other things as we age. It is never too late to start BHRT. The older you are the slower your doses are increased. I recommend you start having your hormones tested in your 40s. If you have any of the symptoms listed above at an earlier age or have PCOS they should be tested earlier. Your provider will test your hormone levels to see where they are and create an individualized recommendation for you to give your body what it needs.