Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can help both men and women regain optimal hormone balance, improve quality of life, and slow aging. This in-depth guide from Equilibrium Hormone Clinic covers the basics of bioidentical hormones, common deficiency signs and benefits of treatment, innovative delivery methods, advice for getting started, and more.
Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones naturally produced in the human body. They are sourced from plant compounds and custom-formulated for each patient based on lab testing.
Common bioidentical hormones used in replacement therapy include:
Key Takeaways:
Synthetic hormone medications like birth control pills and certain testosterone preparations are not molecularly identical to human hormones. This increases the risk of side effects.
In contrast, bioidentical hormones have the same structure as natural hormones, making them easier for the body to metabolize and use efficiently. This generally results in better symptom relief with fewer risks.
Hormone levels naturally decline with age, but sometimes they fall out of balance at suboptimal levels, causing troubling symptoms.
Common signs of hormone deficiency include:
If multiple hormone levels are declining, generalized symptoms like chronic fatigue, trouble sleeping, mental fog, and emotional changes may predominate.
Key Takeaways:
Restoring hormones to optimal levels can provide wide-ranging benefits:
In both sexes, balancing hormones has also been shown to:
| Patient Profile | Symptoms | BHRT Results |
|---|---|---|
| 48-year-old woman |
|
| |35-year-old man |
|
|
Key Takeaways
Since hormone decline happens gradually, symptoms are often chalked up to aging or stress. But identifying deficiencies with lab testing allows for targeted, effective treatment.
We recommend testing the following hormone levels every 1-2 years starting in your 30s:
Women: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid (T3 & T4)
Men: Testosterone, thyroid
Initial and follow-up tests should include free and total hormone levels, providing the most accurate information on deficiencies.
Equilibrium Hormone Clinic partners with leading national labs to provide comprehensive testing at competitive prices, ensuring accurate results.
Interpreting Lab Results
Hormone levels within the following general ranges are considered optimal. Ranges may vary slightly between labs.
| Hormone | Standard Ranges |
|---|---|
| Estradiol (E2) | Women: 50-350 pg/mL (postmenopause: 0-50 pg/mL) |
| Progesterone | Women: 1-27 ng/mL (postmenopause: 0.1-0.8 ng/mL) |
| Testosterone | Women: 15-70 ng/dL Men: 300-1050 ng/dL |
| Free Testosterone | Women: 0.1-6.4 pg/mL Men: 5-21 pg/mL |
| T3 Uptake | 22-35% |
| T4 (Thyroxine) | 4.5-12 mcg/dL |
| T3 (Triiodothyronine) | 80-200 ng/dL |
| TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) | 0.5-3.0 mU/L |
Key Takeaways
The process of beginning bioidentical hormone replacement is straightforward:
1. Complete lab testing to identify which hormones are low and need replenishing
2. Schedule a consultation with an Equilibrium Hormone Clinic specialist to review results and create a customized treatment plan
3. Begin taking individually formulated bioidentical hormones to restore levels
4. Follow up with testing and adjustments every 3-6 months to ensure optimum symptom relief
We offer consultations in-clinic or via telehealth for your convenience. Appointments with our board-certified providers last 45-60 minutes on average, providing ample time to address all your questions and concerns.
Key Takeaways
Beyond traditional tablets and capsules, bioidentical hormones can now be administered via:
Pellets and injections avoid processing by the liver, resulting in higher hormone absorption. This can benefit patients who don't respond sufficiently to other methods.
Equilibrium Hormone Clinic compounding pharmacy offers all these delivery methods to meet individual needs.
| Form | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral (capsules, tablets) |
|
| Patients starting with low doses | | Topical Creams |
|
| Patients needing low to moderate doses | | Pellets |
|
| Patients needing moderate to higher doses for symptom relief | | Injections |
|
| Patients preferring injections | | Patches |
<
ul>
| Patients needing low to moderate doses |
Key Takeaways:
To maximize the benefits of bioidentical hormones:
Adding these simple healthy habits provides an ideal internal ecosystem for bioidentical hormones to work optimally.
Key Takeaways:
Balanced hormone levels play a major role in men's mood, cognition, and sexual health.
Testosterone directly impacts:
When testosterone drops, men often first notice sexual symptoms like low libido and erectile dysfunction.
But testosterone also influences key brain areas that regulate cognition and emotion like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. Deficiency can contribute to:
Restoring testosterone, along with lifestyle factors like exercise, sleep, and stress reduction, can improve this spectrum of hormonally-driven mental health issues.
Key Takeaways:
While bioidentical hormone replacement alleviates troubling symptoms, it also provides anti-aging effects that support longevity.
Hormones help slow cellular aging through:
When our hormones decline, these protective processes slow down, accelerating aging.
Balancing hormones not only makes you feel better now but invests in a healthier future. Patients report maintaining active lifestyles into their 70s, 80s, and beyond with bioidentical HRT.
Equilibrium Hormone Clinic specialists stay up to date on the latest anti-aging research to help patients thrive across the lifespan.
Key Takeaways:
Conclusion
We hope this guide has enhanced your knowledge of bioidentical hormone therapy for balancing essential hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid. Please explore the rest of Equilibrium Hormone Clinic's website to learn more about our treatment philosophy, convenient telehealth services, competitive pricing, and outstanding patient care. We look forward to helping you regain your best health, quality of life, and sense of well-being!
