At our bioidentical hormone consulting & compounding pharmacy, we answer your questions about Bioidentical Hormone Therapy. Our aim is to help you make your safest decisions.
schedule your BHRT Consultation today Bioidentical hormone therapy in Maryland
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What are hormones?
Hormones are like ear-catching music played in a beautiful but sometimes discordant symphony. Each gland in the endocrine system is like an array of musicians, which create a unique sound in an orchestra. But, when the musicians play too soft or loud, too slow or fast, and they don't harmonize with the others, the sound produced by the orchestra may be annoying to the audience.
Hormones control many crucial functions of the body, such as health, mood, and behavior. They are humans' most essential chemical messengers to maintain balance in this utterly complex ecosystem. However, in today's modern world, where we are bombarded by acute stress, exposure to harmful chemicals, and unhealthy eating habits, keeping the hormones in balance is not easy.
Why is hormone balance so important?
As men or women grow older, the hormone levels in their bodies start to drop, resulting in unwanted changes, such as decreased energy levels, reduced libido, and increased stress. These changes may seem like an inseparable part of the aging process. Still, groundbreaking advances in medical science have given us the ability to reverse many of these undesirable changes by restoring depleted hormones and creating a newer, happier individual.
You may have heard that hormone replacement is a harmful therapy, yet your doctor says it is safe. You may get a second opinion from a homeopath who tells you that bioidentical hormones are safe because they are made from yams. Your mom told you scary stories of hormones causing cancer and strokes, but your best friend tells you hormones saved her marriage and her sanity, and you don't know what to believe. There are tens of other questions that may pop up in your mind.
Do you need hormone replacement therapy?
Most women start to explores the idea of hormones and weigh their options for hormone replacement therapy when they start to experience perimenopausal symptoms at the end of their 4th decade of life. In general, menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation due to the loss of ovarian function.
It is associated with various symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swing, irritability, anxiety, depression, vaginal dryness, low libido, emotional lability, poor concentration, and sleep disturbance, negatively affecting women's quality of life (sign and symptoms of menopause).
Postmenopausal hormone therapy (HRT) is a practical, well-tolerated treatment for menopausal symptoms.
Is bioidentical hormone therapy safe?
Like other medical treatments, hormone therapy has some risks depending mainly on the (i) age of the patients, (ii) years of being menopause and (iii) their medical histories, such as the history of breast cancer or blood clots and the class of the steroids used for the therapy.
Class A and D of hormones are mainly used in traditional or medical hormonal therapies. These hormones are not identical to the endogenous hormones produced in the body and may cause unwanted side effects.
In a study in 2002, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) revealed that using conjugated equine estrogen (class A) and synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate (class D) hormones has increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer in women compared to the control .
At Vashan Compounding Pharmacy / Bioidentical Hormone Consulting, we help you make your safest decisions. We also request blood work & saliva test for Follow-ups.
schedule your Free BHRT Consultation today What will you expect in your first visit?
One of our healthcare providers/ hormone consultant pharmacists at our compounding pharmacy will talk to you about your hormone deficiency or dominance symptoms and their effects on the quality of your daily life.
Then we walk you through our unique approaches to alleviate these symptoms and get your feet on the path of living your best life.
We start by connecting with your gynecologist or primary physician. We will check hormone blood levels and/or saliva test which will be used to design a customized or tailored treatment plan for you.
We will follow up by calling monthly to track your compliance with use of customized compounded prescriptions. If needed, we will tailor the treatment plan along the way for better results.
Typically, within couple of weeks those frustrating hot flashes and night sweats will disappear gradually and you feel better. Overall, the triangle of Patient-Physician-Pharmacist (PPP) will be performed at our Pharmacy for the best results.
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Frequently Asked Question
What is hormone replacement therapy?
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medical intervention to restore the depleted levels of female hormones (estrogens) after menopause. HRT is the most effective approach to alleviate the symptoms of menopausal hormone deficiency, such as hot flashes, night sweats and low energy.
What are bioidentical hormones?
Bioidentical hormones have an exact biological-chemical structure to the hormones naturally produced in the human body. Due to this similarity, they can replicate the function of the body's natural hormones and have a high potency and safety profile compared to synthetic hormones. They are mainly extracted from natural sources and plants such as Mexican yam and undergo biochemical modifications (bio-transformations) to become identical to human hormones. Bioidentical hormones include Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), Progesterone, Testosterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and Pregnenolone.
What are compounded bioidentical hormones?
Compounded bioidentical hormones are formulated and customized based on the specific needs of each patient. These formulations are prepared after a thorough analysis of each patient's medical history and hormone levels. Every person has a unique body and will respond to therapy in a specific way; thus, close monitoring and medication adjustments are crucial.
What are the different types of BHRT?
BHRT comes in different varieties and formulations; but the forms that we compound are: creams, gels, troches, oral capsules, vaginal creams, and vaginal suppositories. Based on your lifestyle and needs, the hormone specialist chooses the formulations that suit you the best.
Can men also benefit from bioidentical hormones?
Bioidentical hormone therapy is NOT only for women. Men can also benefit a lot from hormone replacement therapy. Andropause is a condition that affects every 1 in 200 men. Its symptoms are similar to menopause in women, including loss of energy, reduced libido, night sweats, and insomnia. For these patients, testosterone therapy is used to Improve physical well-being and mood, increase stamina and strength, and decrease possible cardiovascular diseases risk.
Can BHRT use for weight loss?
Weight gain is mainly due to a lack of hormones or high stress hormone (cortisol) in both men and women. In men, testosterone, and women, estrogen and progesterone are the hormones that regulate weight. Testosterone breaks down the stored fat, especially in the abdomen. Estrogen helps with appetite and craving for food, and progesterone converts fat into energy. When the levels of these hormones are low and not balanced in the body, weight management becomes hard. Thus, BHRT treatment that gets the hormones back on track ensures a more sustainable weight loss journey.
At our bioidentical hormone consulting & compounding pharmacy, we answer your questions about Bioidentical Hormone Therapy. Our aim is to help you make your safest decisions.
schedule your BHRT Consultation today