About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement
Q: What are Bioidentical Hormones?
A: Bioidentical hormones are exact molecular duplicates of the hormones your body produces, like the human insulins for a diabetic. These are NOT drugs or nutritional supplements.
Q: Why does a person need hormone replacement?
A: As we mature our bodies slow down in their production of natural hormones. Most well known is menopause for women, where estrogens (estradiol and estriol) and progesterone are no longer produced by the ovaries. In men, production of testosterone will often decrease in an age-related manner. Sometimes, hormones produced by the thyroid gland and the adrenals (such as cortisone and DHEA) can be reduced as well. If your laboratory work shows that your levels are not up to par for you, supplementation or replacement can bring your hormonal levels and their function back to their previous more youthful standards. The result is like a reset button to a younger you.
Q: Do Bioidentical hormones, such as estrogen (estradiol and estriol) increase your risk of cancer?
A: NO. Bioidentical hormones do not increase your risk of cancer, unlike synthetic drugs like Premarin or Provera which have been shown to increase your risk for some cancers. In fact, using bioidentical hormones has been shown to reduce your risks of some cancers. For example, progesterone replacement may exert a protective effect for some cancers such a breast and uterine cancer. Your body's hormones have physiologic effects, not unintended "side effects" like drugs.
Q: Are Bioidentical hormones given by injection?
A: NO. Most hormone replacements are applied to the skin as a cream, or, dissolved under your tongue. Injections are NOT required and Dr. Norton does not use injections for hormone replacement in her practice. Only thyroid replacement can be absorbed from your GI tract as an intact molecule. Therefore, other routes of administration must be used for absorption of estradiol (estrogen), progesterone and testosterone.
