Women's Health BHRT for Women What is BHRT?
What are Bioidentical Hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are hormones with exactly the same molecular structure as those found in the human body. You might already recognize some of their individual names, like: estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone. Others are less commonly known, such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), melatonin, estrone and estriol. Both estrone and estriol are like hormone by-products and are created when the body metabolizes estradiol, the main estrogen produced in an ovary. Compare what is known about bioidentical and non-bioidentical hormones:
| Bioidentical Hormones | Non-bioidentical Hormones |
| Chemical makeup is identical to that in humans | Chemical makeup is not identical to human hormones |
| Exactly fits receptors | Fits receptors well, though not exactly |
| Impact on other tissues is well known | Impact on other tissues is not very well known |
| Fewer negative side effects | More known side effects |
| Less effect on clotting factors (exception: oral estrogens) | Increased effect on clotting factors |
| Valuable for heart health | Less advantageous to the heart |
For years, doctors have been using the following substitutes for hormones:
- In place of estradiol: Premarin®, conjugated estrogens, estradiol valerate, ethinyl estradiol, et al.
- In place of progesterone: medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) under the brand name Provera®, norethindrone acetate, drosperinone, levonorgestrel, et al.
- In place of testosterone: methyl testosterone, tibolone, et al.
Women’s body tissues – bone, breast, and uterus - were evaluated. Each of the above substitutes showed physiological activity similar to the bioidentical hormone in women’s bodies. Still, the activity was NOT IDENTICAL IN EVERY TISSUE. The primary problem with using the bioidentical substitutes is that very lack of identical activity. Bioidentical hormones act within virtually every bodily organ system. The human body has evolved during millions of years of natural selection, to utilize each hormone for specific purposes throughout the body.
On the other hand, drugs are intended to achieve specific results in a particular tissue. Drugs are tested to see if that tissue is affected in the way in which it was intended. For example, did the artery relax and lower blood pressure? Did bones become denser? Did a neuron stop firing and then the mind grew calmer? Did hot flashes cease? Other effects of a drug on another organ system are considered to be side effects. Those side effects are not studied as extensively as the intended effect; but are merely noted. If side effects are too severe or happen too often in too many people, a drug will not be approved, even if it achieves its intended effect in the target tissue. Sometimes though, side effects are missed in studies toward the approval process, because they are too subtle, occur gradually over many years, or the correct instruments are not used (or have yet to be developed) to detect them.
So, when a woman loses her estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, we choose not to replace them with a drug that may only achieve a particular effect in one or two organ systems. Instead, our approach at OptiGenics is to replace the natural hormones to restore their effects in all her tissues. Why wouldn’t everyone? Why would anyone want to replace the hormones that decline due to menopause with anything other than the exact same hormones? Blame the misplaced pride of modern medicine along with regulations in the patent system. These lead pharmaceutical companies and academic researchers to create hormones that are marginally altered versions of bioidentical hormones, which can then be patented and marketed.
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