What is bioidentical hormone therapy?
While we have been hearing more about bioidentical hormone therapy in recent years, the truth is that it has been on the market for quite some time.
This boom is due to the fact that bioidentical hormones are exactly the same as our own hormones. Therefore, bioidentical hormone therapy has many benefits because it helps to maintain the hormones that have been lost without the risks associated with the hormones that have been administered until now.
From the age of 35 onwards, testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone levels begin to decline. In order to maintain optimal hormone levels, preventive medicine is necessary. Along with a healthy lifestyle, hormone supplementation can help maintain quality of life over time.
The vast majority of hormonal treatments, such as oral contraceptives, are composed of equine oestradiol and progesterone that is not the same as ours, progestins. But bioidentical hormones are always much better because they mimic what we produce endogenously.
Bioidentical hormone therapy cannot be administered indiscriminately to all women, although the vast majority would likely benefit from it. It is very important to determine which woman and why the therapy should be applied so that these bioidentical hormones have protective and beneficial effects.
At Clínica Planas, we offer a 100% personalised consultation and our team of specialists will assess:
1. The appropriate dose
2. The best way to apply bioidentical hormone therapy.
One of the most important and distinctive features of bioidentical hormone supplementation is its route of administration, which obviates the need for oral intake.
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Treatment during menopause
All the symptoms associated with the decline in steroid hormones become much more pronounced during menopause, so it is important to address this problem with a multidisciplinary team.
It is essential to have good nutrition in terms of both macronutrients and micronutrients—zinc, vitamins, magnesium—and a good quality of life, but sometimes this is not enough and bioidentical hormone therapy is needed to make ageing less pronounced, healthier and improve quality of life for women.
F.A.Q.
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What are bioidentical hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are plant-based (mainly yams and soya), laboratory-synthesised hormones that are exactly the same as the ones our bodies produce. Traditional hormone therapy and hormonal contraceptives are composed of hormones derived from animals, specifically pregnant mares in the case of oestrogen, and are not exactly the same as ours.
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What is this hormone therapy used for?
Optimal hormone levels are essential for women's health and quality of life, and from the age of 35 onwards, these levels begin to decline. Therefore, if there is a decrease in this hormone concentration, ageing accelerates along with alterations in cardiovascular health, muscles and bones, and the central nervous system. So bioidentical hormone therapy is not only administered for aesthetic reasons, but in certain women who have a pronounced drop in hormones, this therapy goes one step further and prevents health problems.
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Do bioidentical hormones cause weight gain?
No, bioidentical hormones do not cause weight gain. If we lead a healthy lifestyle and eat a proper diet, bioidentical hormone therapy should not cause any weight gain, as these hormones are similar to the ones we produce ourselves. Bioidentical hormone therapy can also help prevent weight gain during the menopause, as it improves metabolism and body fat distribution.
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How are these hormones used?
These bioidentical hormones can be administered in cream or implant form. The important thing is that the route of administration is not oral, because it is the hepatic passage when taking hormones by mouth that produces the harmful effects that everyone associates with hormones. Creams may contain testosterone, oestrogen, and progesterone, and implants are usually made of oestrogen and testosterone. Testosterone is a more important hormone than it seems in hormone supplementation after menopause. It helps improve symptoms such as insomnia, fatigue, lack of vitality, low sex drive, loss of muscle mass, and changes in body fat distribution.
The choice between cream treatment and implants depends on clinical assessment, the required dose and the woman's preferences. -
Who is this type of treatment intended for?
Bioidentical hormone therapy is intended for all women who require hormone supplementation because, for whatever reason, they have experienced a decrease in these hormones, and always under medical advice. Women with the following symptoms should receive bioidentical hormone therapy: 1. low sex drive, insomnia
2. irritability
3. hot flashes
4. vaginal dryness
5. tiredness or fatigue
6. weight gain
7. change in body fat distribution.
Researchers are also studying its role in preventing ageing in women with fewer menopausal symptoms. This is because the decline in hormones after menopause accelerates ageing and raises the risk of conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
Cholesterol is the precursor to all sex hormones. Therefore, women who are given treatment to lower their cholesterol because it is high reduce their cholesterol levels so much that it is impossible for them to produce optimal hormone levels. In these cases, treatment with bioidentical hormones would be highly recommended.
Bioidentical hormones are also recommended for women experiencing vulvovaginal dryness during menopause, to promote healthier ageing and a better quality of life during this stage.
It should be noted that cortisol and DHEA (a precursor to oestrogen and progesterone) compensate for each other, meaning that in a stressful situation, cortisol increases and then DHEA increases to stabilise. However, from the age of 35 onwards, stress levels increase significantly, causing cortisol to rise and DHEA to decline, leading to accelerated ageing. It is therefore advisable to use bioidentical hormone therapy as a preventive measure in women who are unable to keep up with the pace of life.
From an integrative point of view, bioidentical hormones can also be used because they are a perfect complement. For women undergoing laser or skin regeneration treatment to solve other problems, it is advisable to provide hormone treatment to make it more effective and long-lasting. For example, skin regeneration has great results for treating severe vulvovaginal atrophy, but the results are much better when paired with bioidentical hormones.
Expert opinion
With the onset of menopause, our ovaries irreversibly stop producing the sex hormones: oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. This causes symptoms (hot flushes, fatigue, insomnia, irritability) and changes in the body (increased abdominal fat, vaginal dryness, joint pain), but that does not necessarily mean we have to accept these changes. Bioidentical hormone therapy consists of supplementing what each woman needs, on an individualised basis, to improve her quality of life. It is not true that we have to live half our lives without hormones. There are alternatives.
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