Have you heard of Bioidentical Hormones? Let's find out exactly what they are! (Bioidentical Hormones)

Do you also feel any changes in your body as you turn 40 or 45? You get angry for no reason, you feel like you have no energy, you suddenly wake up at night with a hot body and sweat... These are probably familiar to you. Most of the time, these are symptoms that occur due to the fluctuation of hormone levels in women's bodies as they approach menopause. So, in this article, we are going to talk about one treatment method that can help you overcome these discomforts. That is Bioidentical Hormones. You may have heard of this name.

Simply put, what are these Bioidentical Hormones?

Okay, let's first look at what hormones are. Hormones are like chemical messengers produced by glands in our bodies. Like a postman, these hormones carry messages to each part of our body saying, "Okay, now you do this." These hormones affect almost every process in our body. So even a small imbalance in these hormone levels can throw our whole day into disarray.

Now let's move on to Bioidentical Hormones. Simply put, these are hormones that have been synthesized in a laboratory with a chemical structure that is completely identical to the hormones naturally produced in our bodies. These are often made from plant-based materials. It's like taking a template of a hormone that we have in our bodies and making one ourselves.

Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which decrease in women's bodies as they age, are most commonly given in this way. Sometimes, testosterone is also given in this way.

This treatment method is called Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, or (BHRT) for short.

There are two types of these hormones - let's find out exactly the difference!

There is one important thing you must understand when learning about this: These Bioidentical Hormones come in two main forms.

1. FDA-Approved Hormones: These are manufactured by large pharmaceutical companies, manufactured according to specific standards, tested for safety and efficacy, and approved by agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They come in various forms such as pills, creams, gels, and patches.

2. Compounded Hormones: These are the most talked about type. Here, a pharmacist at a pharmacy mixes these hormones specifically for you, based on a prescription from your doctor. These are called 'Compounded Bioidentical Hormones'.

Now here's the problem. These compounded hormones, as mentioned earlier, have not been extensively tested and approved by government agencies. There is very little scientific data on their safety, side effects, and efficacy. Even though they are advertised as "better and safer because they are tailored to you," there is still not enough scientific evidence to support that claim.

Let's understand this difference a little more clearly.

Why do people turn to these hormone treatments?

Many people turn to these treatments because of the discomfort that usually occurs when the body's hormone levels decrease with age. This is like putting new batteries in a dead flashlight. The goal here is to restore the body's depleted hormones and control the symptoms that arise as a result.

These are the most commonly seen symptoms:

• Hot flashes: A sudden feeling of heat.
• Night sweats: Excessive sweating at night.
• Vaginal dryness: The vagina becomes dry and therefore intercourse becomes painful.
• Loss of interest in sex life.
• Insomnia or sleep problems.
• Feeling of extreme fatigue and lifelessness.
• Weight gain.
• Mood changes such as getting angry for no reason and feeling sad.
• Memory loss and inability to concentrate.

For those whose daily lives are severely affected by these symptoms, hormone therapy can provide significant relief. However, there is not enough evidence to prove that bioidentical hormones are better than traditional hormone therapy. Therefore, your doctor will determine what is best for you based on your symptoms and health history.

Are these treatments not suitable for everyone? What are the risk groups?

Yes, this is very important. Hormone therapy is not for everyone. People with certain health conditions may be at increased risk from using it. If you have, have ever had, or are at increased risk for any of the following conditions, your doctor may not recommend this treatment for you.

• For those who have or have had breast cancer .
• For those with heart or cardiovascular disease .
• For those who have had a stroke .
• People with blood clotting disorders (for example, blood clots in the veins of the legs).

How are these hormones delivered to the body?

There are several ways to deliver these hormones to the body. The method you choose depends on your convenience and your doctor's recommendation.

• Pills: In the form of tablets taken by mouth.
• Patches: Like a plaster that sticks to the skin.
• Creams and Gels: As a cream or gel applied to the skin.
• Shots: By injection.
• Implanted pellets: Small pellets that are placed under the skin.

Sometimes, if one method doesn't work, your doctor may tell you to try another method.

How does the doctor determine the dosage?

A doctor will constantly monitor a person taking hormone therapy. The main goal here is to control your symptoms by using the lowest possible dose of these hormones for the shortest possible time.

Some doctors may order blood, urine, or saliva tests to check your hormone levels. However, the FDA says that since women's hormone levels vary greatly from day to day and from time to time, it's not very accurate to base your dosage solely on those test values. In particular, saliva tests haven't been shown to have a link to menopausal symptoms.

What are the risks and side effects?

This is the most important part. If anyone says that bioidentical hormones are "natural" and therefore risk-free, they are wrong. There are risks with any hormone therapy. Research has shown that taking hormone therapy,

• Risk of blood clots
• Risk of stroke
• Risk of gallbladder disease

It may also increase your risk of heart disease and breast cancer if you are older or have been taking hormone therapy for a long time.

Although some doctors who use bioidentical hormones say they are safer than traditional hormones, there has not yet been enough research to prove that.

Common side effects

You may experience some side effects at the beginning of treatment, as your body adjusts to the new hormone levels. Most of the time, these will go away on their own within a few days. Sometimes, your dose may need to be adjusted.

If you are using a patch, cream, or gel, you may experience itching or redness where you apply it.