Bioidentical Hormones
Topic Overview
Bioidentical hormones are made in
the laboratory and are based on compounds found in plants (usually soy beans or
wild yams). Unlike supplements containing soy or wild yam extract, a
bioidentical hormone product has been processed by a specially trained
compounding pharmacist.
After the plant-based hormone is
processed, its structure is said to be identical to the
estrogen,
progesterone, or
androgen hormone your body produces. (Well-designed
studies have yet to prove this theory.2) A compounding
pharmacist can offer you a custom-made formulation in one of many forms, such
as a capsule, skin cream or gel, tablet to dissolve under your tongue,
suppository, or nose spray. Some commonly prescribed estrogens and
progesterones are bioidenticals, such as Estrace (estradiol).
Just like synthetic hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormone
replacement is prescribed to increase or stabilize a woman's hormone levels.
This is generally done during perimenopause, when hormone levels change
unpredictably, and after menopause, when the hormones drop to low levels.
The most important fact to remember about taking bioidentical HRT
is that its risks are not yet well understood. It may have the same breast cancer, stroke, blood clot, heart disease, and dementia risks that synthetic HRT has.1
References
Citations
- North American Menopause Society (2010). Estrogen and
progestogen use in postmenopausal women: 2010 position statement of the
North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 17(2):
242–255. Also available online: http://www.menopause.org/PSht10.pdf.
- Watt PJ, et al. (2003). A holistic programmatic
approach to natural hormone replacement. Family and Community Health, 26(1): 53–63.
Credits
| By |
Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer |
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer |
Carla J. Herman, MD, MD, MPH - Geriatric Medicine |
| Last Revised |
May 4, 2010 |
Last Revised:
May 4, 2010
North American Menopause Society (2010). Estrogen and
progestogen use in postmenopausal women: 2010 position statement of the
North American Menopause Society. Menopause, 17(2):
242–255. Also available online: http://www.menopause.org/PSht10.pdf.
Watt PJ, et al. (2003). A holistic programmatic
approach to natural hormone replacement. Family and Community Health, 26(1): 53–63.
