Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Safe?
For people entering midlife who are not feeling their best, with anything appearing to help, it may be time to consider hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
This is a treatment regimen that typically supplements estrogen and/or progesterone for women — or testosterone for men — to restore healthy hormone levels and balance.
While hormone replacement therapy has been available since the 1960s, the use of synthetic hormones and their potential for causing serious side effects has fueled considerable controversy.
But the increasing availability of bioidentical hormones, which possess the same molecular structure as the hormones produced by the body, and better methods for delivering hormones to the bloodstream, has led to the development of much safer and more effective HRT.
When to Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy: The Symptoms to Look for
Lab tests are required to confirm or rule out low hormone levels or imbalances, but you or your doctor may begin to suspect a problem based on the symptoms you’re experiencing.
Symptoms for women
Symptoms of low estrogen or progesterone or a hormone imbalance in women include the following:
Symptoms for men
Men experiencing low testosterone (low-T) typically experience one or more of the following symptoms:
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Done properly, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers the following health and fitness benefits:
In addition, testosterone specifically reduces the secretion of beta-amyloid cells associated with Alzheimer’s disease and improves cognitive function, while progesterone increases bone mass.
Opting for Bioidentical Hormones
Many of the studies revealing the possible dangers of HRT focus on the use of synthetic hormones, such as medroxyprogesterone (Provera) and Premarin (conjugated equine estrogens), which are not chemically the same as human hormones.
These pharmaceuticals mimic human hormones and may actually interfere with the body’s natural hormones and hormone receptors, increasing their risks.
Bioidentical hormones have the same molecular structure as those the body produces. As a result, when administered properly, they are as safe and effective as human hormones.
Delivery Methods
Here at BioDesign Wellness Center, we offer four options for safe and effective bioidentical hormone therapy:
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Capsules allow for precise dosing, quick and easy dosing adjustments, and support for higher doses than topical applications. And they’re pain-free. A drawback is that the capsules must be taken daily.
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Creams are convenient and pain-free and eliminate the need to swallow pills. The disadvantages are lower absorption, inconsistent dosing, poor support for higher dosing, and the increased risk of exposing others to excess hormones (mostly through skin-to-skin contact).
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Injections are convenient, and they can be self-administered. They ensure 100 percent absorption and allow for quick and easy dosage adjustments.
The drawbacks are the pain and discomfort of receiving an injection every 1-2 weeks, although, with some products, injections are required only about every 10 weeks. We typically recommend injections for men, but women may also prefer this method.
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Pellets are convenient and deliver a consistent level of hormone into the bloodstream over a long period of time (typically 3-5 months for women and 4-6 months for men).
The drawbacks are that they must be surgically inserted below the skin (usually near the hip), which poses a slight risk of infection. Additionally, changes to dosages can only be made when new pellets are inserted. We typically recommend pellets for women.
More About Pellets
Pellets contain hormones (estradiol or testosterone) compressed into tiny cylinders about the size of a cooked grain of rice. A small incision is made in the lower abdomen or upper buttocks, one or more pellets are inserted beneath the skin, and the incision is closed with sutures or tape strips.
The pellets dissolve over time, so they don’t need to be removed. You can expect to feel relief from two days to two weeks after the pellets are implanted.
After the pellets are implanted, you must avoid any vigorous physical activity, bathing, and swimming for about five days. You can take a shower but avoid scrubbing the area for about a week until the area is fully healed.
Possible adverse side effects of pellet therapy include minor bleeding, bruising, swelling, discoloration, itching, infection, and the possibility of the pellet backing out of the insertion site.
Consult Your Doctor about Your Interest in Hormone Replacement Therapy
If you’re not feeling your best, we encourage you to make an appointment to consult with a doctor who fully understands the critical role that hormones play in overall health and who takes an integrative approach to treating patients.
Diminishing hormone levels may or may not be the root cause of why you’re not feeling your best. All possible causes should be carefully explored and addressed before proceeding with HRT.
Here at BioDesign Wellness Center, we approach hormone replacement therapy as “the cherry on top.” We test for and treat the root causes of whatever is ailing you and then, if necessary, add HRT to optimize your health and wellness. A word to the wise: Avoid hormone replacement clinics that approach HRT as a cure-all. It’s not.
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Disclaimer: The information in this blog post on hormone replacement therapy is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect current medical thinking or practices. No information contained in this post should be construed as medical advice from the medical staff at BioDesign Wellness Center, Inc., nor is this post intended to be a substitute for medical counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, this post without seeking the appropriate medical advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a licensed medical professional in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.