Myths and Facts About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

If you’ve been on the fence about whether to try bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to get you through the hormone fluctuations of menopause, you aren’t alone. There’s a lot of misinformation circulating about this treatment.

Kelly Gebauer and our team at Healthy Lifestyle Medicine in Cheyenne, Wyoming, are here to set the record straight about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and how it can help you enjoy this transition in your life and protect your health while you’re at it.

First, a word about BHRT

Hormone replacement therapy has been used for any years as a way to rebalance a woman’s hormones during perimenopause and menopause. It was invented in 1941, and it soon became the number one prescription drug in the United States under the name Premarin. 

The drug’s name is a clue about its origin: pregnant mare’s urine. Because horse urine contains estrogen that closely resembles a human’s, it became the go-to drug to treat the symptoms of menopause.

Although this version of HRT helps some women overcome their menopause symptoms, it isn’t right for everyone. In fact, a worldwide controversy over the safety of HRT broke out in 2002 when the Women’s Health Initiative study revealed that post-menopausal women who take hormone therapy that contains both estrogen and progestin put themselves at high risk for:

• Heart disease
• Breast cancer
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Urinary incontinence

This report triggered a decline in HRT use and a corresponding decline in breast cancer cases.

Today, a safer, more natural option is available — bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, some women may steer clear of this beneficial treatment because they assume it’s the same as the older treatment — it isn’t.

Here are some of the most common myths about BHRT and the facts you should know.

Myth #1: It’s better to tolerate symptoms than to take BHRT.

If you think it’s better to grin and bear it rather than take BHRT for your menopause symptoms, think again. Menopause symptoms are more than mere annoyances; they’re factors that can degrade your overall health by leading to:

• Bone loss
• Weight gain
• Sleep problems
• Depression and anxiety
• Decreased libido
• Vaginal dryness and painful sex
• Digestive issues
• Headaches

At the very least, these symptoms lower your quality of life, but they can also wreak havoc on your health by contributing to osteoporosis, mental health issues, relationship challenges, the inability to concentrate, and sleep deprivation.

Myth #2: BHRT puts you at risk for serious health conditions.

Though regular HRT has been shown to trigger some pretty serious health problems, no studies show the same is true for BHRT.

BHRT is FDA-approved and is derived from plants. These hormones match your own exactly even at the molecular level — thus the name, bioidentical. Your body accepts and tolerates BHRT without a problem.

Myth #3: BHRT will put you on a hormonal roller coaster.

Wrong. The one-size-fits-all HRT predecessor to BHRT often causes a surge of hormones followed by a waning that can make some women feel like their body and their emotions are erratic and unpredictable. 

However, BHRT is a time-released therapy that delivers precise dosages based on your unique needs in steady streams, so you can cruise through your day with confidence and comfort.

Myth #4: BHRT requires you to take a pill every day forever.

Although some BHRT prescriptions are oral, it also comes in patch and injection form. Each of these require daily, weekly, or monthly management.

However, at Healthy Lifestyle Medicine, we use Pellecome® pellets to administer BHRT. We insert the tiny, rice-sized pellet under the skin in your hip, and you can forget about it for three to four months. That means, you only need to come back three to four times a year for another dose rather than worrying about daily or weekly pills, patches, or injections.

After a thorough exam, Kelly Gebauer determines the precise formula that will address your hormonal imbalance, then she has it custom-compounded to match your unique needs exactly. You won’t find that assurance with any other type of HRT.

To learn more about BHRT and find out if it’s right for you, schedule an appointment with Kelly Gebauer by calling or booking online today.