avoid some diseases associated with aging, such as dementia, heart disease and stroke, as well as alleviating the symptoms of menopause in women and andropause in men. Although the terms are similar, “bioidentical hormone replacement therapy” should not be confused with “hormone replacement therapy,” which was performed for many years. Hormone replacement therapy actually used chemicals, premarin and provera, that acted like hormones but were in fact synthetic alternatives. Because they were different enough from natural hormones, they could be patented with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and because the synthetic chemicals acted similarly to hormones in the body, they helped with the symptoms of menopause. However, because they weren’t identical to the hormones that occur naturally in our bodies, they had side effects, such as
an increase in the risks of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke. After realizing the negative effects of synthetic hormones were having in their patients, anti-aging doctors realized they should instead be using the exact, biologically identical hormones. In doing so, they found this new biologically identical hormone replacement therapy didn’t cause an increase in the risk of heart disease, breast cancer and stroke. Further, they found when you have your hormones optimized up to the healthy physiological levels, it actually reduces the risk of all the diseases of aging. Most people notice the symptoms of perimenopause, the period before menopause or andropause, in their 40s and 50s, which includes fatigue, low energy, trouble sleeping, loss of libido, weight gain, anxiety, depression and night sweats. When you measure the
HEALTH & WELLNESS
hormones of people experiencing these symptoms, the hormone levels are often lower than they would have been when they were at their physical peak. When a client comes in for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, anti-aging experts will assess, with saliva, urine or blood tests, the exact levels of each hormone at different times of the day and discuss how to optimize the levels of each hormone to bring the body back into balance. Within two to four months of treatment, many patients will notice a change in their symptoms of menopause and andropause, their energy levels, their skin tone and their overall appearance. If you’re interested in learning more about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, consult your doctor to see whether it’s right for you and seek out an anti-aging physician who specializes in this treatment.
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