My Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Story
In the late fall of 2019, I was a miserable 52-year-old woman. I weighed more than ever in my life. My sleep was terrible, I was waking up with night-sweats and drenched PJ's. I was also starting to have hot flashes. I felt ugly, over-weight and stuck.
I was connected to a friend of my sisters from our high school. She had mentioned on Facebook that she had lost a bunch of weight, and she looked genuinely happy in her pictures. I reached out to her and learned that she had a "diet" doctor who had prescribed her a pill. All I heard is that she had lost weight and seemed happy and frankly I would have pretty much done anything to be in her shoes. She gave me the name of her doc and I called immediately. I reached out in September, once I had gotten a referral from my primary care doc and was told the first available appointment was December 1st. He was a very busy and popular guy, apparently!
How do I know if I need HRT
Low libido or sexual dysfunction
Weight gain
Loss of muscle mass
Bone Density Loss
Mood Swings
Hair Loss
Changes in Menstrual Period
Hot Flashes or Night Sweats
Trouble Sleeping
Brain Fog or Forgetfulness
Why does it Happen? Menopause is a natural process triggered by the body's production of fewer hormones and the ovary's aging.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy vs. HRT
There are two ways hormone therapy can be prescribed. Bioidentical or Conventional HRT.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
BHRT involves the use of hormones that are structurally identical to the hormones naturally produced in the body, particularly estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone.
Bioidentical hormones are derived from plant sources, such as soy or yams, and are designated to replicate the molecular structure of hormones found in the human body.
BHRT is often compounded on an individual basis to meet the specific hormonal needs of each person.
While the individual hormones used in BHRT are FDA-approved, the compounded formulations themselves may not be FDA-approved, as they are tailored to individual needs.
Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT typically refers to the use of hormones to supplement or replace hormones that the body may not produce in sufficient quantities. Often used during menopause or in cases of hormonal deficiencies.
HRT can involve the use of synthetic hormones or hormones derived of animal sources.
Many HRT formulations are FDA-approved and available in standardized doses.
Common synthetic hormones used in HRT include conjugated equine estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate.
HRT often uses standardized doses, and the ratios of hormones in these formulations may differ from the natural hormones in the human body.
Benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
The main benefit of HRT is that it's effective at relieving most perimenopause and menopause symptoms, such as:
hot flushes
night sweats
sleep problems caused by menopause
anxiety and low mood caused by menopause
vaginal dryness
Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Doctor
At my initial consultation, my very popular "Diet" doctor talked about nutrition and ladies' hormones. The first order of business was to meet with a nutritionist and then get bloodwork. Upon receipt of the bloodwork at my 2nd appointment he prescribed a bioidentical hormone from a compounding pharmacy in Colorado. He said I'd have to pay for it out of pocket, but the good news is that it would be sent directly to my home. I agreed.
He was able to code the bloodwork and the visits in a way that my insurance covered the cost minus my deductible. As I mentioned, Bioidenticals are not generally covered by insurance, and you'll likely have to pay for them out of pocket.
The pill he prescribed had bioidentical estradiol, progesterone and testosterone all in the one pill. My first prescription arrived about 7-10 days later. I was to break the troche pill in half and take one-half each morning and evening. The cost was about $75 per month.
I saw him about every 60 days immediately after bloodwork and we would evaluate my hormone levels. He tweaked my dosages a few times before we got it just right.
The night-sweats had stopped along with the hot-flashes. My moodiness and short temper had improved, and I felt like I was on the road to recovery. The improvement in my symptoms was enough to keep me motivated and to stay on course with the diet and intermittent fasting I had also started about the same time.
My opinion and experience - Bioidentical Hormone Reviews
I went on to lose 28 pounds over six months and have kept that off to this day.
Cons - The constant trips to the doctors' office were a pain. I would schedule a 1/2 day off work for an 8-minute conversation with him. It could have been done via telehealth and saved me a lot of time, gas, and PTO. At the time, I wasn't really aware of how troches (the pills) absorbed through the liver. I prefer to have my estradiol and progesterone in a cream that I rub on my skin.
Pros - I can't even begin to explain how much more normal I felt. The night-sweats got better within a week or two. I was so excited to be losing weight that I was on cloud nine. Fitting into a size 8 pair of jeans, made me "walk on sunshine!"
In the beginning of 2024, I switched my whole HRT routine. Due to the popularity of telehealth, so many more HRT companies have stepped up to provide women options.
I have opted to see a telehealth, online HRT specialist/doctor and both my estradiol and progesterone are in a cream formulation. I feel the same and prefer the cream to the original troches I was taking.
I don't foresee any reason to stop the Bioidentical Hormone Therapy and as long as my doctor and I agree that its benefit outweighs any possible risks. I'm in for the long haul.
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