Tag Archives: BHRT

Expanding Your Practice with Hormonal Health

August 27, 2021

As awareness of the importance of hormones and their health implications grows, the hormone health industry will continue to evolve and expand at rapid rates. Over the past several decades, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has experienced a surge in popularity, driven by increased advertising, growing accessibility, and treatment innovations. Now increasingly provided under the wing of personalized medicine, hormone therapies are currently used to treat menopause, andropause, thyroid disorders, hypogonadism, as well as other disorders of the endocrine system. As the prevalence of these conditions is on the rise, so is patient demand for HRT solutions, and more specifically bio-identical hormone-based products. At this time, incorporating hormonal health solutions into your service offering provides a great opportunity for practice expansion and patient growth.

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Women’s Hormones: The Safety of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy 

April 16, 2021

The field of hormone replacement therapies, and in particular bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), has received considerable attention in recent years as it may offer a potential natural alternative treatment for hormonal balances affecting both men and women. While BHRT has been most commonly prescribed for the treatment of menopause symptoms, it can also be used to improve symptoms related to cancer treatment, insulin resistance, thyroid disorders, and many other health conditions. The use of this therapeutic method is increasing in popularity as awareness of the natural alternative grows and patient preferences continue to change.

The Benefits of BHRT

Chemically identical to hormones produced by the body, bioidentical hormones are derived from plant estrogens and come in a variety of forms including pills, gels, and injections that allow for ease of use that strengthens treatment adherence. BHRT is often prescribed as patients age and their hormone levels begin to decrease, especially in the case of women who enter perimenopause or menopause to improve the moderate-to-severe symptoms associated with this transition. Furthermore, hormone replacement therapies have been found  to reduce the risk for diabetes, tooth loss, as well as cataracts while potentially improving skin thickness, hydration, and elasticity. For post-treatment cancer patients with decreased estrogen levels, BHRT has shown efficacy in improving general wellbeing and overall quality of life; it may also alleviate some treatment-related symptoms such as migraines and insomnia.

Associated Risks

Nonetheless, this class of therapeutics has been tied to side effects with current research showing that hormone replacement therapy in general may increase the risk of certain conditions including blood clots, stroke, heart disease, and breast cancer. Additionally, BHRT therapy has been associated with acne, bloating, weight gain, fatigue, and mood swings as common side effects, which may deter some patients from the treatment. The risks and potential for side effects should be evaluated on an individual basis as they vary among women depending on their health history.

Compounded Bioidentical Hormones and FDA Regulation

Custom made by pharmacies per physicians’ orders, compounded bioidentical hormones typically include ingredients combined or altered to meet the specific needs of an individual patient. While such formulations may be effective when tailored correctly, it is important to note that the FDA has not approved any custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapies to date. Also, many bioidentical hormones are manufactured and sold with limited safety, quality, and purity controls. As such, clinicians are encouraged to maintain caution in prescribing compounded bioidentical hormones.

To safely and effectively prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapies and other similar therapeutics, clinicians are invited to join the upcoming Women’s Hormones online course taking place from October 5-17, 2021, expertly designed to build clinical confidence and prepare practitioners for any patient scenario.

The Truth Surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapies

September 14, 2017

Earlier this week, JAMA published findings surrounding the uses and consequences of menopausal hormone therapy: a subject that has been considered contentious and controversial for several decades–in large part due to the outcome of the Women’s Health Initiative Study, which was halted prematurely in 2002 because of data that indicated the combination of Premarin (estrogen) and Provera—an artificial form of progesterone known as progestin—increased heart disease and breast cancer.

Yet the results are far more complex and nuanced: most people are unaware of the fact that women who had hysterectomies only received the premerin, while other women received the combination pill. The only increase in breast cancer that occurred was in the latter group; when estrogen is combined with progestin, the ability of estrogen to cause stimulation of breast tissue is increased—yet estrogen alone does not. The group who only received estrogen actually showed a decreased risk of breast cancer; moreover, the estrogen was protective even when women were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Jennifer Landa, MD, Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD, has dedicated her practice to bioidentical hormone therapy and preventive medicine, in order to assist men and women resolve menopausal and andropausal symptoms. Dr. Landa explains that results are often contingent upon the ways in which hormones are administered, in addition to the fact that not all hormones are created equally. “Only someone trained as an expert knows the good and bad, and really understands the studies. When we talk bioidentical, it is a way of saying the same exact chemical structure of what is in our body naturally. People do not realize that there are already plenty of prescriptions with bioidentical hormones.”

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy technically refers to the use of hormones that mimic the endogenous hormones produced by our bodies. Landa clarifies that much of the hormone literature is inaccurate, because most of the studies are conducted with ‘bad’ hormones, like progestin. Landa further discusses a study at Yale, years after the 2002 study—after which women came off of hormones in droves—in which researchers and scientists state that the women only taking estrogen should have stayed on it, and that many more women died of heart disease because they were taken off of their hormones. After retrospectively analyzing and assessing the data of the Women’s Health Initiative study, it was found that women who began hormones during menopause had decreased risks of heart disease. Landa terms this the ‘timing hypothesis,’ stating: “Timing is of the essence in hormone therapy. Unfortunately, many doctors are still not schooled properly in this area. Even the American College of OBGYN has agreed that we should not be taking older women off of hormones, as symptoms will likely recur.”