Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Q: Are Bioidentical Hormones Safer (BHRT) then HRT?

A: Bioidentical hormone therapy is promoted as a safer alternative to standard hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopausal symptoms. The suggestion is that hormones that are made to be more like what your own body made before menopause will be safer to take or use than conventional HRT. However, because no matter what BHRT is made from, soy or wild yam, synthetic processing is required to create a substance that the body can use. Furthermore, there is no evidence that bioidentical hormones are more effective or safer than non-bioidentical ones, especially when it comes to breast cancer risk.

A change in the prescription medications available for treating menopause symptoms is long over due but that still doesn't change the bottom line: It's not safe or normal to have reproductive levels of hormones our entire lives. That's why menopause happens.

It has become increasingly clear that women should avoid taking any form of hormone therapy (HRT and BHRT) altogether, and if you do decide to take any type of hormone therapy do so knowing personal risks and take HRT or BHRT for only a very short period of time.

Did you know?
More than 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history or risk factors.