If you’re a woman going through menopause, or a man going through andropause, your hormones are in a state of flux. This affects all aspects of your body, and it can send you on an emotional roller coaster.
One way to diminish the effects of these “changes of life” is to use bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to stabilize your hormone levels, putting you on a more even keel.
At Viva Health, with locations in Clifton and Clark, New Jersey, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Aleksander Bodnar uses bioidentical hormones to restore balance to your life. Here’s what you need to know about the therapy and the many options you have to take advantage of it.
What are bioidentical hormones?
Bioidentical hormones are usually created from plant estrogens, which are chemically identical to the hormones produced in the human body. That means they interact normally with your hormone receptors, allowing your body to keep running without the midlife hiccups.
Dr. Bodnar also uses compounded formulas, custom-made medications that contain the bioidentical hormone combined with other medications that meet your specific needs.
While the FDA has approved some forms of manufactured bioidentical hormones, it hasn’t approved custom-compounded varieties. However, when Dr. Bodnar uses these preparations off label, he does so with the utmost care and regard for your safety.
6 delivery systems for bioidentical hormones
Bioidentical hormones come in a variety of forms, including:
- Pills
- Pellets (testosterone and estrogen)
- Patches
- Injections
- Topical creams
- Topical gels
Dr. Bodnar prefers inserting pellets just under the skin or administering the therapy as a topical cream. The pellets last for about 3-4 months; at that time, he reevaluates your hormone status. If everything’s okay, he can reimplant the pellets, or he can modify your treatment if necessary.
What symptoms can BHRT treat?
Menopausal symptoms, caused by decreased estrogen levels, can drag on for years as a woman’s body winds down its ability to procreate. These include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal atrophy and decreased libido
- Headaches
- Poor sleep
- Depression, mood changes, and irritability
- Brain fog (cognitive dysfunction)
- Loss of lean muscle mass
- Overall weight gain
After about age 30, most men undergo a gradual decrease in testosterone production (low T), causing:
- Decreased libido and erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Low blood counts
- Mood changes and cognitive dysfunction
- Poor sleep
- Unexplained weight gain leading to obesity
BHRT may be the best way to “turn back the clock,” as it were.
What else can BHRT do for you?
BHRT effectively treats the symptoms of menopause and andropause by increasing hormone levels, but it also does much more.
As men and women age and their hormone levels decrease, they have an increased risk for osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease that can lead to spontaneous fractures.
Since BHRT increases hormone levels, the bones retain their density and strength, decreasing fracture risk. BHRT also helps lower the risk of heart disease in both genders.
To learn more about bioidentical hormones and determine if you’re a good candidate for the therapy, call Viva Health to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bodnar, or book online today.