9 Myths About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Debunked - medicalhealthinstitute.com

9 Myths About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Debunked

If you’re dealing with signs and symptoms like – loss of sex drive, weak erections, poor exercise recovery, muscle loss, constant fatigue, irritability, you most likely have a hormonal deficiency. Now, we know you may be understandably skeptical about hormone replacement treatment because of all the conflicting information out there. For starters, you may have read that testosterone replacement therapy causes cancer, which for most people would be enough to say no to this medical treatment, no matter how awful they feel. However, the best decisions are informed and evidence-based decisions. The more explicit the facts, the more natural the choice will be to consider a hormonal treatment. Now, here are the facts, decide after.

MYTH #1: Bioidentcial Hormones Aren’t Safe

The molecule of the hormone is structurally identical to the hormones your body makes. Unlike synthetic hormones, bio-identical hormones fit perfectly into the hormonal receptors in your body. Found in plants, these bio-identical hormones generate the same physiologic responses as your body’s natural hormones. The result? Your body can completely utilize the bio-identical hormones without the side effects associated with synthetic hormones.

MYTH #2: Synthetic Hormones Work Better

Consumers have been told that synthetic treatment options work better because they have been created by scientists and tested more rigorously than bio-identical treatments. While synthetics work for many patients, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy offers a natural and more effective alternative to chemically created products. Made from natural sources like plants, bio-identical hormones work by mimicking the body’s natural hormone production.

MYTH #3: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Leads To Blood Clots

When hormone replacement therapy was first developed, treatments were not individualized. Today, physicians who administer HRT take into consideration individual hormone levels and functioning before prescribing a plan of action. That’s why, for most people, HRT does not pose a risk of developing blood clots. In fact, medical advancements in HRT allow women, especially, to enjoy a healthier life post-menopause, due to the balance of estrogen, which mitigates the risk of developing coronary artery disease.

MYTH #4: Bioidentical Hormones Only Address Symptoms When They Are Present

Our bodies contain more than one trillion cells that rely on a delicate balance of hormones to carry out a variety of functions. HRT regulates hormones continuously and alleviates andropause, somatopause, perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopausal symptoms by mimicking natural biological functions. This helps keep hormone levels consistent even when patients aren’t experiencing active symptoms. Maintaining hormone levels in check reduces the risk of suffering from long-term issues and can prevent unpleasant side effects.

MYTH #5: Hormone Replacement Therapy Won’t Address Weight Issues

Once menopause or andropause begins, many doctors tell their patients: it will be nearly impossible to maintain a healthy weight, and there’s nothing they can do about it. However, by balancing hormones, HRT increases a woman’s and man’s natural energy and vigor for life. Consequently, those who opt for bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can look forward to a slimmer waistline and stronger muscle definition.

MYTH #6: Muscle Loss Is Not Due To A Hormonal Decline or Deficiency

At some point around your 30s, we start to lose muscle mass (sarcopenia) and muscle function (dinopenia). Physically inactive people can lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade after age 30, and even if you are active, you’ll still have some muscle loss. Nevertheless, with the help of testosterone replacement therapy or what we call “TRT”, this loss of weight can be avoided entirely.

MYTH #7: Men Benefit More From Hormone Replacement Therapy

While hormone levels differ between women and men, both sexes experience a decrease in hormone levels as they age. For women, hormone levels peak around the age of 35 before declining, which results in symptoms commonly associated with menopause and peri-menopause. For men, hormone levels peak in the early-to-mid twenties and then gradually decline – a natural occurrence referred to as andropause, the male menopause. Whether female or male, as we get older, it becomes increasingly important to balance our hormones if we want to safeguard ourselves against osteoporosis, heart disease, and cognitive problems, just to name a few. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy benefits women and men who want to lead fuller, healthier, and happier lives.

MYTH #8: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy May Cause Cancer

A study done in 2002 gained tremendous attention by making this claim. But this study only reviewed synthetic hormones, which differ significantly from natural bio-identical hormones. Back then, the research proved that synthetic hormones made from horse urine did indeed cause cancer. However, as a result, synthetic hormones were replaced by custom compound hormones that created a natural hormone balance. We now call them bio-identical hormones. There are no studies done so far that can prove or correlate bio-identical hormones with cancer. In addition, The whole myth about testosterone causing prostate cancer came from an American urologist, Charles Huggins, who happened to do ONE study on ONE PATIENT AND WHO HAD ALREADY PROSTATE CANCER, and when given testosterone appeared to get worse, but when given estrogen appeared to get better! Today, there are over 80 peer-reviewed articles on Pubmed that show that testosterone is a safe medication to take and could prevent cardiovascular diseases. Pubmed is a free search engine accessing primarily Medical Literature Analysis and references. Ask your doctor to show the study that shows that testosterone could cause any cancer in general.

MYTH #9: All Hormone Replacement Treatments Are The Same

Unlike many synthetics treatments, which take a one-size-fits-all approach, HRT treatments are tailored to meet the unique hormonal balance of an individual. A patients biochemistry is as unique as their fingerprint, so every treatment is always individualized to the patient’s necessities. Rather than the standard approach to medicine, which treats the symptoms of an individual, we address the system as a whole to eradicate most predetermined medical condition and restore optimal balance. At Medical Health Institute, we listen to each patient’s concerns, so we can address their specific needs and prescribe a customized treatment protocol that ensures them excellent results. We are confident in our ability to help you reach your highest health and well-being potential. You can count on us for that, so give us a call today to schedule a free consultation to see if HRT is the right fit for you. A free consultation will not hurt you if anything you will be well informed and more comfortable with your decision to consider or not consider treatment with us.