Knowing The Intricacies Of Bioidentical Hormone TherapyThe interest of the public regarding bioidentical hormone therapy has been growing over several years. While it is said to be an effective method in helping women deal with menopause problems through natural means, there are still others who have their doubts regarding the composition of a bioidentical hormone. While a bioidentical hormone is made of substances that come from Mother Nature, the process by which it is extracted is not completely chemical free. Nevertheless, this process has been found effective in providing menopause relief. The method used in bioidentical hormone therapy requires extracting hormones from sources like plants or animals, which scientists believe, possess identical molecules to the hormones produced by the human body, or more specifically, the ovaries of women. The plant sources are usually yams or soy, while the animal sources are often horses or pigs. After extraction of the identical molecules, these are then sent to laboratories to be processed, altered and subsequently mixed into creams, injections or vaginal products. Why the need for processing and alteration? Because, while the molecules possess identical qualities the materials derived from these natural sources may not completely work for humans, if there are is alteration or chemical engineering done to it. This process makes available the different female hormones like etradiol, progesterone and estriol. The hormones required by the woman exhibiting menopause symptoms are then processed. Because this entails intensive laboratory procedures, the natural elements may have been greatly reduced and replaced with synthetic hormones. Synthetic hormones are not new to the pharmaceutical industry. For years they have been developing and distributing these, in drugs which have been well-tested and then approved by the government. However, concerns regarding the risk and side-effects of these types of treatment continue to become an important topic. And now that bioidentical hormone therapy is constantly being introduced as an alternative way to finding remedy for women going through menopause, the question that still remains: Is bioidentical hormone therapy actually safe? Some experts say the danger lies not in the process by which a bioidentical hormone product is made, but in the merging and composition of the materials used to compound such a product. There seems to be a quite complex debate regarding this. But perhaps the better thing to consider, especially if one is seeking this type of therapy, is to determine how bad the menopause symptoms are vis-\'e0-vis the benefits bioidentical hormone therapy can bring to the woman. She has to understand first the chemistry of her body, and most of all, the possible side effects that may happen if she takes the treatment. Of course, if a woman is already at health risk, especially if she has other existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease or cancer, bioidentical hormone therapy should be immediately ruled out. Saliva testing must be administered first to determine if a woman can safely use bioidentical hormone products, One thing worth noting about this is that products containing bioidentical hormones have yet to be tested and approved by the FDA for their potency (efficacy) and possible side effects. The lack of clinical trials puts the status of this kind of therapy in question. |