{"id":1598,"date":"2023-01-08T00:01:25","date_gmt":"2023-01-08T00:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/?p=1598"},"modified":"2026-04-29T17:38:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T17:38:54","slug":"bioidentical-hormone-replacement-therapy-bhrt-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/patient-resources\/blog\/bioidentical-hormone-replacement-therapy-bhrt-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy 101 | Doral Beach Gynecology"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are around 50 hormones produced by our body, apart from estrogen and progesterone, which are the most prominent when we speak about our reproductive health. When an imbalance occurs with any of the mentioned hormones, it affects our whole system, including our mental, emotional, and physical well-being.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Different periods we endure during our lifetime, from daily stresses to pregnancies or menopause, can affect the balance of hormones and cause disruptions and various health problems. When problems occur, doctors usually recommend hormone restoration, which can also include hormone supplementation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people report feeling much more stable after hormone replacement therapy, and doctors state that this also lowers the risks of health issues such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, cognitive decline, and bone fractures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts say that there is a significant difference in the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy when it comes to the type of hormones people take and whether they are bioidentical hormones or synthetic ones. Doctors believe that bioidentical hormones are safer and more effective than the other types offered. Below, we are bringing some additional information that might be useful for anyone starting HRT with bioidentical hormones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before even thinking about going to therapy for hormone replacement, you need to find an experienced medical professional who can give you the most informed advice and support. Such an expert can be found at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doral Beach Gynecology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> clinic, where <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/leonardo-blachar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Leonardo Blachar<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has relevant experience and years of practice to support\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and guide patients looking for effective hormone replacement therapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Do People Go Through Hormone Replacement Therapy?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People decide to undergo hormone replacement when they start experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or face early (involuntary) menopause. The symptoms can include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Night sweats<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hot flashes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low energy\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mood swings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depression\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decrease in the libido<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dryness of the vagina<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bone loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight gain\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anxiety<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Issues with sleeping patterns\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skin dryness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problems with the thyroid hormone\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase in cholesterol levels\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perimenopause can start a lot earlier than actual menopause, and women struggling with the abovementioned symptoms decide to undergo HRT to make their lives easier and more enjoyable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1600 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy-.jpg\" alt=\"Menopausal Mature Woman Suffering With Insomnia in Bed at Home Using Electric Fan\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy--200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy--400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy--600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy--768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy--800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Why-Do-People-Go-Through-Hormone-Replacement-Therapy-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Are Bioidentical Hormones?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to bioidentical hormones, they are rarely made from animal sources, unlike synthetic ones for hormone replacement therapy. Still, their molecules are structurally similar to body hormones, made from plant materials or created in the laboratory. The end product is identical to the hormones produced by the body itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although most advertisements suggest that the bioidentical hormones are made from natural resources, i.e., plants such as soybeans and yams, it is important to mention that they are significantly altered in the laboratory. Their natural features are mostly gone by the time the product reaches its final form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When something foreign is placed in the body, it can provoke an adverse reaction, while putting something already known increases the chances of acceptance and efficiency. This is why doctors decide more and more often to recommend natural hormone replacement therapy when it comes to dealing with symptoms of perimenopause or menopause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two forms of bioidentical hormones used most often: hormones made by a drug company and compound hormones made by pharmacists who follow a medical provider&#8217;s prescription. The compound type of hormone is not officially approved by the FDA, although it is presented as the safer, more natural, and more effective option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women&#8217;s bodies produce less estrogen and progesterone when they reach 30 years of age, while testosterone production declines later on, both in men and women. BHRT, or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, is recommended to improve symptoms of these immense hormonal imbalances, and it has been proven the most efficient in recent years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Benefits of Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As discussed previously, people gain numerous benefits when they undergo replacement hormone therapy. It is important to mention that people are different, and treatment affects people on an individual level. The success or failure of the procedure depends on a person&#8217;s health status, age, habits, and overall life quality. This is why it is crucial to create an individual treatment plan for every patient, to be able to maximize the benefits of BHRT.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, below you can find a list of benefits that hormone replacement therapy brings, so you can calculate both pros and cons of the treatment prior to making a decision:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved sleeping patterns\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase in the libido<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improvement of urinary issues\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less painful sexual intercourse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bone protection\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A rise in the levels of good cholesterol<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining a healthy weight\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk reduction for different types of cancer\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alleviation of anxiety and depression\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase in the elasticity of blood vessels\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and mood changes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved vaginal and skin dryness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decrease in the risk of osteoporosis and broken bones (most often hips or spine)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreased risk of Alzheimer&#8217;s disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of the abovementioned benefits have been tested and proven accurate, but some still need to be researched and confirmed as viable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Risks of BHRT<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with any medication or therapy, some risks need to be highlighted so patients know what they are exposing themselves to and how harmful that can be. The risks or side effects of BHRT include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vaginal bleeding\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liver disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Endometrial cancer (when only estrogen is taken, without additional dosages of progesterone)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stroke (more common in overweight individuals, smokers, and people with a history of clots)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dementia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart attack (depends on the age of the patient, more common in persons over 60)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coronary heart disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High risk of blood clotting\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Migraines\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leiomyoma\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bloating\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Retention of fluids\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mood swings\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk of breast cancer (depends on the age of the patient)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reduce risks as much as possible, doctors generally recommend having regular gynecological check-ups, including a Pap test. Also, for patients who are over 50 years of age, it is recommended:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To examine their breasts every month (self-examination)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To have a breast examination once per year by a certified medical professional\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To do a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.radiologyinfo.org\/en\/info\/mammo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mammogram<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> every year to monitor the potential development of cancerous cells and other complications\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1601 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT.jpg\" alt=\"Nurse Assisting Patient Undergoing Mammogram\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2023\/01\/Risks-of-BHRT.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Happens Next?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After initiating hormone replacement therapy, monitoring and follow-ups with your chosen doctor are mandatory. The check-ups are usually required every few weeks in the beginning, then quarterly, then every six months, and then yearly if all the tests show that the therapy has a positive effect on the patient&#8217;s organism.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To monitor the hormone levels, doctors most often do additional blood and saliva tests and require regular tracking of symptoms by the patient so that a potential decrease in the severity of the symptoms can be spotted and recorded.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Call Us!<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have any questions not answered in this article, feel free to contact the experts in our clinic and schedule a consultation. We are here for you because hormone replacement therapy is not an easy decision to make, and you need to have all the necessary information before taking the next step.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are around 50 hormones produced by our body, apart from estrogen and progesterone, which<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[106],"tags":[109,107,110,108],"class_list":["post-1598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bioidentical-hormone-replacement-therapy","tag-bhrt","tag-bioidentical-hormones","tag-estrogen-and-progesterone","tag-natural-hormone-replacement-therapy"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1598"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1598\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}