Bio-identical
Hormone Therapy

For women experiencing the symptoms of menopause, hormone therapy is still the most effective treatment, despite studies that show increased risk of other conditions. The doctors at Todd M. Goldberg Obstetrics and Gynecology in Pembroke Pines and Weston, Florida, are encouraged by the results women experience with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT. If you’re tired of hot flashes but worried about the risks of conventional hormone treatments, call the office today to discuss if BHRT is right for you.

Simply, bioidentical hormones match the molecular structure of those found in a woman’s body. The theory behind their benefit is that the body can’t distinguish bioidentical hormones from those naturally existing in the body, and therefore shouldn’t cause the same increased risk of side effects discovered in a clinical trial in 2002. The trial stopped early, as a slightly higher risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke was found in hormone therapy users.

Though the increased risks were small, it did help fuel the search for more agreeable solutions. Bioidentical hormones aren’t found in nature outside the human body, but are instead synthesized to be identical on a molecular level. It’s important to note that there’s not yet clinical proof that bioidentical hormones are safer or more effective than conventional hormones. However, hormone therapy remains the best treatment option for menopause symptoms, so BHRT is the choice of many as more research is done on the safety and effectiveness of bioidentical hormones.

Since hormone therapy returns the body chemistry to a level similar to its pre-menopause state, most symptoms should show improvement. Untreated menopause symptoms typically include:

• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Mood changes
• Sleep issues
• Weight gain and slowing metabolism
• Loss of breast fullness
• Hair thinning and loss
• Dryness of the skin
• Loss of natural lubrication of the vagina
• Loss of bone density, resulting in increasing brittleness

The doctors at Todd M. Goldberg Obstetrics and Gynecology typically prescribe estrogen and testosterone in pellet form. These pellets are smaller than a grain of rice, and during an office visit, they’re planted under the skin. This releases the medication in a form similar to the way the body normally produces hormones, in a constant, steady stream, for about 3-4 months.