Bioidentical hormones are natural hormone replacement supplements used to treat symptoms of perimenopause and menopause in women. They are botanical preparations that are designed to duplicate the hormones feely produced inside you. Unlike synthetic drugs, these hormone substitutes are safe and easy to use. Just apply here and there and you’re sure to feel your best once again.
If you are wondering which formulation to use, it might be of importance to know that natural hormone replacements have two variations; the first of which are “ready- made” hormone replacement supplements that you can buy online or in drugstores. They come in specific standard dosages and are sold with product instructions to guide you on how to use them. The second variation of hormone substitutes are custom-compounded types of supplement which are prepared and can find only in compounding pharmaceuticals.
Ready-made natural hormone replacements are the simplest form of bioidenticals. Like all bioidentical hormones they are either estrogen, progesterone or testosterone supplements like on to your own. They can easily be bought over the counter and they do not require a doctor’s prescription.
Custom compounded natural replacements, on the other hand, are formulations mixed at compounding pharmaceuticals for individual patients. They are mixed in dosages prescribed by your physician which could contain any or all of the 3 hormones.
Incidentally, custom compounded substitutes require a doctor’s prescription. The prescription is used by the pharmacist to determine the amount and the type of hormone that should come into the formula.
Absolutely not! Progestin and Provera are synthetic hormone analogues.
Many synthetic hormone supplements are very much similar to bioidentical supplements. They can also come in creams patches or gels. They are, however, not hormone substitutes and they are very dangerous to use. Synthetic hormones are manufactured from animal urine and pose harmful anabolic effects that can harm the skin, breasts, liver and heart. They do not work in your body like the essential hormones you produce. In most cases too, they are very costly.
Just recently, there has been much noise concerning the safety of these natural replacements. This controversy spur from the issue that FDA approval had not been acquired by companies producing these products.
The facts of this controversy, however, appear to have somewhat been compromised due to growing popularity of this treatment. Apparently, many patients are now switching from using synthetic hormones to natural substitutes, which is now posing a treat to the business of many pharmaceutical companies.
The FDA has already approved many “ready-made” supplements. They are now available in several well-tested branded prescription drugs and are sold at local drug stores. Custom-compounded bioidentical hormones, however, do not have FDA endorsement. The reason for this is that they are custom-made on a patient-by-patient basis. They are not standardized. Since FDA approval requires millions of dollars and takes years to process, it would be illogical and impractical to expect compounding pharmacies to get approval for each and every drug formulation they give out to patients.
It is also noteworthy to mention that compounding pharmacies that provide for these services are legal and still regulated by the FDA. All pharmacies and pharmacists are licensed and strictly regulated at the state level. The state boards of pharmacy are responsible for the inspection of pharmacy operations and development of appropriate regulations as well as responding to problems and violations. Since the compounding of hormone replacements is still a component of pharmacy, it will always be subject to the regulations of the state boards.
Recommended next page - Symptoms of Low Testosterone in Women
Click here to read about the symptoms of low testosterone in women