Effects of Supplements

Because of some recent big-time celebrity endorsements, bioidentical hormones and their use in hormone replacement therapy have been getting a lot of press and even a little bit of controversy. We\’ve narrowed down the facts you need to have at hand before you start figuring out what this is all about. Read through these and keep yourself informed!

#5: There\’s A Key Difference Between Bioidentical Hormone Therapy and Standard Approaches.

If you have to remember one thing about bioidentical hormones, remember this — they are chemically identical to hormones that our own bodies produce. That means that a large number of the hormones that are being prescribed (which are not bioidentical), are not the exact same as the ones you would naturally find in the human body anyway.

#4: FDA Approval is Not Universal.

There are some bioidentical hormones made by large pharmaceutical companies, and they have full FDA approval. But often, in order to make sure that the hormone matches up exactly with the one in our body, they are created on a case-by-case basis. As such, these specific concoctions are not FDA approved, as the resources simply aren\’t there.

#3: Make Sure Your Compounding Pharmacy is Reliable.

As a result of #4, it\’s essential to make sure the compounding pharmacy you\’re dealing with has been fully vetted, either by your doctor, or by a relevant approval board — take a look at the PCAB (Pharmaceutical Compounding Accreditation Board) for a good barometer, and make sure whoever you go with employs a lot of quality assurance.

#2: Oprah Took Acai Berries, Too.

There\’s no question that an endorsement from the reigning queen of television is a boon to any particular product, but in this case, Oprah herself is using bioidentical hormones, and has suggested they made a huge difference for her. Like anything she recommends, just remember that due diligence is always fundamental.

#1: Don\’t Spend All Your Energy Concentrating On This One Aspect.

In the end, using bioidentical hormones might help you fight the problems of menopause, but nothing is ever a 100%, catch-all solution. As long as you go into this not expecting all your problems to be solved instantly (there\’s no magic pill), you\’ll be able to make a rational decision.

Looking for a reliable voice on bioidentical hormones and hormone replacement therapy? Get real, honest answers from one of America\’s most widely-quoted bioidentical hormone therapy doctors on the subject, Dr. Erika Schwartz.