If you have hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, or mood swings, you may have heard about bio-identical hormones. People often call them a natural and personalized way to treat hormone imbalances. But what does that actually involve? Here’s how bio-identical hormones work and how they can be adjusted for you.

What Are Bio-Identical Hormones?

These hormones are created in a lab to closely match the hormones your body makes. They often come from plants like yams or soy. The main types are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Some bio-identical hormones are FDA-approved and come in standard doses from drug companies. Others are mixed by a pharmacist based on your doctor’s prescription. These custom-made, or compounded, versions are made just for you.

However, they are not tested or approved by the FDA, so their quality and safety are not guaranteed. Even though they start from plants, they are processed in a lab, so they are not completely “natural” as some people believe.

How They Are Tailored to Your Body

Bio-identical hormone therapy is meant to fit your individual needs. Here’s how the process usually works.

• Custom Dosing

Unlike regular hormone pills that come in fixed strengths, compounded bio-identical hormones can be made to match your doctor’s instructions. If a dose isn’t right for you, it can be adjusted. The aim is to find the lowest dose that helps your symptoms.

• Different Forms

You can get bio-identical hormones in pills, patches, creams, gels, vaginal inserts, or tiny pellets placed under the skin. Your doctor will choose the form that fits your symptoms, lifestyle, and how your body reacts. Creams and gels are easy to apply. Pellets offer convenience and can work for months.

• Testing to Guide Treatment

Some doctors use saliva, blood, or urine tests to measure your hormone levels and adjust prescriptions. The goal is to match hormones with your body’s current needs. However, experts warn that saliva hormone levels can change a lot and may not match your symptoms. The FDA advises not to use these tests alone to guide therapy.

• Adjusting Over Time

Your hormone levels can change over time, so your treatment may need to change as well. Your doctor might adjust your dose or try a different form based on how you feel and any side effects. This keeps your therapy flexible. Most people need regular check-ins to make sure their treatment is still working.

Risks to Consider

Like any hormone therapy, bio-identical hormones come with some risks. Here are the main ones to know:

• Blood clots. Blood clots in your legs or lungs are a possible risk when you take hormone therapy.
• Stroke. Some studies show a higher chance of stroke with long-term hormone use.
• Gallbladder disease. Women taking hormones may be more likely to develop gallstones or other gallbladder issues.
• Breast cancer risk. Long-term use of certain hormones may slightly increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Heart disease. For older women or those who start therapy years after menopause, the risk of heart problems may be higher.
• Unknowns with compounded hormones. Because compounded versions are not FDA-approved, their purity, strength, and safety are not guaranteed. Differences between batches can lead to inconsistent dosing. Side effects are not tracked as closely as with FDA-approved drugs.

Bio-identical hormones can be personalized with different doses, forms, and regular adjustments. For some people, this approach works well. However, there is less scientific evidence for compounded versions than for FDA-approved products.

To learn more about bio-identical hormones, visit Full Life. Our office is in Brentwood, Tennessee. Call (615) 422-6001 to make an appointment.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15660-bioidentical-hormones

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/expert-answers/bioidentical-hormones/faq-20058460