People experiencing an age-related decline in endogenous hormones may show a reduction in physiological and psychological performance. Natural hormone therapy using bioidentical hormones remains a popular treatment option for such changes. These substances, similar to the body's own hormones, can provide relief from several medical conditions. Patients should use such medications, available by prescription, only after consulting with a physician. Yet, the pharmaceutical industry provides many effective and safe treatment options.
Transdermal Testosterone
Older men with testosterone deficiency syndrome can benefit from taking testosterone delivered from a transdermal patch. This type of hormone use is considered bioidentical because the testosterone molecule remains unchanged during the patch manufacturing process. A 2010 investigation published in the "Journals of Gerontology" evaluated the effectiveness of these testosterone patches in older men scored as frail during routine physicals. The data showed that six months of bioidentical therapy with transdermal testosterone prevented the age-related loss of muscle mass observed in the control subjects. Such results indicate that testosterone replacement may prevent pathological aging.
17-beta Estradiol
Postmenopausal women with estrogen deficiency can treat the symptoms of reproductive aging using estrogen taken as 17-beta estradiol. This form of estrogen is bioidentical to that naturally found in the body. A 2010 experiment described in the medical journal "Stem Cells and Development" looked at the positive role estrogen can play in preventing osteoporosis, a typical consequence of menopause. Exposing human bone cells maintained in petri dish cultures to 17-beta estradiol increased their proliferation and viability. These data suggest that bioidentical estrogen can improve bone health and thereby help to ward off the development of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Micronized Progesterone
Pregnant women at risk for premature delivery and labor often have low levels of progesterone, a hormone which plays a protective role in pregnancy. Such women can benefit from taking micronized progesterone to delay labor and birth. This form of hormone treatment, delivered by vaginal suppository, is derived from the yam plant and identical to human progesterone. A 2010 paper presented in the "Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics" tested bioidentical progesterone in women with previous birth difficulties. Results indicated that progesterone given in the last trimester reduced premature births 17 percent compared to placebo. Women taking the bioidentical hormone were also less likely to enter premature labor.
Compounded Drugs
Older women using estrogen may develop blood clots as a side effect of hormone replacement therapy. Concurrent intake of bioidentical hormones can reduce this risk. A 2007 report offered in the periodical "Circulation" assessed the impact of simultaneous use of transdermal estrogen and micronized progesterone. The combination of these two bioidentical drugs had no effect on blood clot risk. In contrast, nonbioidentical drug combinations such as oral estrogen and synthetic progesterone greatly increased risk. Such results reveal the advantage of bioidentical drugs, and they indicate that transdermal estrogen and micronized progesterone provide some of the best treatment options for hormonal dysfunction.
References
- "Journals of Gerontology"; Effects of Testosterone on Skeletal Muscle Architecture in Intermediate-Frail and Frail Elderly Men; R. A. Atkinson et al.; July 2, 2010
- "Stem Cells and Development"; Effects of 17-beta Estradiol on Enhancing Proliferation of Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in vitro; L. Hong et al.; Aug. 24, 2010
- "Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics"; Progesterone Effects on Preterm Birth in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial; E. Cetingoz et al.; Jan. 22, 2010
- "Circulation": Hormone Therapy and Venous Thromboembolism Among Postmenopausal Women
