A 2006 report published in the journal "Alternative Medicine Review" describes the positive role bioidentical hormones can play in the lives of women. These drugs, similar to the body's natural hormones, can effectively and safely replace hormone deficiencies caused by disease or aging. Scientific investigations show that these natural treatments have advantages over synthetic forms of hormone replacement. Yet women must use such drugs carefully, as they can cause immediate and delayed side effects.
Transdermal Testosterone
Younger women having difficulty getting pregnant may benefit from taking exogenous testosterone. When delivered transdermally, testosterone is considered bioidentical because the skin can readily absorb the male hormone without the addition of synthetic substances. A 2010 investigation presented in the periodical "Fertility and Sterility" assessed the impact of bioidentical hormone therapy in women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation. The latter technique increases reproductive fertility by enhancing follicle growth. Including a testosterone patch with this treatment regimen for 21 days increased embryo implantation and clinical pregnancy rate. Most important, none of the women tested experienced adverse reactions during treatment.
17-Beta Estradiol
Older women experiencing symptoms of menopause can improve their quality of life by using estrogen replacement therapy. Oral estrogen, when taken in the form of 17-best estradiol, is bioidentical to the estrogen found in abundant amounts in younger women. Estrogen levels decrease with age causing cognitive deficits such as those observed in Alzheimer's disease. A 2010 research paper published in the medical journal "Psychoneuroendocrinology" looked at the effects of long-term use of 17-beta estradiol. Women taking this form of natural estrogen for years performed significantly better on verbal memory tasks than those using synthetic estrogen. The 17-beta estradiol group also showed greater brain metabolic activity. Finally, women taking natural estrogen showed the same number of side effects as those taking synthetics.
Estradiol Hemihydrate
Postmenopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy often experience drug-induced headaches. Substituting synthetic estrogen with bioidentical estrogen may alleviate this symptom. A 2002 report offered in the journal "Headache" compared estradiol hemihydrate to conjugated estrogen therapy. The former is considered bioidentical because unaltered estradiol can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream from a vaginal suppository. Women taking this natural drug for 28 days experienced fewer headaches than those taking synthetic estrogen. They also used fewer analgesics during the month of testing. In addition, estradiol hemihydrate intake did not cause any side effects.
Micronized Progesterone
Pregnant women at risk for early labor and premature delivery can avoid such problems by taking micronized progesterone. This type of bioidentical therapy requires females to use a single vaginal suppository for up to three months, yet it is an effective and safe treatment. A 2010 experiment published in the "Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics" assessed the effectiveness of this natural therapy in reproductive-age females who had previously given birth prematurely. These at-risk women received progesterone or placebo during the entire last trimester of their subsequent pregnancy. Results indicated that, relative to placebo, bioidentical hormone intake delayed labor and delivery without increasing mortality risk. No negative reactions to the progesterone treatment were noted.
References
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; A Comprehensive Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Bioidentical Hormones for the Management of Menopause and Related Health Risks; Deborah Moskowitz, ND; 2006
- "Fertility and Sterility"; Effect of Transdermal Testosterone Gel Pretreatment on Controlled Ovarian Stimulation and IVF Outcome in Low Responders; C.H. Kim et al.; August 27, 2010
- "Psychoneuroendocrinology"; Differences in Regional Brain Metabolism Associated With Specific Formulations of Hormone Therapy in Postmenopausal Women at Risk for AD; D.H. Silverman et al.; August 30, 2010
- "Headache"; Hormone Supplementation Differently Affects Migraine in Postmenopausal Women; F. Facchinetti et al.; October 2002
- "Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics"; Progesterone Effects on Preterm Birth in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial; E. Cetingoz et al.; January 22, 2010
