[expand title=”Question: What’s a bio-identical hormone?”]
Answer: “Bio-Identical” simply means identical to the structure of what’s produced in our bodies. By contrast, most mass-marketed hormones, such as birth control pills, are not identical to our hormones. Moreover, many non bio-identical hormones have a long list of side effects because they are not naturally produced in the body. Bio-Identical hormones commonly prescribed by specially trained physicians include estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, hGH, and thyroid preparations. Hormones aren’t just for menopausal women with hot flashes. Bio-identical hormones are used in women AND MEN of all ages to treat a myriad of conditions, including PMS, migraine headache, infertility, anxiety, insomnia, depression, chronic fatigue, pain syndromes, hot flashes and night sweats, decreased mental sharpness, and low sex drive.
Bio-identical hormones are sometimes used in children to treat mood swings, PMS, ADD/ADHD, acne, and stunted growth, among other health matters..
Physicians generally aren’t taught in medical school or residency training how to prescribe and use bio-identical hormones. Rather, training is focused on pharmaceutical drugs. As a result, 99.9% of physicians don’t offer bio-identical hormone therapies. Moreover, also due to lack of education and training, most doctors assume ALL hormones are created equal, meaning that they are all bad, cause cancer, blood clots and other serious or fatal health problems. Yet, abundant research has clearly demonstrated that when used appropriately by a WELL-TRAINED health care provider, bio-identical hormones ARE safe and effective and do NOT have the same side effect profile as typically prescribed synthetic hormones. It’s also important to know that anti-aging benefits, such as protecting against cancers, bone loss, heart disease, macular degeneration, and other conditions are being documented and published as the use of bio-identical hormones becomes more widespread.
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