If you’re suffering from PMS or menopausal symptoms and looking for a safer, more effective means of treatment, Bio-Identical Prescription Hormone Therapy could be your answer.

Candidates for Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy include women who have had hysterectomies; who have personal or family histories of cardiovascular disease; osteoporosis; Alzheimer’s, as well as women with premenstrual or menopausal symptoms. Hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, low libido and foggy thinking are just a few of the symptoms that can directly affect a woman’s quality of life.

When the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) abruptly halted a long-term study on synthetic hormone replacement in July of 2002, it left millions of women and their doctors wondering what to do. The study found that synthetic HRT drugs (like Premarin® and PremPro®) considerably increase a women’s risk of developing invasive breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and blood clots. The WHI data and safety monitoring board concluded that the risks of using a synthetic estrogen – synthetic progestin combination for hormone replacement greatly outweighed the benefits.

Bio-identical hormones were NOT used in the WHI study. Bio-identical hormones (also known as natural hormones) are structurally identical to hormones that are naturally produced by the human body, and are intended to replace hormones when their levels decline either as a consequence of aging, disease, or surgery. Research has shown that natural hormones can effectively control symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, frequent urinary tract infections as well as mood swings and frequent bleeding.

A small number of doctors have been providing this type of treatment to their patients for years, but it is only recently that most women have been hearing about bio-identical hormone therapy. Suzanne Somers’ latest book The Sexy Years, features her personal discovery and successful treatment with bio-identical hormones. Suzanne’s recent appearance on Larry King Live and other TV shows, has prodded many women to look for local resources for testing and therapy. Many women are frustrated and justifiably concerned with conventional synthetic hormone therapy and can benefit from a natural alternative like bio-identical hormones.

Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy starts with testing to see exactly where a woman’s estrogen progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, morning and evening cortisol levels are. Hormone testing can be done in one of three ways: traditional blood serum, urine testing or saliva testing. The advantage saliva testing provides over the other two methods is that it specifically measures the free, unbound, biologically-active hormones as they travel by passive diffusion from the capillaries into the saliva. This gives the patient a very accurate reading of what hormones are actually available to her body and what she is truly lacking. There is also a saliva test and therapy for thyroid disorders that is quite effective in addressing issues for women that have gone undiagnosed from traditional thyroid testing and treatment.

After the saliva test results are analyzed, the testing pharmacy works in conjunction with the woman’s doctor to get her on a customized bio-identical hormone therapy to get balance back into her life. Bio-identical hormone formulations vary from oral slow-release capsules, transdermal skin creams, sublingual drops and vaginal suppositories or creams.

More and more women are taking an active role in managing their own healthcare.
When considering hormone treatment options, it’s important for women to educate themselves so they can make a well-informed choice.

For more information about saliva testing and bio-identical hormone therapy, contact Karen Knight at Liberty Fitness Wildomar/Murrieta. (951) 894-1400.