Bioidentical Hormone Therapy
By Dr. Robert D. Willix Jr.
Call for a free consultation: 561-362-0724
There is growing body of knowledge that both men and women have a decline in hormone levels from the age of 25-35. This medical knowledge has led to a new approach to signs and symptoms of both menopause and the male counterpart andropause. Some of the signs and symptoms of the aging process have also been associated with the decline in hormone levels.
Optimization of hormones under medical supervision is now a growing field in the medical profession. Terms such as age management and antiaging medicine have been related to this medical intervention of balancing hormones.
It is not common knowledge that all (HRT) is not alike. There’s been much misinformation regarding HRT, because of the use of synthetic hormones such as Premarin and Provera. These hormones are extracts that do not have the same chemical configuration as the bioidentical hormones that are made in the body. In fact Premarin stands for pregnant mares urine.
There are many types of hormones produced in the brain, as well as endocrine and other organs of the body. When the chemical configuration is the same as the body produces, they are called bio identical. This does not mean however that they are not manufactured outside of the body in a laboratory, it means that the chemical formulation is identical to that produced by the cells of the tissues in the body.
Over the course of the last 10 to 15 years, we at Enlightened Living Medicine (ELM) have become medical experts in the field of bio identical hormone optimization. All of our clients are evaluated with hormone levels that are tested in laboratories that utilize the most modern and up-to-date assays.
Hormone levels are measured using mass spectrophotometry, the most reliable assay for measuring hormone levels in the blood, urine, and saliva. We physicians at ELM have studied the benefits of optimization of hormones in those individuals who are either going through hormonal changes such as menopause or andropause; or because of declining hormone levels have developed signs and symptoms of imbalance.
It is clear that hormone optimization in women suffering from loss of libido, vaginally dryness, painful intercourse, and hot flashes with bioidentical hormones provide protection against inflammation. Synthetic hormones such as Premarin and Provera not only do not protect breast tissue in the uterus, but they enhance the inflammatory process and may lead to increased risk of cancer.
Bioidentical hormones on the other hand seem to afford the individual with protection of both the breast in the uterus when used in appropriate doses under medical supervision. Heart disease often linked to inflammation also may have some protective benefits from the use of both estrogen and progesterone. So in summary bioidentical hormones are anti-inflammatory synthetic non-bioidentical hormones are inflammatory.
There is now a great body of medical literature that supports the use of bioidentical hormones to manage the aging process. Loss of muscle mass, decreased libido low-energy, fatigue, metabolic and nutritional imbalance, risk of diabetes and heart disease may all be improved when hormones are brought back into balance.
Certainly not all individuals need hormone optimization, however if the aging process is associated with declining healthy hormones may provide a level of protection that we have not addressed as a preventive proactive health initiative.
We at ELM believe that all preventive medicine programs should begin with evaluation by a medical professional (preventative medical exam), discovery (Blood and other assessment tools) of problem areas, intervention (medically directed individual treatment plan) by establishing a comprehensive proactive approach to and into the imbalance. Finally the result is significant change (results that are directed to why you came to ELM) will lead to more productive healthy lifestyle with more energy, better mental clarity and reduce risk of all chronic illnesses.
Call for a free consultation: 561-362-0724