This fairly new field in medicine involves using hormones which are the exact same structure as the hormones that have been made in your body for most of your life. Hence the name "Bioidentical" - which means identical to a life - not similar to, but exactly the same structure as the hormone that is already in your system.
Most doctors are unwilling to use them and would rather give you a foreign substance which is promoted by a drug company.
These types of hormones have not been promoted widely as they are free from any patents, because you can't patent a natural substance. Due to this, drug companies have tried to get something which is close to your own hormones, but can only patent their product, if it is dissimilar from the real hormone.
Most bio identical hormones are made by altering the raw product, which is usually plant based. This alteration makes a hormone, which is exactly the same as the hormone which we make in our own bodies.Therefore, when you use a bio identical hormone, you replace the hormone, which is low in your system, with an exact match.
Commonly used bioidentical hormones are
- oestradiol
- oestriol
- oestrone
- Progesterone
- cortisol
- testosterone
- DHEA, and
- pregnenolone.
Read more about Bio-identical Hormones -
- Hormone Imbalances
- Oestrogen Dominance in Pre and Postmenopausal Women
- Postmenopausal Women
- Measuring Hormone Levels
- Types of Oestrogen
- Comparison of Progesterone and Progestogens (Progestins in the USA)
- Men's Health - Andropause
