Bioidentical Hormones Vs. the Functional Approach to Endocrine Health: Part I
“As we become more educated about safer alternatives and become more aware of the social, economical, and environmental influences which prolong harmful health habits, we will be able to understand more clearly the distinction between the politics and the evidence.” ~Raquel Martin – THE ESTROGEN ALTERNATIVE
When it comes to your health, a properly functioning endocrine system and hormonal balance is absolutely essential. For over six decades now, while dealing with endocrine issues, the standard of care for both conventional and integrative physicians has been Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Whether it be a teenager with painful periods put on the Birth Control Pill, a thirty year old woman with anxiety and acne prescribed Progesterone Cream, a menopausal woman experiencing hot flashes and weight gain given Estrogen Patches, or even an adult male with low libido handed supplemental Testosterone, this “replacement therapy” or “topping off” approach is far from the solution to most hormonal woes.
HRT AND BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES
While there were many studies published in the 70s and 80s, it wasn’t until 2002 when a lot of public interest in HRT was sparked. The Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) released a massive study with data collected for over 50 years on women using conventional HRT. The pharmaceutical hormones being used in this study were FDA approved Premarin and Provera, synthetic estrogen and progesterone conjugated from pregnant equine urine. The study was halted when the research showed dramatic increased incidence of heart attack, stroke, breast and endometrial cancers in patients taking these hormones. After the NIH came out with a public statement declaring the harmful risks of HRT, millions of women were left looking for a safer, more natural option for their hormonal symptoms. Enter Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
