You will stay on bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for as long as you would like to manage the symptoms of menopause or perimenopause. Unfortunately, if you discontinue your treatment program, your hormone levels will gradually return to where they were before treatment, and your symptoms will return. As you age, your hormone levels continue to change—that is why we approach hormonal aging with a comprehensive concierge treatment plan and continue to monitor your hormone levels.

Conventional hormone therapy (HT), hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) all have essentially the same meaning: to supplement hormone production in the body. The main difference is not in the definition but in the treatment plan and the hormones being prescribed. Conventional hormone therapy (HT) is commonly associated with the prescribed hormone replacement drugs Premarin® and Prempro®. These hormones are derived from the urine of pregnant mares and are often referred to as “synthetic” hormones. Hormone replacement with Premarin and Prempro received negative publicity when the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) inferred from the findings of the study that continued use of these drugs posed an increased risk of developing a number of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia among certain members of the study’s population. As a result, the FDA has required that all FDA-approved estrogens and progestogens, including Premarin and Prempro, carry a black box warning. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) uses compounded hormones that have the same chemical structure as the hormones found in your body – making them biologically identical. Some people use the term “natural hormone replacement” when referring to bioidentical hormones because the molecular structure of the hormone is similar to what exists in your body. At The Skin Center, we prescribe bioidentical hormones as part of your treatment plan. Hormone Replacement Therapy is a generic term used to describe both hormone therapy and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is generally regarded as safe as long as you are in good health. When the hormones are replaced in the proper dosage and based on your individual needs, hormone replacement therapy can significantly improve your overall health and well-being with minimal risk of side effects.

The concern with hormone therapy causing cancer stems primarily from the information gathered during the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study. Researchers noted an increase in cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, stroke, and osteoporosis (to name a few) among some of the study participants who were prescribed synthetic hormones such as Prempro. It is inconclusive whether this type of synthetic hormone therapy caused these diseases. However, since this study, many physicians have stopped prescribing synthetic hormones for long periods and find the most beneficial when used for shorter periods of time to treat specific conditions. At The Skin Center, we do not prescribe synthetic hormones, and we do not approach hormone replacement therapy as a one-size-fits-all program. We prescribe customized, compounded bioidentical hormones to replenish only the hormones you need – based on your individual test results. We will continue to monitor your hormone levels and adjust your dosage accordingly. Most women who are on bioidentical hormone replacement report feeling more engaged, alert, and energetic, and we often hear, “Thank you, I finally feel like myself again!”

If you are a woman between the ages of 45 and 55, chances are your hormones are changing. Most women know they are experiencing a hormonal imbalance through unwanted changes in the body. Symptoms of hormonal imbalance include restless sleep, irritability, memory loss, thinning hair, hot flashes, night sweats, and irregular periods. You do not need to experience all of these symptoms to benefit from hormone replacement therapy. Many women seek treatment with the onset of even just a few of these symptoms.

The three primary female hormones, called the “sex hormones,” include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Together, these hormones determine your moods and energy levels, control how youthful you look and feel (and how well you age), regulate your sexual desire, and control your ability to have children. Simply put, these hormones make you who you are.