Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for achieving optimal wellness – offered by the Detroit Enhancement Center. Serving Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Novi, Birmingham, Royal Oak, and all Metro-Detroit surrounding areas
If you are excited to restore normal hormonal levels and diminish hormonal imbalance symptoms contact Detroit Enhancement Center today. Dr. Nina Rehman is a highly trained hormone doctor concentrating in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Discover if you have high testosterone or low testosterone levels, progesterone deficiencies, or estrogen fluctuations.
Whether you are coping with symptoms of aging or identified conditions such as menopause, perimenopause, adrenal fatigue, andropause or thyroid disorder we offer a hormone treatment solution designed solely for you.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) vs. Conventional Hormone Replacement (HRT)
Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) utilizes patented hormones that are synthetically created. Synthetic hormones are often chemically-based and mass produced in labs, eliminating the opportunity for patient customization. These hormones fall into the category of a one-size-fits-all treatment plan, and that is the exact opposite of Dr. Nina Rehman offers to her patients.
Bioidentical hormones are exact replicas of the natural hormones your body produces biologically; their chemical structure is the same, so the body “reads” and reacts to these chemicals in the same way it would respond to naturally produced hormones. Synthetic hormones, on the other hand, are not chemically exact replicas – their chemical structure is slightly altered.
Bioidentical hormones are made in compounding pharmacies, which are state-of-the-art laboratories that employ pharmacists and other trained technicians to formulate and produce bioidentical hormones specifically for each patient. The compounding pharmacist uses plant compounds, often found in soybeans or wild yams, to create customized formulations that are chemically identical to naturally-occurring hormones.
Each patient has different needs, and varying levels of various hormones may be required to alleviate the particular symptoms of menopause the patient is experiencing. Unlike synthetic hormones, mass-produced in large-scale factories, with a one-dosage-fits-all approach, compounded bioidentical hormones can be tailored to each individual patient’s needs.
In many cases, even the method of delivering the medication may be adapted to the patient’s preferences. Transdermal creams or gels, absorbed through the skin, may be used. Some individuals choose pellet therapy, where small pellets about the size of a grain of rice are inserted under the skin in a brief, painless in-office procedure. Many women find this method delivers the hormones in the most natural and efficient way.*
What Causes Hormone Imbalance?
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men
Signs of low testosterone in men can start to develop in their twenties and remain for the next few decades. As levels start to decline, some of the symptoms of low testosterone in men can include weight gain, loss of sex drive, irritability, hair loss, depression, and muscle loss – all of which influence quality of life and wellbeing. Testosterone replacement therapy for men, utilizing bioidentical hormones, has been proven to reverse various symptoms of low testosterone, as well lessening the risk of disease.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women
Women face fluctuations in hormone levels throughout a range of stages in life. These changes can be influenced by high testosterone in women (and low testosterone in women!), thyroid troubles, and adrenal issues. When a woman experiences puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, perimenopause and menopause, she faces changes in natural hormone levels. And yet as a natural part of the life span for women, these hormonal changes can trigger a host of symptoms, such as troubles with weight management, mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, low sex drive, and chronic fatigue. Thyroid symptoms in women can impersonate other hormones, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the solution for women to restore natural hormone balance and alleviate unpleasant hormone symptoms.
Delivery Methods for Bioidentical Hormones
A comparison of the methods of bioidentical hormone delivery shows that many people find the pellet system to be the most natural and efficient for their hormone replacement regimen. By working with a doctor who specializes in hormone balancing and understands the limitations of each system of delivery, individual patients can receive a customized, tailored program to resolve their particular issues. Dr. Rehman is a Board Certified Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), with extensive training and experience in helping patients with hormone balancing.
Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy
Bioidentical hormone pellet therapy has been used since the late 1930’s and is a common form of bioidentical hormone delivery. Data show that small hormone pellets containing estrogen or testosterone, when placed under the skin, deliver the most natural release of the hormones into the body. Symptoms are controlled consistently, and patients avoid unnatural fluctuations in hormone levels that can occur with other methods of delivery.
The hormone pellets themselves are slightly larger than a grain of rice. They are typically made in compounding pharmacies, which are state-of-the-art laboratories that employ pharmacists and other trained technicians to formulate and produce bioidentical hormones specifically for each individual patient. The compounding pharmacist uses plant compounds to produce customized formulations that are chemically identical to naturally-occurring hormones.
Bioidentical hormone pellets are typically inserted under the skin in the buttocks area by a physician with special training in the balancing of hormones. The procedure is relatively painless and takes only a few minutes; it is performed using a local anesthetic in the doctor’s office. Hormone delivery lasts about 3-5 months in women and around 4-6 months in men. Many female patients begin to notice a difference in 48-72 hours; for men it sometimes takes 2-4 weeks before they start to notice the benefits of the pellets. The hormone pellets dissolve on their own over the course of time. Many people find that this system of delivery is the most natural and effective for their bioidentical hormone replacement regime.
Transdermal Delivery Systems
Sometimes bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is delivered through the skin, or transdermally. Using creams, gels or patches, the bioidentical hormones are applied to the skin and are slowly absorbed into the body. Typically the product is used in small doses, to mimic the way the body would naturally produce the hormone, but some fluctuations can occur, with the resultant return of symptoms. With creams and gels, contact with one’s partner or children may need to be monitored after application, as hormones can be inadvertently transferred. Downsides to the patch can include skin irritations or allergic reactions. Patches can fall off with excessive sweating, and they must be fully protected with plastic when swimming.
Oral Bioidentical Hormones
Bioidentical hormones are generally not suited to oral delivery, as this necessitates the product being processed through the digestive system. Also, as the liver metabolizes the hormones, it also produces another hormone that actually binds up the free testosterone and estrogen in the body, reducing the effectiveness of the bioidentical hormones.
Injectable Bioidentical Hormones
The delivery of bioidentical hormones via injection can only be accomplished for men receiving testosterone. The dosages for women would be too high, and estrogen is not available as an injectable formulation. The biggest deterrent to injections is the difficulty of maintaining a consistent level of the hormones, in the way the body would normally function. High levels in the first few days can be problematic, with lowered levels toward the end of the shot’s effectiveness the other problem. Often shots are given twice per month, but if the levels fall off, the interval can be reduced. This, however, results in more frequent visits to the doctor.
To learn more or begin your wellness journey, contact the Detroit Enhancement Center today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Rehman, D.O. Dr. Rehman is a hormone specialist and a highly respected member of the BodyLogicMD network – physicians specializing in integrative medicine and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.
*The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. By using our site you agree to our terms. See our Full Disclaimer.
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