You may have heard about the dangers of using man-made
compounds such as Provera and
Premarin to serve as a hormone substitute
intended to supplement the hormones that naturally occur in your
body.
Specifically, the levels of the hormones
Progesterone and Estrogen
(in women), and Testosterone (in men)
tend to decline as you age. However, just because your body
isn't making as much doesn't mean that you don't need them!
Fortunately there is a safe alternative to these potentially
dangerous man-made compounds--Bioidentical Hormone
Replacement Therapy, or BHRT.
Scary Stuff: Premarin is actually a made form
an extract the urine of pregnant mares (as in horses).
Yes, this compound contains a human estrogen (estrone). However,
it also contains a number of equine (i.e. horse) estrogens that
are not found in humans. Consequently,
the use of Premarin and Provera together have produced a number
of adverse effects such as increased risk of breast cancer,
stroke, and heart problems.
A Safer Alternative: Bioidentical
Hormone Supplements are exactly what their name
implies--compounds that are identical to the natural molecules
that your body produces. These are not chemicals made from
animal waste, rather they are formulated form soy products or
yams by pharmacists to match
your body's hormones identically. As a result, patients are
likely to reap the benefits of the human hormones without the
side-effects associated with non-human hormones.
Hormones are Essential: Hormone loss is
associated with an increased likelihood of heart disease, bone
loss, decreased cognitive function, loss of muscle mass, reduced
sex drive, restless leg syndrome, mood swings, hair loss,
osteoporosis, depression, weight gain, and
thinning of skin.1
Progesterone increases bone mass.
Testosterone helps to prevent Alzheimer's disease and
improves cognitive function.
New Techniques for Introducing the Hormones:
Until recently, the majority of hormone therapy applications
were done orally with pills, directly to the skin with creams or
gels, or via injection. There are problems with all of these
applications, including improper dosages, patches falling off,
and the patient's failure to take pills as prescribed.
The newest technique is the implanting of a time-release pellet
underneath the skin on the buttocks. By implanting the dosage
beneath the skin, you are ensured of getting the proper dosage
released regularly. Each implant can last six months.
Dr. Jack Bertolino of Smooth
Solutions Medical Aesthetics is the only physician in
Western New York to offer this cutting-edge procedure.
Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy right for you?
BHRT is not for everyone. Blood tests prior to your procedure
will determine whether your hormone levels are low enough to
warrant a BHRT supplement. They will also help to determine if
your symptoms are caused by other physical problems or
illnesses.
Dr. Jack Bertolino would be happy to meet with
you and discuss
your options for helping you to look and feel better.
Download a technical
whitepaper that goes into detail about Bioidentical
Hormones and the science behind them, authored by
Steven F. Hotze, MD and Donald P. Ellsworth, MD.