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If you’ve been researching hormone replacement options, then you have probably come across information about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in Brookhaven, GA. What is this kind of therapy, and what makes it different from other methods? To answer that, it is important to first understand what hormones are and where they are made. The Endocrine System The endocrine system is collectively made up of all of the glands in your body that work to produce hormones. Your pancreas is in your abdomen, your adrenal glands are attached to your kidneys, and the thyroid gland is in your neck. Then, of course there are the reproductive organs. These different glands produce hormones, and the purpose of these hormones is to regulate the body’s metabolism, growth and development, tissue function and repair, sexual function, sleep, mood, and more. Whenever one of these glands aren’t producing enough of a certain type of hormone, that can throw off the balance of your overall health. For instance, if your body is not producing enough thyroid hormone in your thyroid, the lack of this regulatory hormone could slowly cause organs in your body to shut down. Brief Overview of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy As serious as that sounds, there are plenty of much more common hormone imbalances, such as diabetes and the experience of going through menopause. Since the 1930s, bioidentical hormones have been used for menopausal relief. Although this type of hormone replacement therapy is just now gaining traction, it isn’t brand new. It has in recent years become an object of scrutiny under the FDA for being so widely endorsed by prominent individuals and celebrities, while some of the claims related to certain bioidentical hormone replacement therapy aren’t well-tested enough to be considered fact. What Are They Made Of? Essentially, bioidentical hormones are hormones that are very similar to their human counterparts in composition, ones that are identical in molecular structure. They’re not found in nature, but they are synthesized or created from animal or plant materials, like soy, yams, or equine milk. It’s often used interchangeably with the phrase “natural hormone therapy” because of how these synthetic hormones do mimic their human originals. Synthetic bioidentical hormones have been tested to reveal that they appear identical to the natural hormones that they mimic in the human body, however ongoing study is still being done to understand side effects particular to specific bioidentical hormone therapies. What About Compound Hormones? Sometimes a doctor will want to prescribe multiple hormones to be replaced or managed through medicine or replacement treatments. These concoctions of multiple hormones are called compound hormones, and they have to be mixed individually at a compounding pharmacy. As with clothing, there is not one size that fits all needs in the hormone replacement therapy world. Some individuals may have a much easier time adapting to bioidentical hormone therapy in Brookhaven, GA, than they do more traditional hormone replacement therapies. Whatever route you choose for yourself, obtaining an adequate amount of research will help exponentially.
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