Bioidentical Hormones vs HRT: Making the Best Choice

We change as we grow older, and our hormones change, also change. The result of this shift may make many women, and to a higher extent, menopausal women fatigued, hot flushed, changes in mood and sleep disorders. It denotes hormone imbalance, and that is why people resort to seeking help by considering the possibility of hormone therapy.

One of the biggest questions at the moment is what is the difference between bioidentical hormones vs HRT? Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is not a recent practice, and in most instances, synthetic estrogens and progesterones are used to help mitigate the effects of menopause. Bioidentical hormones are instead designed to appear and behave more like natural hormones in the body. Others refer to them as a kind of hormone supplement.

Neither of them is completely the same, yet both are created to aid in restoring the balance to the body. Some are more comfortable with the established route of HRT, and those who desire something that seems more similar to what the body can naturally generate.

In this blog, we will discuss what HRT is, the benefits and risks of bioidentical hormones, and who may be better placed to take one over the other.

What Are HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) Treatments?

One of the most prevalent therapies among women with menopause over the past several decades is Hormone Replacement Therapy. It takes the place of the hormones (estrogen therapy and sometimes progesterone therapy) that the body is no longer synthesizing in adequate amounts. These types of hormones may be given in different forms, e.g., in tablets, skin patches, gels, or even in small implants, and these types of hormones can help to alleviate hot flush, night sweats, mood swings, and other symptoms in just a short time.

It is established that about one in every ten women between the ages of 50-60 in the UK has some type of HRT, and this number is growing as people continue to discuss menopause.  Not all people are treated in the same way; physicians typically choose the type and dosage of the treatment upon reviewing the health history of a woman. Even without a serious medical condition, HRT is never prescribed to make those women who belong to the vast majority feel more balanced and add quality to their lives.

The effects of HRT can be life-altering, like the alleviation of menopause symptoms, bone, mood, and energy. Meanwhile, the doctors remind their patients of any potential risk of blood clots or breast cancer, among other things. Due to this fact, HRT is usually used at a minimal dose. Which leads to the next question: since HRT has its advantages and disadvantages, what is it about bioidentical hormones that makes them better, and why are they so popular?

What Are Bioidentical Hormones?

The simplest way of putting it is that bioidentical hormones are artificial hormones that are known to be chemically identical to the naturally occurring hormones that are produced in your body. Unlike the conventional synthetic hormones, the bioidentical hormones are produced in a form that makes sense to the chemistry of the body.  Some are vegetable, as yams or soy, but are then refined in a laboratory to mimic human estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone.

Bioidentical hormones come in common, FDA-approved form (creams, pills, or patches) or compounded hormone therapy, which is where the pharmacist prepares an amount prescribed by a physician. One of the reasons why they have become so popular is this personalized side. Most individuals enjoy the concept of being treated in a personalized manner.

It has been reported recently that close to 40 percent of women who consider hormone therapy will initially query about bioidentical hormones, which indicates the level of interest that has developed around this alternative. They feel more natural, as supporters claim, and some women are less likely to experience side effects than with traditional HRT. Nevertheless, scientists continue to warn their patients that natural does not necessarily mean harmless and that research is necessary to better understand their consequences in long-term consequences.

Concisely, in spite of its long history of use, bioidentical hormones are emerging as an alternative to individuals who want to experience natural hormone balance. To determine which of them is truly better, however, we must examine more closely the advantages and disadvantages of each practice, which is what we will examine next.

Benefits and Risks of Each Approach

When we talk about bioidentical hormones vs HRT, we must examine the pluses and the flaws of each one. They both tend to restore balance and improve the symptoms of menopause, but they do not do it equally for all women.

Benefits and risks of HRT and Bioidentical Hormones:

• Outstanding symptom alleviation: HRT already possesses a lengthy record of reducing hot flushes, night sweats, and mood swings, and bioidentical hormones are billed to be more natural within the body.
• Bone health and heart health: Both procedures can help make your bones stronger, and may also help lower your risk of developing osteoporosis, although doctors are still debating whether the approaches have a positive impact on the long-term heart health of those subjected to them.
• Personalization: Bioidentical hormones can be customized to a person, and that makes some women feel much more comfortable than the HRT that comes in standard doses and has been proven to be safe.
• Side effects: Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) can cause some women to develop breast cancer and blood clots slightly, and bioidentical hormones also have some side effects that are not well known to us, as very little research has been done.
• Supervision required: To maintain a normal range of hormone levels, the two treatments must be supplemented by regular visits to the doctor.

However, in the end, neither of the ways is the best. It typically hinges on the extent to which one values the accepted history of medicine to the point of dismissing a more natural-sounding option that is more tailored. That is why the second step is to learn about the key differences between bioidentical hormones and HRT.

Key Differences Between Bioidentical Hormones and HRT

Although the two treatments both focus on balancing hormones, they are quite different in the manner they are made and prescribed. Others are more comfortable with the proven history of HRT, and some people would like the more personalized approach of bioidentical hormones.

Main differences between the two approaches:

• Hormone source: Hormones are usually made synthetically, but bioidentical hormones are usually made out of plant material and are designed after natural human hormones.
• Regulation and acceptance: HRT is highly regulated and approved by the FDA, and numerous compounded bioidentical hormones are unregulated, though some of the standard forms are.
• Personalization: Bioidentical treatment can be tailored to the requirements of an individual, when HRT is dead easy to buy in generic doses, testing safety-wise is a lot more palatable.
• A feeling of naturalness: It is believed by many patients that bioidentical hormones are less dangerous since they are more similar to the chemistry of the body, although this has not been well proven in research.
• Long-term evidence: HRT has decades of medical research evidence on how it works and what risks it may have, and bioidentical hormones still need further research.

It all boils down to opinion, then, with some finding it safer to stay under regulation, and others leaning towards the notion of a natural hormonal balance. This leads to another critical question: who is supposed to think of these treatments?

Who Should Consider Bioidentical Hormones vs HRT?

Not all women going through menopause or hormone imbalance will require therapy, and in those cases, whether to use bioidentical hormones or HRT will be based on individual health, lifestyle, and objectives. HRT may also be a good option in women with intense hot flushes and mood swings, or sleep problems, and may work more quickly in women where the doctor is sure the treatment benefits would outweigh the side effects.

On the one hand, women who feel more at ease with a treatment that seems more consistent with the natural chemistry of their bodies may wish to examine bioidentical hormones. In some cases, this may be particularly attractive to individuals who are sensitive to mainstream HRT or who require even further freedom through a tailored hormone therapy regimen. Note, however, that bioidentical alternatives are not risk-free and would demand further investigation.

Finally, the most appropriate option is reduced to medical history, age, and well-being. A woman who has a high risk of the disease because of a strong family history of breast cancer, say, could have to be cautious with HRT. Others might simply want to pass through a therapy more comfortable to them. But in all cases, the wisest move is to seek the advice of a trained doctor who can assist in making the decision safely.

Conclusion

Choosing between bioidentical hormones vs HRT is not about which one is “better” for everyone, but which one fits your body, health history, and comfort level. Both are targeted at providing relief by restoring normalcy and minimizing the challenging symptoms of menopause, but they do it differently. HRT is supported by years of research and verified outcomes, and bioidentical hormones are considered more natural and individualized, although years of research are still being conducted.

The point of it is not to decide on your own. Talk to your physician about your symptoms, be frank, and ask about both forms of hormone therapy. A woman may have a reaction to something, and another woman may not have a reaction to the same thing; that is not unusual, either. With proper advice, you will be able to get a treatment that benefits your hormone deficit, along with promoting your health and making your life more comfortable. By nightfall, regardless of which you take, conventional HRT or bioidentical hormones, the result is that you will feel yourself once again.