What Is the Difference Between Synthetic and Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Are you considering hormone replacement therapy to alleviate your symptoms? Although synthetic and natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy both aim to help women and men find relief during the transitional years of menopause and andropause, the two methods are vastly different in terms of their safety and efficacy. Want to know why? Then let’s learn about the differences between the two and which one might be right for you.
Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy
Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses lab-made hormones that are not identical to the hormones produced by the human body. These hormones can have different chemical structures and biological effects compared to the body's natural hormones. Synthetic HRT is commonly prescribed for menopause symptoms but may carry higher risks of side effects such as blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer.
One such example is synthetic estrogen-replacement drugs that increase the risk of several potentially fatal diseases, especially when combined with progestin. In 2002, a large-scale study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) conducted hormone replacement therapy on women revealed that postmenopausal women who used a combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin had a higher risk of breast cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke and blood clots. In response to this alarming news, many doctors immediately recommended that patients stop synthetic HRT. Interestingly, statistics for the following year showed that breast cancer rates overall dropped about 7 percent and estrogen-sensitive breast cancers (which are more likely to occur when estrogen levels are high) among women ages 50 to 69 fell 12 percent.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Bio-identical hormones, on the other hand, are derived from natural sources and are designed to be identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced by the human body. This is why bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is more appealing to the masses when dealing with menopause or andropause. They are specifically designed to match your individual hormonal needs - unlike synthetic hormones, which use a one-size-fits-all approach to symptom relief, and hence may be better tolerated as compared to synthetic hormones. This perfect fit allows your body to completely utilize the hormone without the side effects that are common with non-bio-identical hormones.
There is an overwhelmingly large body of evidence that supports the claim that bio-identical hormone therapy is safer and more effective than synthetic hormone replacement. However, it's important to remember that no drug, supplement or herb is 100 percent safe - there is always a chance that you may experience an adverse reaction. That's why it's critical for women and men to consult with a hormone specialist before beginning any hormone therapy for weight loss regimen to safeguard themselves from side effects.
To date, there have been no long-term studies of bio-identical hormones, but each short-term study shows positive results both in the relief of symptoms of hormonal imbalances like insomnia, cognitive problems, depression, anxiety, lower sex drive etc. and in the decreased risk of heart disease and breast cancer for women and erectile dysfunction in men. Meanwhile, both long-term and short-term studies show synthetic hormone replacement therapy to be less effective at treating symptoms and to increase the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
For women, bio-identical progesterone and estrogen have repeatedly been shown to reduce and eliminate the breast-cell proliferation rates while synthetic versions of these hormones, especially progestin, have been shown to increase breast cancer risk significantly. In terms of cardiovascular disease, bio-identical progesterone maintains and enhances the heart protective effects of estrogen, decreasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. This occurs in part to the bio-identical progesterone augmenting HDL (the good cholesterol) effects. Synthetic progestin does just the opposite, reducing HDL and working against estrogen, causing increased risk of heart disease.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Your Best Choice
When it comes to administering bio-identical hormones, there are several delivery methods, including:
NOTE: other delivery options exist and are considered on an individual patient basis.
The Complexities of Hormone Testing and Monitoring
For best results, your hormone levels should be monitored by blood, urine, or saliva, to ensure they reach a target level that corresponds to the reference ranges for healthy young people. Unfortunately, this monitoring is yet another factor that adds rather than detracts from the complexity of hormone replacement therapy for women and men.
Recent research indicates that if you apply topical (transdermal) progesterone, saliva testing will register approximately 10-fold greater compared to whole blood serum testing, and capillary blood levels are approximately 100-fold greater than what you find in whole blood.
According to the study, published in the journal Menopause,10 "high capillary blood and saliva levels indicate high absorption and transport of progesterone to tissues." This means that if you rely on serum levels of progesterone to monitor your topical dose, you may be underestimating your tissue levels, which could lead to overdosing.
Whole Body ApproachIn order to balance your hormones, and get effective results for hormone replacement therapy you have to address your diet first. Treating hormone imbalances requires a whole-body approach; the best approaches are often preventive and involve diet, exercise and other lifestyle-based strategies.
For instance, both estrogen and progesterone are necessary in the female cycle, and their balance is key for optimal health. Many premenopausal women have an imbalance of these hormones. If you have insufficient levels of progesterone to counter excessive estrogen, this imbalance can be further exacerbated by chronic stress. Therefore, your answer might not necessarily lie in receiving hormone replacement therapy, but rather addressing your stress levels so that your body can normalize your hormone levels naturally.
A healthful diet, low in processed foods (which are high in health-harming sugars/fructose, grains, genetically engineered ingredients, trans fats, processed salt, and other chemical additives) and high in whole organic foods, along with regular exercise, can also go a long way to keeping your hormones balanced as you age.
It's also important to realize that processed foods—all those refined carbohydrates, and processed and heated fats, serve to raise your estrogen to abnormal levels—as much as twice the normal, which are maintained for the better part of the adult lives of most American women. This is a MAJOR contributing cause of menopausal symptoms in the first place and can often require bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, especially for women. Processed foods also decrease a number of other hormones critical to your health and wellbeing.
Here's a quick list of dietary recommendations to maintain healthy hormone levels:
Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy
Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses lab-made hormones that are not identical to the hormones produced by the human body. These hormones can have different chemical structures and biological effects compared to the body's natural hormones. Synthetic HRT is commonly prescribed for menopause symptoms but may carry higher risks of side effects such as blood clots, stroke, and breast cancer.
One such example is synthetic estrogen-replacement drugs that increase the risk of several potentially fatal diseases, especially when combined with progestin. In 2002, a large-scale study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) conducted hormone replacement therapy on women revealed that postmenopausal women who used a combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin had a higher risk of breast cancer, coronary artery disease, stroke and blood clots. In response to this alarming news, many doctors immediately recommended that patients stop synthetic HRT. Interestingly, statistics for the following year showed that breast cancer rates overall dropped about 7 percent and estrogen-sensitive breast cancers (which are more likely to occur when estrogen levels are high) among women ages 50 to 69 fell 12 percent.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Bio-identical hormones, on the other hand, are derived from natural sources and are designed to be identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced by the human body. This is why bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is more appealing to the masses when dealing with menopause or andropause. They are specifically designed to match your individual hormonal needs - unlike synthetic hormones, which use a one-size-fits-all approach to symptom relief, and hence may be better tolerated as compared to synthetic hormones. This perfect fit allows your body to completely utilize the hormone without the side effects that are common with non-bio-identical hormones.
There is an overwhelmingly large body of evidence that supports the claim that bio-identical hormone therapy is safer and more effective than synthetic hormone replacement. However, it's important to remember that no drug, supplement or herb is 100 percent safe - there is always a chance that you may experience an adverse reaction. That's why it's critical for women and men to consult with a hormone specialist before beginning any hormone therapy for weight loss regimen to safeguard themselves from side effects.
To date, there have been no long-term studies of bio-identical hormones, but each short-term study shows positive results both in the relief of symptoms of hormonal imbalances like insomnia, cognitive problems, depression, anxiety, lower sex drive etc. and in the decreased risk of heart disease and breast cancer for women and erectile dysfunction in men. Meanwhile, both long-term and short-term studies show synthetic hormone replacement therapy to be less effective at treating symptoms and to increase the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease.
For women, bio-identical progesterone and estrogen have repeatedly been shown to reduce and eliminate the breast-cell proliferation rates while synthetic versions of these hormones, especially progestin, have been shown to increase breast cancer risk significantly. In terms of cardiovascular disease, bio-identical progesterone maintains and enhances the heart protective effects of estrogen, decreasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. This occurs in part to the bio-identical progesterone augmenting HDL (the good cholesterol) effects. Synthetic progestin does just the opposite, reducing HDL and working against estrogen, causing increased risk of heart disease.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Is Your Best Choice
When it comes to administering bio-identical hormones, there are several delivery methods, including:
- Hormone creams administered transdermally (i.e. applied to your skin) is one common alternative. However, since hormones are fat-soluble, they can build up in your fatty tissues when applied topically. This buildup in turn can disrupt other hormones. It is difficult to accurately determine the dose when using a cream.
- Sublingual drops (absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth) can be a good option, as it enters your blood stream directly and will not build up in your tissues like the cream can. It's also much easier to determine the dose you're taking, as each drop is about one milligram.
- Trans mucosal administration (in the form of a dissolvable gummy, cream or suppository absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth, vaginal or rectal tissues), is an ideal administration system, as applying hormones to your mucous epithelial membranes allows for more complete absorption.
- Pellet implantation (testosterone and/or estradiol) delivered by subcutaneous implants (in the hip). Pellets deliver consistent, physiologic levels of hormones and avoid the fluctuations of hormone levels seen with other methods of delivery.
NOTE: other delivery options exist and are considered on an individual patient basis.
The Complexities of Hormone Testing and Monitoring
For best results, your hormone levels should be monitored by blood, urine, or saliva, to ensure they reach a target level that corresponds to the reference ranges for healthy young people. Unfortunately, this monitoring is yet another factor that adds rather than detracts from the complexity of hormone replacement therapy for women and men.
Recent research indicates that if you apply topical (transdermal) progesterone, saliva testing will register approximately 10-fold greater compared to whole blood serum testing, and capillary blood levels are approximately 100-fold greater than what you find in whole blood.
According to the study, published in the journal Menopause,10 "high capillary blood and saliva levels indicate high absorption and transport of progesterone to tissues." This means that if you rely on serum levels of progesterone to monitor your topical dose, you may be underestimating your tissue levels, which could lead to overdosing.
Whole Body ApproachIn order to balance your hormones, and get effective results for hormone replacement therapy you have to address your diet first. Treating hormone imbalances requires a whole-body approach; the best approaches are often preventive and involve diet, exercise and other lifestyle-based strategies.
For instance, both estrogen and progesterone are necessary in the female cycle, and their balance is key for optimal health. Many premenopausal women have an imbalance of these hormones. If you have insufficient levels of progesterone to counter excessive estrogen, this imbalance can be further exacerbated by chronic stress. Therefore, your answer might not necessarily lie in receiving hormone replacement therapy, but rather addressing your stress levels so that your body can normalize your hormone levels naturally.
A healthful diet, low in processed foods (which are high in health-harming sugars/fructose, grains, genetically engineered ingredients, trans fats, processed salt, and other chemical additives) and high in whole organic foods, along with regular exercise, can also go a long way to keeping your hormones balanced as you age.
It's also important to realize that processed foods—all those refined carbohydrates, and processed and heated fats, serve to raise your estrogen to abnormal levels—as much as twice the normal, which are maintained for the better part of the adult lives of most American women. This is a MAJOR contributing cause of menopausal symptoms in the first place and can often require bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, especially for women. Processed foods also decrease a number of other hormones critical to your health and wellbeing.
Here's a quick list of dietary recommendations to maintain healthy hormone levels:
- The Paleolithic diet (unprocessed, nutrient-rich organic), which includes fermented and cultured foods, promotes healthy hormone levels, even as you age.
- Avoid unsprouted grains, sugar or fructose as they decrease seven of the 12 most important hormones.
- Alcohol decreases your human growth hormone (HGH), one of your most potent built-in anti-aging hormones. Having just one alcoholic drink per day can decrease your HGH by 75 percent.
- Magnesium supplements improve your sex hormone levels, including your testosterone and HGH.
- High-quality protein from meat and fish, as well as healthy fats such as egg yolk, lard, and butter, will improve progesterone and DHEA secretion, as will an otherwise healthy Paleolithic diet.
Whole Body Approach. In order to balance your hormones, you have to address your diet first.
Treating hormone imbalances requires a whole-body approach; the best approaches are often preventive and involve diet, exercise and other lifestyle-based strategies. For instance, both estrogen and progesterone are necessary in the female cycle, and their balance is key for optimal health. Many premenopausal women have an imbalance of these hormones. If you have insufficient levels of progesterone to counter excessive estrogen, this imbalance can be further exacerbated by chronic stress. Therefore, your answer might not necessarily lie in taking hormones, but rather addressing your stress levels so that your body can normalize your hormone levels naturally.
A healthful diet, low in processed foods (which are high in health-harming sugars/fructose, grains, genetically engineered ingredients, trans fats, processed salt, and other chemical additives) and high in whole organic foods, along with regular exercise, can also go a long way to keeping your hormones balanced as you age.
It's important to realize that processed foods—all those refined carbohydrates, and processed and heated fats, all serve to raise your estrogen to abnormal levels—as much as twice the normal, which are maintained for the better part of the adult lives of most American women. This is a MAJOR contributing cause of menopausal symptoms in the first place. Processed foods also decrease a number of other hormones critical to your health and wellbeing.
Here's a quick list of dietary recommendations to maintain healthy hormone levels:
Treating hormone imbalances requires a whole-body approach; the best approaches are often preventive and involve diet, exercise and other lifestyle-based strategies. For instance, both estrogen and progesterone are necessary in the female cycle, and their balance is key for optimal health. Many premenopausal women have an imbalance of these hormones. If you have insufficient levels of progesterone to counter excessive estrogen, this imbalance can be further exacerbated by chronic stress. Therefore, your answer might not necessarily lie in taking hormones, but rather addressing your stress levels so that your body can normalize your hormone levels naturally.
A healthful diet, low in processed foods (which are high in health-harming sugars/fructose, grains, genetically engineered ingredients, trans fats, processed salt, and other chemical additives) and high in whole organic foods, along with regular exercise, can also go a long way to keeping your hormones balanced as you age.
It's important to realize that processed foods—all those refined carbohydrates, and processed and heated fats, all serve to raise your estrogen to abnormal levels—as much as twice the normal, which are maintained for the better part of the adult lives of most American women. This is a MAJOR contributing cause of menopausal symptoms in the first place. Processed foods also decrease a number of other hormones critical to your health and wellbeing.
Here's a quick list of dietary recommendations to maintain healthy hormone levels:
- The Paleolithic diet (unprocessed, nutrient-rich organic), which includes fermented and cultured foods, promotes healthy hormone levels, even as you age.
- Avoid unsprouted grains, sugar or fructose as they decrease seven of the 12 most important hormones.
- Alcohol decreases your human growth hormone (HGH), one of your most potent built-in anti-aging hormones. Having just one alcoholic drink per day can decrease your HGH by 75 percent.
- Magnesium supplements improve your sex hormone levels, including your testosterone and HGH.
- High-quality protein from meat and fish, as well as healthy fats such as egg yolk, lard, and butter, will improve progesterone and DHEA secretion, as will an otherwise healthy Paleolithic diet.
- Progesterone can also be increased by several nutritional supplements, including vitamin A. As a general rule, fat-soluble vitamins will have a beneficial effect on sex hormones.