The Buzz Surrounding Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
The Buzz Surrounding Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Concerns About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
In light of recent media reports concerning the shutdown of a local hormone replacement clinic, there is confusion in the community surrounding bioidentical hormone replacement therapy(BHRT), specifically, the use of hormone pellets. I'd like to address some of that confusion here.
As a functional medicine nurse practitioner, one of the modalities of treatment I provide is BHRT, or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. I offer hormone replacement to males and females whose lab tests show that hormone levels are out of balance, and who are having symptoms related to hormone imbalance. I don't believe everyone is a candidate for BHRT. Comprehensive lab testing that can be done through blood and saliva analysis needs to be conducted, a history needs to be taken, especially discussing family or personal history of cancer, and symptoms need to be assessed.
In my training and working in different clinics, I have performed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) using pellets (which are implanted under the skin). The pellets are made in high doses and are meant to slow release into the blood stream over time. The concept is a good one, but the problem I saw in patients, and guided by common sense, is that each person's body is different. How the hormones will affect the patient is varied, how much of the hormone is needed for symptom resolution is different for each patient, and how quickly a patient's body will metabolize the hormones will be different. In light of this, I walked away from pellet implants and never looked back.
I take a very conservative approach in determining appropriate patient dosage for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Based on how the patients individually respond, I adjust dosages upward only if needed. I find that other modes of delivery of hormones, such as topical creams do work, and are easier to dose up and down for each individual. I believe there is a possible risk for anything we put into our bodies, including pharmacologic agents, hormones, toxic air, foods, liquids, pathogens, and even nutritional supplements.
Each person's body, needs, and risk factors will be different. Therefore, when considering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), I believe each patient should be assessed and treated on an individual basis with the most conservative approach possible, allowing the body to heal and operate the way it was designed to.
In today's society, there is a lot of education available for lay people, and because of that many of my patients come to me with a wealth of knowledge, and I welcome that. There are a lot of œwellness centers and œBHRT centers out there. Many of them are good ones, many are not. I would urge you to do your research, treat your body as the temple that it is, and be conservative about what you put in it.
Karen Hyden, APN-BC
Wellness Solutions
www.wellnesssolutionsus.com
Concerns About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
In light of recent media reports concerning the shutdown of a local hormone replacement clinic, there is confusion in the community surrounding bioidentical hormone replacement therapy
As a functional medicine nurse practitioner, one of the modalities of treatment I provide is BHRT, or bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. I offer hormone replacement to males and females whose lab tests show that hormone levels are out of balance, and who are having symptoms related to hormone imbalance. I don't believe everyone is a candidate for BHRT. Comprehensive lab testing that can be done through blood and saliva analysis needs to be conducted, a history needs to be taken, especially discussing family or personal history of cancer, and symptoms need to be assessed.
In my training and working in different clinics, I have performed bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) using pellets (which are implanted under the skin). The pellets are made in high doses and are meant to slow release into the blood stream over time. The concept is a good one, but the problem I saw in patients, and guided by common sense, is that each person's body is different. How the hormones will affect the patient is varied, how much of the hormone is needed for symptom resolution is different for each patient, and how quickly a patient's body will metabolize the hormones will be different. In light of this, I walked away from pellet implants and never looked back.
I take a very conservative approach in determining appropriate patient dosage for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Based on how the patients individually respond, I adjust dosages upward only if needed. I find that other modes of delivery of hormones, such as topical creams do work, and are easier to dose up and down for each individual. I believe there is a possible risk for anything we put into our bodies, including pharmacologic agents, hormones, toxic air, foods, liquids, pathogens, and even nutritional supplements.
Each person's body, needs, and risk factors will be different. Therefore, when considering bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), I believe each patient should be assessed and treated on an individual basis with the most conservative approach possible, allowing the body to heal and operate the way it was designed to.
In today's society, there is a lot of education available for lay people, and because of that many of my patients come to me with a wealth of knowledge, and I welcome that. There are a lot of œwellness centers and œBHRT centers out there. Many of them are good ones, many are not. I would urge you to do your research, treat your body as the temple that it is, and be conservative about what you put in it.
Karen Hyden, APN-BC
Wellness Solutions
www.wellnesssolutionsus.com
2/18/2013 1:30:49 PM
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