Hormones are crucially important in our bodies, and any sort of imbalance can cause noticeable issues. Some symptoms of hormonal imbalance include:

If you are experiencing these symptoms, your hormones may be to blame! Addressing these issues with hormone replacement can help relieve symptoms and get you on track to your ideal health.

Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Hormone imbalances are unique because they don’t “heal”. When one of more of your hormone levels become imbalanced, they can lead to symptoms that if not addressed can persist or lead to more serious problems. These levels can be balanced with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). Bio-identical hormones are substances that are biochemically identical to your body’s own hormones. Because of this, BHRT has been found to be safer and more effective than synthetic hormones with fewer side effects.

After taking an in-depth history to assess your specific situation and ordering lab testing to check your hormone levels, Dr. Hopp can recommend a specialized regimen to help optimize your hormone levels. For many men and women, addressing hormone imbalances can have a major impact on their symptoms and overall improve their lives!

Is BHRT safe?

The short answer: yes! The use of hormone replacement to address hormonal symptoms was used as early as the 1950s. During the 1970s in Europe, many practitioners switched to bio-identical hormones after they were shown to be safer than synthetic hormones. Studies have demonstrated that the use of BHRT reduces the risk of many leading causes of illness and death for both men and women. These include:

• Protection against cardiovascular disease such as heart attack
• Reduced risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease
• Improved bone density, resulting in a 50% reduction in risk of developing osteoporosis
• Decreased risk of colon cancer

Addressing the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Clinical Trial

Many patients, especially women, are familiar with the clinical trial published by the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002. The conclusions of this study showed that hormone replacement therapy can cause increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots. Many practitioners immediately stopped prescribing hormones after this trial was widely publicized. We want to make an important distinction here: synthetic vs. bio-identical hormones.

The WHI trial used oral synthetic estrogen and progestins. At TLC, Dr. Hopp prescribes bio-identical hormones. Your body “sees” these supplemental hormones the same as hormones produced naturally in your body. The use of bio-identical hormones does not increase the risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease and the use of bio-identical progesterone may be protective against breast cancer.

If you think you may benefit from BHRT, please call our office at 720-351-2411 to set up an appointment!