Are you experiencing any of the following?

Vaginal dryness
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Forgetfulness
Mood swings
Hot flashes and night sweats

If you answered “YES” to any of the above, chances are that you’re undergoing perimenopause or menopause. Perimenopause is defined as the period around the onset of menopause that is often marked by physical signs. It may last for several months up to 10 years. Menopause on the other hand is the period of permanent cessation of menstruation. Both are characterized by fluctuations in hormones leading to mild to debilitating symptoms.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement

Simply put, bioidentical hormones are hormones that are identical to the ones found in humans. Anything that slightly differs from our endogenous hormones is just that, synthetic or artificial hormones. Examples of synthetic hormones include Premarin which is primarily equine estrogens; Provera, a progestin or synthetic progesterone; and methyltestosterone, a synthetic form of testosterone. Close examination of their molecular structure reveals a minor but significant difference from that of endogenous hormones. These synthetic hormones have similar function to the bioidentical hormones in certain parts of the body. This is not true for the rest of the body though, where some of their effects could be opposite to that of the bioidentical hormones. Take the case of natural progesterone which is a natural antidepressant. The synthetic form however could actually cause depression!

To learn more about how you can take charge of your health as you age, call us at 415-567-5602 to schedule for a complimentary 10 minute consultation