Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy For Menopause

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has many benefits and some risks.

It can be a great option for you if the benefits outweigh the risks, which depends on your medical history and age.

This is where your naturopathic doctor comes in and can help you to understand if this therapy is an option for you.

The good news is that if it is, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has the potential to ease many of the challenging symptoms of menopause, which can help you get back to living comfortably through this transitional phase.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “what are the options for a naturopath for hormone imbalance near me?” you’ve found one of them.

I’m Dr. Sheila Dyer, a naturopathic doctor in Toronto who helps manage hormonal conditions, among other things.

Now, keep reading to find out more starting with the basics.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers secreted directly into your blood from your many endocrine glands.

Your hormones travel through your blood into your organs and tissues, essentially telling them what to do.

You have many different types of hormones in your body that help many different parts of your body function.

Some examples of this include:

• Metabolism of food
• Sexual function and reproductive growth
• Development and growth
• Body temperature and thirst maintenance
• Cognitive function and mood regulation

Endocrine disorders are disorders that can affect your ability to produce or make use of hormones.

These include:

• Hypothyroidism, where your thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone
• Hyperthyroidism, where your thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone
• Type 1 diabetes, where your pancreas either doesn’t make insulin or doesn’t make enough of it
• Type 2 diabetes, where your cells become resistant to the insulin your pancreas produces
• Addison’s disease, where your adrenal glands don’t produce enough hormones

What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a therapy used to support a person whose hormone levels have either dropped or become unbalanced.

This, of course, includes the goal of easing symptoms of menopause.

It can also improve the symptoms of cancer treatment and work as a naturopathic treatment for fibromyalgia.

Bioidentical hormones are hormones derived from plant estrogens which are chemically identical to those the human body produces.

The most commonly created ones are estrogen and progesterone.

You can get bioidentical hormones in many forms like pills, patches, creams, injections, and gels.

It’s worth noting that hormone replacement therapy in general is a contentious subject because of a study that came out in 2002 which linked the therapy to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

However, this study has long since been questioned because newer studies have shown that the benefits outweigh the risks if you start the therapy before age 60 and within 10 years of menopause.

These risk have since been better understood and studied.

Your naturopath will be able to have a conversation with you regarding safe guards and risk reduction.

We’ll find out more on this later.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is the end of your menstrual cycle that occurs when your ovaries no longer release an egg every month and you stop menstruating.

The term menopause typically describes all of the changes your body goes through before, during, and after you stop having your cycle.

This also marks the end of your reproductive years.

How Can Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Help With Menopause?

Now, like we said above, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help with menopause because the benefits do outweigh the risks.

We’ll consider some of the most researched benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy below.

1. It Eases Your Menopause Symptoms

The symptoms of menopause can vary from mild to severe.

If you are experiencing severe symptoms that are impacting your daily life, it’s worth speaking with your naturopathic doctor about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

This therapy can help you to:

• Relieve hot flashes and night sweats
• Relieve genital and urinary symptoms like painful sex, vaginal dryness and urinary problems

2. It’s Good For Your Bones

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help to reduce your risk of bone loss, osteoporosis, and fractures after one to two years of estrogen; often in the form of a skin patch.

This can help to improve your bone density, which protects the structure of your bones as you age.

3. It’s Good For Your Heart

Studies have shown that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can protect your heart and cardiovascular system from disease if started within ten years of menopause.

But, you must first have a physical exam to make sure you don’t already have signs of cardiovascular disease.

Regular physicals during your bioidentical hormone replacement therapy are recommended.

4. It Can Help Manage Depression

Depression is a regular symptom of menopause and it can last for several years.

Estrogen, often delivered through a skin patch, can be a great help to ease these symptoms of depression during menopause.

5. It’s Good For Your Mind

Finally, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is great for your mind.

Again, estrogenbased therapy may be able to reduce your risk of developing particular neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.

Are There Any Risks With Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

There are definitely some risks associated with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Specifically, if you are already at an elevated risk of heart disease, have high blood pressure, or atherosclerotic plaque buildup then this may not be the therapy for you.

You should also be careful if you are a high risk for dementia or already have changes present in your brain that an MRI scan has confirmed.

Some other risks to be mindful of include if you are at an elevated risk of blood clots or stroke, if you have had liver issues, or if you have had an estrogen sensitive breast or uterine cancer.

The risks will vary depending on your bioidentical hormone replacement dosage and the length of time you spend on it.

Should You Take Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?

The best time to take bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is if you are under the age of sixty and you’ve entered menopause within the last ten years.

As you age, or if you have started your menopause more than ten years ago, the risks could outweigh the benefits for you.

Book Your Appointment With Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND, Today

There’s a lot to consider with thinking about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Timing is key.

Specifically, if you’re experiencing severe symptoms of menopause and you’re under the age of sixty, it’s worth reaching out to a professional naturopathic doctor for a consultation.

We can work with you to reduce your menopause symptoms and keep you healthier, longer.

Book an appointment today with me, Dr. Sheila Dyer, ND to find out if bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can be a benefit to you.