Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for attaining optimal wellness – offered by the CenterMD.  Serving San Diego, Miramar, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, Coronado, National City, Spring Valley and all surrounding areas

If you are eager to restore normal hormonal levels and taper hormonal imbalance symptoms, contact CenterMD today. Dr. Stephen Center is an expert hormone doctor specializing in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Learn if you have high testosterone or low testosterone levels, progesterone deficits, or estrogen instabilities.

Whether you are surviving with symptoms of aging or known conditions such as perimenopause, adrenal fatigue, andropause, menopause, or thyroid disorder we design a hormone treatment solution solely for you.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) vs. Conventional Hormone Replacement (HRT)

Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) applies patented hormones that are unnaturally created. Synthetic hormones are often chemically-created and mass-produced in laboratories,  eliminating the opportunity for patient personalization. Synthetic hormones fall into the class of a one-size-fits-all treatment plan, and that is the precise opposite of what Dr. Stephen Center offers to his patients.

Bioidentical hormones are identical replicas of the natural hormones produced by the body biologically; bioidentical hormones have the same chemical structure, so the body speaks and reacts to these hormones in the same way it would react to natural hormones. Synthetic hormones, conversely, are not exact replicas – their chemical structure is adjusted.

Bioidentical hormones are formulated in compounding pharmacies, which are high-tech laboratories that employ pharmacists and other trained technicians to create and produce bioidentical hormones specifically for every patient. The compounding pharmacist utilizes plant compounds, often found in soybeans or wild yams, to create customized formulations that are chemically identical to natural hormones.

Every patient has different needs, and various hormones may be required to improve the particular symptoms of menopause that the patient is experiencing. Not like synthetic hormones, mass- made in large-scale factories, with a one-dosage-fits-all method, compounded bioidentical hormones can be modified to each patient’s needs.

What Causes Hormone Imbalance?

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Men

Signs of low testosterone in men can begin to develop in their 20’s and linger for the next few decades. As levels start to decrease, some of the symptoms of low testosterone in men can consist of weight gain, loss of sex drive, hair loss, depression, irritability, and muscle loss – all of which impact quality of life and wellbeing. Testosterone replacement therapy utilizing bioidentical hormones has been recognized to reverse various symptoms of low testosterone in men, as well lessening the risk of disease.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Women

Women experience fluctuations in hormone levels throughout a series of stages in life. These changes can be manipulated by high testosterone in women (and low testosterone in women!), thyroid troubles, and adrenal issues.  When a woman goes through puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, perimenopause and menopause, she is faced with changes in natural hormone levels. Moreover, yet as a vital part of the life span for women, these hormonal variations can trigger a host of symptoms, such as mood swings, insomnia, anxiety, low sex drive, troubles with weight management, and chronic fatigue. Thyroid symptoms in women can imitate other hormones, and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the resolution for women to reestablish natural hormone balance and lessen unpleasant hormone symptoms.

Delivery Methods for Bioidentical Hormones

A comparison of the techniques of bioidentical hormone delivery shows that many people find the pellet system to be the most natural and efficient for their bioidentical hormone regimen. By working with a doctor who specializes in bioidentical hormones and understands the confines of each system of delivery, patients can receive a custom-built, tailored program to resolve their particular issues. Dr. Center is a Board Certified Doctor of Emergency Medicine (M.D.), with extensive training in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

Bioidentical Hormone Pellet Therapy

Bioidentical hormone pellet therapy has been applied since the late 1930’s and is a popular form of bioidentical hormone delivery. Data shows that small bioidentical hormone pellets containing estrogen or testosterone, deliver the most natural release of hormones into the body when placed under the skin. Symptoms are controlled without fail, and patients avoid unnatural fluctuations in natural hormone levels that can occur with other methods of administration.

The bioidentical hormone pellets themselves are somewhat larger than a grain of rice. Bioidentical hormone pellets are inserted under the skin in the buttocks area by a physician with specialized training in bioidentical hormones. The procedure is moderately painless and takes only a few minutes; it is administered using a local anesthetic in the physician’s office. Bioidentical hormone pellets last about 3-5 months in women and 4-6 months in men. Many female patients start to notice a difference in the first 48-72 hours, while it takes a little longer for men. For men, the bioidentical hormone pellets sometimes take 2-4 weeks before men start to notice the benefits of the pellets. The bioidentical hormone pellets deplete and dissolve on their own over the span of a few months. Many people find that this technique of delivery as the most natural and efficient for their bioidentical hormone replacement regime.*

Transdermal Delivery Systems

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can also be delivered through a transdermal application.  Bioidentical hormones are applied to the skin through the use of a cream, gel, or path and are slowly absorbed into the body. More often than not, transdermal applications of bioidentical hormones are in small doses to mimic the way the natural rhythm of hormone waves, but some fluctuations can occur. With transdermal bioidentical hormones, contact with the patient’s spouse or children may need to be supervised after application, as hormones can be unintentionally transferred. Disadvantages to the patch are that it can cause skin irritations or allergic reactions, or they can fall off with excessive sweating and must be adequately safeguarded with plastic when swimming.*

Oral Bioidentical Hormones

Bioidentical hormones are usually not suited to oral delivery, as this demands the product be processed through the gastrointestinal system. Also, as the liver digests the hormones, it also produces another hormone that ties up the free testosterone and estrogen in the body, degrading the effectiveness of the bioidentical hormones.*

Injectable Bioidentical Hormones

The delivery of bioidentical hormones through injection can only be accomplished for men taking testosterone. The dosages for women would be extreme, and estrogen is not available as an injection. The biggest restraint to injections is the difficulty of maintaining a steady level of the hormones, in the way the body would customarily function. High levels of testosterone in the first few days can be problematic, with lowered levels near the end of the injections effectiveness, the other problem. Often shots are administered twice a month, but if the levels decline, the interval can be reduced.*

To discover more, contact the CenterMD today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Stephen Center, M.D. Dr. Center is a hormone specialist and a highly respected member of the BodyLogicMD network, physicians specializing in integrative medicine and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

*The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. By using our site you agree to our terms. See our Full Disclaimer.