Here Dr. Dima answers some of the most frequently asked questions on Bioidentical Hormone Therapy, and some of the most interesting she has received from actual patients.
How do I know if I need bioidentical hormone therapy?
In my opinion most men and women over the age of 35 (about 97 million of us right now) need some form of hormone replacement as that is when symptoms of hormone imbalance begin to manifest. Blood work needs to be done using specialized lab tests that are not part of a normal lab panel. I call this the “anti-aging lab panel.” This gives me objective information about each individual’s hormone levels. But we don’t treat numbers we treat each individual based on their specific symptoms. Some of these are hot flashes, night sweats, depression/anxiety, decreased energy, weight gain (especially around the mid-section), hair loss and fatigue to name a few.
My doctor has me on Prempro. Why should I switch?
The answer to this question boils down to Capitalistic Pharmaceutical Company vs. Small Compounding Pharmacy; synthetic mare derived hormones vs. natural, plant derived hormones that mimic Mother Nature and the human physiologic state. Oral hormones are metabolized by the liver causing hypertension, elevated cholesterol and even an increase in clotting factors and strokes. By definition, bioidentical hormones mimic the chemical structure of hormones that the human body makes naturally. Therefore, it is metabolically processed in much the same way resulting in greater bio-availability and more effective utilization. BHT is safer and far more effective. You should switch.
My sex drive is gone and I’m worried my husband/wife will leave me! Will bioidentical hormone therapy help bring it back?
Yes! This is one of the main symptoms of hormone imbalance and it occurs due to decreased levels of estrogen, testosterone or both. This commonly occurs during both menopause and andropause. It is important to note that a 40 year old woman can have the testosterone level of a 25 year old man. That is why each treatment is customized for each individual patient. Both libido and erectile dysfunction improve with hormone therapy.
I have been on bioidentical hormone creams since my hysterectomy 5 years ago and my doctor wants to switch me to pellet therapy. What is pellet therapy?
Pellet therapy is a slow release delivery method for bioidentical hormone therapy. It bypasses the skin barrier and goes directly into your bloodstream allowing for a more even and sustained level of hormones that mimics your body’s delivery system. The hormone pellets are smaller than a tic tac and are inserted underneath the skin (usually in the upper buttock) with a very small incision under local anesthesia. The pellets last about 3 months in women and 5 months in men. Each dose is customized based on your symptoms and lab results.
To see how pellets are inserted you can watch my YouTube video here:
How soon will I start to feel better after my pellet implant?
Some people begin to feel the effects within 48 hours. You will slowly begin to notice things such as increased energy and stamina; increased sex drive and performance; better concentration and focus; less vaginal dryness and incontinence; improvement in sleep; less headaches; better skin tone. All due to fixing one’s hormone imbalance. In addition, it’s been shown to decrease chronic disease such as osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s Disease and Bio-identical hormone therapy with pellets is the best way to maintain optimal health and well-being as we age BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
What if my primary care physician or my gynecologist says that there is ‘no data’ to support the use of testosterone implants and that they cause cancer?
They are wrong. There is data to support both the short and long term use of hormones delivered by pellet implants. In fact, bioidentical testosterone implants have been used to treat advanced breast cancer and it is breast protective. BHRT is safe and effective. It enhances quality of life and diminishes age related morbidity. To read one of our actual patients success stories with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, and how it changed her life for the better go here.
If you are interested in learning more about hormone imbalance, and how to treat it with BHRT call 703.787.9866 today! You can also set up a consultation with our Board Certified Cosmetic Laser Surgeon and doctor, Dr. Dima Ali. We look forward to hearing for you!
