Are bio-identical hormones the same as what is in a healthy person? Not according to many doctors! Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is still a matter of putting a foreign substance into the body, no matter how "identical" it may seem. Thus, the HRT known as BHRT (bioidentical hormone repalcement therapy) is still filled with risk and benefit.
"Bioidentical hormones" means different things to different people. But it does not mean "same as". It only means that they look the same to the body as those produced by a human ovary. Several FDA-approved products containing these bio-identical hormones.
What is clear is that HRT supplements can make a woman feel better, but it is not clear if they make her healthier. THere is a reason for menopause. It is NOT a disease. It is a stage of life. Thus, while HRT may make a woman feel better, it has risks and side effects. Thus, there exist many public health issues and debate surrounding HRT.
Two good articles discussing this topic can be found at:
"Bioidentical HRT (BHRT) involves treatment with hormones that have the exact molecular structure as those made by your body. This is what makes them "natural", and also what allows them to produce the same physiologic response as those that are naturally produced by your body. There are many people, both patients and physicians alike, who are confused about where bioidentical treatments come from, and why they are advantageous."
