When patients walk into the doctor’s office, when they talk about problems like fatigue, low sex drive, and weight gain, they’re already nervous about being put on medication after medication. You might want to try hormone therapy as a solution, but when you start talking about BHRT, it can bring up memories and emotional conflicts you might not have prepared for.
As the expert, it’s your job to assure your patients that not only is this a safe treatment, but many of the problems of the past have been completely eradicated. BHRT can be easy and life-changing – all without the horrible side effects that once plagued the treatments.
So, let’s go over the top seven concerns patients have when talking to their doctor about HRT. Plus, each section gives you information on where to start the conversation with your patients, coming from their desires and concerns.
1. BHRT Stabilizes Mood Swings – When Consistent
Most women, and many men, know that taking BHRT stabilizes their mood swings. But, most don’t realize that the dramatic rise and drop of various types of therapies can cause mood swings to become worse, with only brief interludes of peace and stability. Consistency is better for the patient.
Take a look at this chart:
As you can see, when a person takes a pill, uses a patch, or an injection, they will get a sudden spike in the hormones they need. And, for a little while, they feel good. But, to avoid an overdose, the levels of hormones have to fall below an optimal level as the dose wears off. Then, the therapy repeats.
Regular hormone therapies like pills and injections rely on providing almost too much of the hormone, so the levels of adequacy stick around for the most prolonged period and doses repeat often.
This is where bioidentical pellet therapy steps in. As you can see on the graph and from this study, BHRT using pellet therapy ramps up a little bit slower and then provides a consistent and measurable dose of hormones over an extended time. People can be at their optimal level for the most extended duration without feeling the spikes or drops. And, research shows that consistency is the key.
2. There’s Misinformation Out There About Bioidentical Hormones
Synthetic and bioidentical hormones confuse a lot of people, even doctors. As we explained in this article, bioidentical hormones are chemical identically to the hormones the body creates. What makes the most significant difference is that each bioidentical hormone pellet dosage we provide precisely matches the particular person, so they are getting the exact type of bioidentical hormone that their body requires.
Unlike synthetic hormones, which come in a one-size-fits-all approach and are not chemically identical, bioidentical hormones dose correctly for the person. People see a reduction in side effects and an increase in their health markers.
3. Compounding Drugs Are Safe and Attuned To Each Person
One of the biggest and most misrepresented arguments against bioidentical hormones is that the compounding pharmacist creating each dose introduces levels of contamination not found in synthetic hormones. And while it is true that human error does happen, the compounding pharmacist follows the same stringent guidelines as other types of pharmaceutical productions – meaning that you have an equal chance of having problems with a compounded drug as you do with a synthetic drug.
What it comes down to is money. A compounding pharmacist does not make huge profits, in opposition to a pharmaceutical company that can produce millions of doses at high-profit margins. But, consistency and quality are equal.
4. Yes, You Do Need Blood Work To Determine Your Hormone Levels
Some doctors do not believe that you need blood work to determine what your hormone levels are before starting BHRT. This is somewhat confusing because the doctor would not prescribe insulin to a person with diabetes without knowing the levels of their blood sugar, nor would they prescribe thyroid medication without knowing the level of thyroid hormones.
Yet, HRT, which could comprise anywhere from one to nearly a dozen different types of hormones, is considered safe without blood work checks.
Fortunately, the providers that use HTCA pellet therapy use our required blood work to accurately match the type of hormone a person needs daily to the dose prescribed. When paired with a person, an appropriate level of hormone helps the patient feel better and reduces long-term illness. And because pellets are releasing their dose consistently over several months, the body can begin to stabilize.
5. Hormone Therapy Works for Men
A growing number of men realize their low sex drive and apathy towards life is a result of lower testosterone levels. A lower sex drive is the primary reason why men seek out BHRT. Fortunately, BHRT works exceptionally well for men.
The primary method of HRT in men is injection. However, many doctors find that men tend to skip sessions and experience highs and lows after the doses that cause mood swings and irritation. One of the fastest-growing aspects of bioidentical pellet therapy is for men because it provides consistency and reliability. Doctors find much higher compliance in this form of treatment for men then they do any other delivery method. And the men find their lives are easier only going to the doctor once every couple of months, avoiding the stigma of visiting a doctor every week.
6. Young Women May Need Hormone Therapy – Especially if they feel tired
Most women feel tired, especially after having kids. The problem is so pervasive throughout society, it’s expected and standard for women to feel tired. Except, it’s not normal or healthy. We interviewed HTCA provider Dr. Armi Walker, who explains it well in our interview with her (link to interview).
Women should be able to experience a full and vibrant life, filled with energy and a good night’s sleep throughout their entire lives, including going through menopause. Decreasing levels of hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, affect a woman’s energy.
Using BHRT to help a woman stabilize her hormone levels helps reduce highs and lows of fatigue and sleep problems. As a woman feels better during the day and gets a better night’s sleep, she finds that she has more energy during the day. Having more energy allows her to take care of her family, be successful at work, and have time to take care of herself properly without sacrificing anything.
Of course, if a woman simply feels tired, society expectations almost require her to ignore it. It’s up to the doctor to begin speaking to women of all ages who report feeling a little tired. Additionally, doctors should talk to their women patients about fatigue, even if they don’t bring it up themselves.
Starting with low levels of HRT earlier in life can help a woman avoid many problems a deficiency in hormone may cause. Proper doses of HRT using bioidentical hormones shows women can have a reduction in breast cancer and colorectal cancer without the additional problems of increased risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. Starting earlier in life helps increase the prevention properties of the hormones.
7. There Are Side Effects of HRT – But they often come from the delivery method
Overall, HRT has very low side effects. Some of the side effects come from improper dosing or inconsistent use. However, most of the side effects, the most life-threatening ones, begin with the delivery method.
Oral medications are processed through the digestive system and then the liver before reaching their appropriate source of activity. Oral medicines, similar to birth control pills and other hormone replacement therapy common to women, delivered in this manner are associated with increased risks of heart disease and liver problems.
Application sites for gels, patches, and creams tend to become photosensitive and may increase the risk of skin cancer. Topical applications also run the risk of passing the active ingredients to partners and children by casual touch, which can cause side effects of them: particularly children, this exposure to estrogen or testosterone before puberty can cause health problems.
Injections show a significant risk of skin problems near the injection site, particularly with repeated doses, which can cause muscular damage, skin degradation, and the increased risk of cysts and growths.
Although relatively safe, and much safer than other modes of delivery, bioidentical pellet therapy does have a few risks of side effects. Rarely, the body may reject the pellet and force it back out of the body. On the other hand, because of the consistency of the dose delivery directly to the bloodstream, bioidentical pellet therapy is considered the safest form of delivery.
What Else Can BHRT Help?
Most people use BHRT to combat fatigue, mood swings, and decreased sexual desire.
HRT can also be for:
- Hot Flushes And Night Sweats
- Vaginal Dryness And Pain
- Vaginal And Bladder Infections
- Mild Urinary Incontinence
- Aches And Pains
- Insomnia And Sleep Disturbance
- Cognitive Changes, Such As Memory Loss
- Reduced Sex Drive
- Mood Disturbance
- Abnormal Sensations, Such As ‘Prickling’ Or ‘Crawling’ Under The Skin
- Heart Palpitations
- Hair Loss Or Abnormal Hair Growth
- Dry And Itchy Eyes
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Bowel Cancer
- Osteoporosis
- Cardiovascular Disease
If you believe your patient may benefit from this therapy, bringing up the idea of using BHRT may help open the dialogue. Many patients may be opposed to the therapy until they do the research. We recommend sharing this website with them so they can become familiar with various forms of HRT and the benefits.
As you continue the conversation, you’ll be dealing with a patient that is informed and sees you as a resource, relying on factual information rather than stories from friends and relatives who may not have had the best experiences.