Hormones govern nearly everything that happens inside the human body. Our hormones dictate when we naturally fall asleep and wake up. They shape the way our bodies grow and change, how we react to stress, and even when and how we fall in love. From estrogen and testosterone to adrenaline and cortisol, our hormones are a big part of who we are.
The natural process of aging can alter the hormone levels in your body, leading to a wide range of unpleasant changes: night sweats, hot flashes, trouble sleeping, weight gain, loss of sexual interest, and even memory loss. Traditional hormone replacement therapies can offer some relief to women going through menopause or perimenopause, but these options are often expensive and difficult to access through conventional medicine.
At AURAE MD, serving San Diego and La Jolla, CA, we offer Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, or BHRT, as a natural alternative to traditional hormone replacement. BHRT is a range of safe, healthy, plant-derived products that replicate the hormones your body naturally produces in order to ease you back into feeling like yourself.
What Is BHRT?
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is the process of supplementing your body’s own hormones with natural substances derived from plants that function identically to human-made hormones. Think of it as your body’s version of, “If you can’t make your own, store-bought is fine.”
Many plants produce natural compounds that work much like human hormones, often for similar purposes. The life cycles of plants have a great deal in common with human ones; like us, plants alternate between a low-energy resting state and a higher-energy active state, and they grow and reproduce just as we do. Common plants like soybeans and yams produce compounds that are identical on a molecular level to the hormones produced in the human body.
BHRT comes in a wide range of varieties. These naturally derived hormones can be applied to the skin in a cream, gel, or spray, or they can be taken orally via a pill placed under the tongue. Some patients find greater relief from using transdermal patches, injections, or vaginal inserts but for most women, there are easy, minimally invasive ways to deliver the hormones their bodies need to keep them healthy.
Which Hormones Are Used in BHRT?
The main categories of hormones delivered via BHRT are estrogens, androgens, and neurosteroids.
Estrogens
Estrogens are a kind of steroid, a class of hormones that help to regulate a host of bodily functions. Steroid hormones can be involved in controlling metabolism, reducing inflammation, keeping the immune system in working order, balancing salt and water, and healing the body after an injury or illness.
Estrogens help to develop and regulate the female reproductive system. Estrone, estradiol, and estriol are the most common estrogens used in BHRT. During puberty, these hormones promote the development of breast tissue and other secondary sexual characteristics in women. In adulthood, these hormones can counteract the effects of age-related hormone loss on the body, including symptoms like vaginal dryness, fatigue, and pain during sexual intercourse.
Androgens
Androgens are used in developing and regulating the male reproductive system, but they are necessary in small amounts for regulating the female body as well. The most well-known androgen, testosterone, promotes the development of body hair and other masculine sex characteristics when it’s produced in large amounts, but at lower levels, the body uses it to maintain or regenerate muscle and bone mass. In BHRT, testosterone can be used to reduce bone loss and prevent osteoporosis.
Neurosteroids
Neurosteroids are a category of hormones produced by both sexes and used to regulate the function of individual neurons in the brain. When produced naturally in the body, neurosteroids like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) can help to promote the health of brain cells and improve energy levels, mood, and libido. As part of BHRT, DHEA is used to reduce brain fog and improve well-being as well as supplementing the work of androgens and estrogens.
Your Customized BHRT Experience at AURAE MD
Natural hormone levels vary widely from person to person. The same level of estrogen or testosterone in the blood may keep one patient healthy while making another patient seriously ill. It’s critical that BHRT, like all hormone replacement therapies, be customized to your individual needs.
The process begins with a simple, non-invasive saliva test. Saliva provides an excellent measure of the body’s natural hormone levels, and saliva testing allows patients to avoid unpleasant and potentially dangerous blood testing via venipuncture. Saliva testing is quick, painless, and needle-free.
Once you have provided a small sample of your saliva in a test tube, our off-site laboratory will analyze your hormone levels using the latest techniques, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, polymerase chain reaction, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The purpose of all these tests is to find each patient’s unique hormonal fingerprint and determine which hormones need supplementation.
After your hormonal profile has been thoroughly examined and understood, our compounding pharmacy will create a custom blend of bioidentical hormone supplements to meet your unique biological needs in a formulation you can take consistently and with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BHRT safe?
Because the hormones used in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy are identical on a molecular level to the hormones naturally produced by the human body, The Endocrine Society (the premier professional organization for endocrinologists in the United States) has stated that taking BHRT carries the same risks and benefits as taking hormone replacements made from non-bioidentical molecules. There are decades of scientific studies showing the safety and effectiveness of traditional hormone replacement therapies.
While no medication is completely without risk and BHRT has not been formally evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there is no clinical evidence that BHRT is any more dangerous than non-bioidentical hormones. Because BHRT treatments are customized and compounded especially to meet the unique needs of each patient, they are most likely to work with the body’s natural processes to promote wellness.
Aurae MD begins the treatment process with an in-depth consultation and analysis of saliva samples in order to maximize the safety and success of BHRT.
Who is a candidate for BHRT?
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is designed as a safe, natural alternative to traditional hormone replacement, so any adult patient experiencing the effects of hormonal deficiency is potentially a candidate for BHRT. The best candidates for BHRT are:
- Women aged 40 or older
- Anyone aged 18 or older who is experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or menopause
- Women who have recently undergone a hysterectomy and/or oophorectomy
- Anyone experiencing age-related bone and muscle loss
- Anyone seeking to look and feel more like their younger, hormonally balanced self
How much does BHRT cost?
The cost of BHRT varies according to the formulation of hormones needed, the compounding requirements, and the length of treatment. At AURAE MD, we offer an in-depth consultation at the beginning of treatment in which we provide a detailed cost estimate based on your customized treatment plan. We offer competitive pricing to guarantee that you receive the care you need at a cost you can afford.
Can BHRT be combined with other medications?
Although BHRT is generally considered safe, any medical treatment can interact adversely with other medications. Your personal consultation is the ideal time to bring up any other medical conditions you may have, such as epilepsy, migraines, asthma, or a family history of heart disease or cancer.
It is wise to avoid eating any foods that contain activated charcoal while taking any kind of oral medication, including BHRT. Activated charcoal can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), certain antidepressants, and birth control pills. Because birth control pills often contain progesterone and other estrogens, and because BHRT contains molecules that are chemically identical to the estrogens naturally produced by the body and used in birth control, it is possible that activated charcoal can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb your BHRT supplements and reduce the effectiveness of your treatment.
Activated charcoal is sold over the counter as a detox supplement and included in many foods, often as a coloring agent. You may have seen black confections colored with activated charcoal in stores around Halloween. Always check the ingredients label on any food you plan to eat.
Activated charcoal has not been shown to interfere with the effectiveness of BHRT when it is taken non-orally—for example, through gels, creams, or transdermal patches.
When will I see results from BHRT?
Some BHRT formulations show results faster than others, but most patients begin noticing the effects of hormone replacement therapy within a few weeks of beginning hormone supplementation. Although effects like increased bone density are often difficult to detect without medical testing, improvements in symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness are usually evident to patients and their loved ones. At AURAE MD, we check in regularly with each patient to ensure that treatment is progressing on schedule with no adverse effects.
How long should I expect to take BHRT?
Because BHRT is customized to each patient’s unique needs, the length of treatment varies accordingly. Some patients choose to take BHRT for only a few months; others continue treatment for several years, usually because they enjoy the relief from vexing symptoms. At AURAE MD, your personal BHRT consultant will work with you to develop an optimal treatment schedule.
Are there any side effects to BHRT?
The side effects of BHRT are assumed to be functionally identical to the side effects of traditional hormone replacement therapy. At very high levels, some of the hormones used in traditional hormone replacement therapy are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Because BHRT hormone levels are highly customized, many BHRT supplements do not approach the threshold of these risks.
Nevertheless, it’s always a good idea to take your physician’s advice in protecting your heart health, including getting regular exams, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise regimen, and taking any heart medications as prescribed.
Can men take BHRT?
All human bodies use hormones to regulate their function, and any human being can suffer the effects of a hormone deficiency. Although BHRT is primarily used to support older women with hormone deficiencies related to age and menopause, there is no clinical reason that men cannot use BHRT to meet their own unique medical needs. A one-on-one consultation at AURAE MD can help male patients develop treatment plans to help them lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
Why Choose AURAE MD for Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy in San Diego & La Jolla?
At AURAE MD, we prioritize your overall well-being while addressing your specific health and wellness goals. Our leader, Dr. Margo Aura Emami, is a pioneer in integrative and regenerative medicine. We take a holistic approach to aging and hormone support, aiming to produce natural, balanced results that reflect your true inner self. Dr. Emami’s philosophy centers on balancing optimal health with mindful, patient-centered care.
With more than three decades of experience and highly advanced training in Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine, Dr. Emami brings unparalleled expertise and the personal touch to every treatment.