Hormone Replacement Therapy for Improved Health and Quality of Life
As you age, your Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) has come of age, thanks in large part to TV shows like Suzanne Somers, Oprah and Dr. Phil, whose wife, Robin, inspired millions of menopausal women to begin bioidentical hormones by sharing her own personal testimony with viewers on how much BHRT had changed her life for the better. Similarly, Oprah Winfrey told viewers last year that taking bioidentical hormones have made a big improvement in how she feels.
“After one day on bioidentical estrogen, I felt the veil lift,” Winfrey reported. “After three days, the sky was bluer, my brain was no longer fuzzy, my memory was sharper…I was literally singing and had a skip in my step.”
It’s estimated that 50 million American women are in menopause today. Common symptoms include hot flashes, fatigue, depression, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can begin several years prior to the actual onset of menopause and are usually due to sudden fluctuations in hormone levels.
Dr. Michele Zormeier, a highly respected cosmetic surgeon with advanced training in wellness medicine, has treated many women with BHRT, including pre-menopausal women in their 30’s. She says the results have been phenomenal, “Several of my patients report that BHRT has literally saved their marriage after restoring sex drive, losing weight, improving depression, anxiety, sleep, and energy.”
Although bioidentical hormones have been availible for years, many people, including some doctors, are misinformed. This is due, in part, to the federal government’s decision in 2002 to suspend the use of synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after a large clinical study questioned the safety of using them, resulting in the search for alternatives to treat menopausal symptoms.
One of the more popular alternatives to emerge has been natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. As hormone levels decline with age, BHRT replenishes the hormones that your body needs to function.
Unlike synthetic hormones of the past, bioidentical hormones are natural in that they are made to have the same molecular structure as the hormones made by one’s own body.
“The bioidentical hormones are a natural solution for minimizing symptoms of menopause, such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and hot flashes,” Dr. Zormeier says, “They also improve sleep and libido in my patients while increasing muscle tone and energy. I’ve seen dramatic results in patients on BHRT, not just in their physical health, but in their marriages and relationships in general.”
Dr. Zormeier utilizes a variety of blood, urine, and saliva tests to determine individual hormone levels. Depending on the results, Dr. Zormeier then creates a customized treatment plan that usually involves bioidentical hormone creams.