Safety
Work still needs to be done using BHRT in human trials to fully validate its usage in the eyes of every member of the medical profession, however its use in the world over the past 10 to 15 years has created large and positive anecdotal base.

Forms of BHRT Medication
Ans. Transdermal (Creams, Gels, Pessaries) Creams and to a lesser extent gels, offer a pleasant, non-invasive way of getting BHRT hormones into the body. Most are absorbed quickly onto the surface of red blood cells and liberated within one or two seconds where they attach to target cells (breast, uterus etc.) quickly. In the case of Progesterone, transdermal absorption may be ten times as great as oral. It should be the aim of the Compounding Pharmacist to use a cream which allows a measured release of hormone rather than a "rush" of hormone. Oral (Capsules) 

Patent & industrial association
Ans. Patents cannot be obtained for anything that occurs naturally in nature. Bio-Identical hormones are chemically identical to those occurring in the human body. No patents possible means no big money for the huge pharmaceutical companies. Big money is only possible through "patented hormones" meaning "synthetic hormones". These artifical hormones have been altered from the original hormone molecule and do not act or look like the natural hormones your body produces. They look "similar" chemically, but they are NOT identical. Bio-Identical hormones ARE identical.

To Determine Hormone Level
Ans. Although blood testing is currently the most popular, both tests are accurate and useful. Blood tests measure levels of protein-bound hormones (inactive) and saliva tests measure free hormone levels (active). Since the inactive protein-bound form is present in much higher levels it has historically been easier to measure. Only in the last several years has saliva testing become more common.

Topical V/S Oral Form
Ans. You're kidding, right? You can take natural hormones as topical creams, gels, capsules, tablets, sublingually, and intravaginally. Blood and saliva hormone tests have shown the particular effectiveness from topical creams. Higher doses may be required for oral use due to differences in liver metabolism.

Reference Case Study
Case study given by Women to women Healthcare (Compounding pharmacy), US
Janet was a 54-year-old woman who came to us with severe menopausal symptoms. We changed her diet to increase her protein and vegetables and reduce carbohydrates, added a pharmaceutical-grade nutritional supplement, and did a complete blood hormone panel.

At her first follow-up visit six weeks later, Janet definitely felt better, but she still suffered too many hot flashes and sleepless nights. Our next step would have been to increase her soy intake, but Janet wanted immediate relief and chose to try bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.

After reviewing her hormone panel we placed Janet on a combination of bioidentical estradiol (one of the three forms of estrogen), testosterone, DHEA and progesterone, all in cream form. Six weeks later Janet came back for another follow-up. "I feel fabulous," she said, explaining she hadn't felt this good since her early 30's.

A year later Janet still feels great. She's carefully compliant with her diet and exercise regime, and takes her bioidentical hormones faithfully. Her latest hormone panel shows she's still in balance and there is no need to adjust her dosages.

Not every patient is as easy to help as Janet. Sometimes we have to adjust the formulas three to five times to get it right. But it's a very effective solution.