Benefits Of Bioidentical Hormones

By Erika LeBaron, DO, MSN

We hear the term “anti-aging” a lot. It can be used with anything from cosmetics and skin care to health supplements and even medicine. However, the term “age-management” seems more accurate. We all age one day at a time and there is no fountain of youth.

With age-management, there are many things that we can do to manage how we age and to maintain our health as best as possible. An important component of age-management is preventive medicine. There is an old adage that says, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We do well with prevention measures for our cars (new tires, new battery, etc.) or house (new roof, new carpet, etc.), but we often tend to overlook the prevention aspect of our bodies and health. That is unfortunate when there is so much that can be done for prevention and managing how we age.

In addition to good nutrition and frequent exercise, which are key components of age-management, biodentical hormone replacement therapy provides many important benefits to achieve healthy aging. Most people think of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as a means to treat menopausal symptoms, and indeed it is. It is also important for treating male andropausal symptoms, the often overlooked male version of female menopause.

Some women start experiencing symptoms of concern during perimenopause (earlier than menopause). As estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones diminish with age, symptoms of menopause and andropause increase. Replenishing each of the hormones to more youthful levels is beneficial to our health, vitality and quality of life.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to improve and resolve our symptoms of (peri-)menopause and andropause hot flashes, night sweats, poor sleep, weight gain, muscle loss, fatigue, mood concerns, memory difficulty, urinary problems, low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, etc. is important for quality of life. But, when hormone levels are replenished with bioidentical forms (those that biologically match what our body used to make more of) they provide other health benefits as well. It provides benefits for bone health, heart health, brain health, as well as improved wellbeing and vitality.

You owe it to yourself to achieve healthy aging. Stay active, eat healthy, and explore bioidentical hormone replacement therapy for your optimal health. Perhaps bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the closest we can come to the ever elusive “fountain of youth”.