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Biogenic Hormone Therapy

Biogenic hormone therapy, also known as bioidentical hormone therapy, is the use of hormone supplements that are produced to match the molecular structure of the same hormone in the human body. This is in contrast to most hormone therapy medications, which are synthetic and do not match human hormone structures.

  1. About Hormones

    • Hormones are chemicals that cause the body to make certain changes or perform certain functions. Throughout a person's life, levels of particular hormones fluctuate based on age. During menopause, for example, the levels of progesterone and estrogen in a woman's body drop significantly. This leads to a number of effects that many women find unpleasant and seek relief from, such as night sweats, hot flashes and mood swings. During middle age, men also experience a decrease in hormones, most notably testosterone, which can lead to prostate issues and erectile dysfunction.

    How Biogenic Hormones are Produced

    • Many health professionals recommend use of biogenic hormone therapy to women who are experiencing the hormonal changes of menopause. Biogenic hormone therapy is also available for men, although it is not as common. To produce biogenic hormones, a patient first undergoes a series of hormone tests to determine the exact levels and types of hormones that need to be addressed. A hormone supplement is then designed and produced to closely match the patient's hormones and address hormone deficiencies. Because biogenic hormones are individually created to match a patient's needs, every patient's prescription will be different. This is in contrast to traditional hormone replacement therapy, where any number of patients may be taking the same hormone medication at the same dose.

    Where to Get Biogenic Hormone Therapy

    • Although biogenic hormone therapy is gaining in popularity, it is still difficult to find a doctor who is familiar with it in many areas. Most doctors who use biogenic therapy will advertise the fact, either in the local phone directory or on the Internet. Be wary of non-medical sources that claim to provide biogenic hormone therapy, as they will generally not have access to the the testing facilities and labs necessary to produce true bioidentical hormone replacements. If you are certain that you want to examine biogenic hormone therapy as an option in your treatment, check with your local physician first. He may be able to recommend a local physician with experience in the prescription and use of bioidentical hormones.

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