Benefits of Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Hormone replacement therapy has long been used to counter specific effects of aging, like menopause in women and low testosterone in men. Increasingly, patients and doctors turn to bioidentical hormones to reduce potential side effects.

Hormone production naturally slows over your lifetime. Women take a dramatic hit at menopause since their primary reproductive hormone, estrogen primarily originates in the ovaries, which no longer produce it. Men lose some testosterone production over the years though the effects aren’t sudden or dramatic for most.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) adds some of what’s lost naturally. When you undergo HRT, you may benefit from bioidentical versions of the necessary chemical messengers. Non-bioidentical hormones can react the same way as natural versions while possessing different molecular structures. Some researchers feel that these molecular differences may be the source of some side effects.

Sexual medicine specialist and urologist Joshua R. Gonzalez, MD, recommends bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to patients experiencing hormone imbalances.

Benefits of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy

When your body responds to BHRT, the most common benefits treat:

For women:

Hot flashes and night sweats
Loss of libido
Pain or discomfort during sex
Changes to sleep cycles
Mood changes
Memory loss or brain fog
Weight gain

For men:

Loss of libido
Erectile dysfunction
Low energy and fatigue
Changes to sleep cycle
Mood changes
Reduced concentration
Loss of muscle mass
Weight gain

Dr. Gonzalez and his team provide a safe and comfortable environment for all in the LGBTQ+ community, and we’re happy to treat you regardless of your biology and gender identification.

Is BHRT safe?

Like with most medical interventions, hormone replacement therapy can carry some risk. These risks vary between patients so it is important to discuss the pros and cons of HRT/BHRT with your provider before beginning.

Some HRT formulations use chemical components derived from animal sources, while bioidentical forms usually use plant-based elements. Because of this, some BHRT products get marketed as “natural,” suggesting that they may work better than traditional artificial hormones.

There’s currently no evidence that this is true. The additional primary benefit of BHRT is the molecular match between artificial and natural hormones.

Find out more about BHRT in consultation with Dr. Gonzalez. You can reach his Miracle Mile office in Los Angeles by phone or online through the convenient booking link. Schedule your visit today and enjoy the benefits of renewed hormone balance soon.