Bioidentical hormone conversations are popping up across all continents of the globe. But how much do we really understand?

After much research and educating myself on bioidentical hormones, I share my knowledge and personal experiences with you. They say the greatest teacher is yourself, and boy was I ever. For the last 5 years I began my quest to try and understand the imbalances women face. Our mission should be to try and restore the balance that Mother Nature intended to preserve.

When our body begins to take a direction of its own, the path we have always been on becomes a lost territory. We become confused, scared, angry, frustrated and are not sure who to ask for directions. My calling is to help women become empowered. By helping women educate themselves on their bodies, we can overcome the small detour life has given them.

I am going to attempt to give you a small glimpse into the world of bioidentical hormones. Now, remember, each woman is different and hormone therapy may not be right for you, but that does not mean there is not another option that can be explored.

You can read all about bioidentical hormones in this free paper. If you do not currently have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can install it directly from Adobe.com

So with that said, let’s begin.

What is Bioidentical Hormone therapy? Bioidentical hormones are an exact replica of the hormones that are naturally produced by the body. The difference between bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones is that, although both are created in labs, synthetic hormones are not identical to the hormones naturally created in your body whereas bioidentical hormones match your body’s natural chemistry.

Who can take Bioidentical Hormone therapy? Bioidentical Hormones can be used in women and men after a doctor has administered either saliva or a blood test. These tests determine whether you need the hormones to improve the quality of your life.

How are Hormone levels measured? There are two ways hormone levels can be checked: saliva or blood. Dr.Raman prefers to use blood drawn in the office on the day of your visit.

What happens after I get my levels checked? After you have seen Dr.Raman for the initial consultation, and the blood work has been done, it will take approximately 2 weeks for the results to become available. At that time, you will return to see Dr.Raman where you will discuss the results as well as the risks and benefits of taking Bioidentical Hormones.

How do I get started on my Bioidentical hormones? Once the lab tests have been reviewed, Dr.Raman will recommend the appropriate hormones and their dosages. Dr.Raman will review the pathway of how the hormones function in the body and the risks and benefits of starting Bioidentical Hormone therapy. The prescription is then faxed to a compounding pharmacy to be made. Dr.Raman uses Specialty Pharmacy in Westport. (www.spstl.com)

What is a compounding pharmacy? Pharmacy compounding is the art and science of preparing customized medications for patients With a physician’s consent, a compounding pharmacist can change the strength of a medication, alter its form to make it easier for a patient to ingest, or add flavor to it to make it more palatable. The pharmacist also can prepare the medication using several unique delivery systems, such as a sublingual troche or lozenge, a lollipop, or a transdermal gel. They can also make, for those patients who are having a difficult time swallowing a capsule, a liquid suspension instead.

How soon will I start feeling better after starting Bioidentical Hormones? Generally, it takes about 2 months for the hormones to become close to being balanced. But women will start seeing slow improvement in their symptoms by 2 weeks.

What are the side effects to Bioidentical Hormones? Our optimal goal is to minimize any side effects. Some side effects that can be experienced if the hormones are not adequately balanced include bleeding, bloating, insomnia, irritability, weight gain, facial hair, acne breakout, fatigue. If any of these side effects do occur, Dr.Raman will make the appropriate dosage adjustments to help eliminate all of these unwanted symptoms.

Why should I choose Bioidentical Hormones vs. Synthetic Hormones? There are some wonderful synthetic hormones that have brought great relief to many women. I prefer to treat my patients with Bioidentical Hormonesbecause I feel I can look at each person on an individualized basis and give them ONLY what they need through compounding.

Why aren’t Compounded Bioidentical Hormones FDA-approved? In order for drugs to gain FDA approval they have to undergo years of rigorous clinical trials. The drug that is being tested is done under a very controlled atmosphere with little room for dosage adjustments. Remember a woman’s body is not the same 365 days a year. In fact, hormones change from month to month and so it is impossible for a woman to stay on the same dose for long periods of time. Therefore, it is difficult to do a long term study when woman’s body and her medicines are continually changing. That is why it is very important to find a compounding pharmacy that follows FDA approved regulations and guidelines. Dr.Raman prefers Specialty Pharmacy for their quality control and safety of the prescriptions that are compounded.

Will my insurance cover Bioidentical Hormones? Because compounded medications are exempt by law from having the National Drug Code ID numbers that manufactured products carry, some insurance companies will not directly reimburse the compounding pharmacy. However, almost every insurance plan allows for the patient to be reimbursed by sending in claim forms. While you may be paying a pharmacy directly for a compounded prescription, most insurance plans should cover the final cost.

If you are interested in finding out more about Bioidentical Hormones, call Dr.Raman at 314-983-4098 to schedule your appointment.