Safe & Effective Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing

Despite the FDAs repeated attempts to regulate Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) right out of existence, it is still the choice for millions of women, from teens to senior citizens, who seek to bring natural hormonal balance into their lives. As popular as BHRT is, it can be quite confusing for most women regarding the specifics of how and when to use such products. Many factors come into play, including the timing of a women’s monthly cycles, her age, and the particular stage of life she may find herself in at any particular moment. A certain amount of flexibility is required to institute proper usage of natural hormone replacement therapy, but there are some general guidelines that can be very useful in determining an effective course of action. In addition, another herbal remedy known as Vitex can be used in conjunction with BHRT, a combination which many women find to be very effective. Let’s see if we can gain a better understanding regarding how these remedies work, how they compare to synthetic hormone replacement therapy, and the best ways to work these products into your health care routine so that you can maximize their benefits.

What Is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

The most common form of BHRT is a natural product known as USP Progesterone cream. Progesterone is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body primarily by a collection of cells formed in the ovary called the corpeus luteum. A lesser amount of progesterone is also manufactured by the adrenal glands. The amount of progesterone in a woman’s body at any given time can vary greatly. During pregnancy, levels can increase by almost 500% over normal levels when not pregnant. During menopause, progesterone levels can drop to almost zero in some individuals. The other major female hormone, estrogen, does not fluctuate nearly as much, only decreasing by approximately 50% below normal levels during menopause. One of the reasons that supplementation with natural progesterone is necessary is to offset the predominance of estrogen in the body, a phenomenon that can result in an increased risk for breast cancer and other reproductive cancers. The term used to describe this is “estrogen dominance.”
 

In order to understand the benefits of bioidentical progesterone cream, perhaps it would be helpful to take a look at the functions of progesterone that is naturally produced by the body. Progesterone has many jobs, and although it is found at much greater levels in women than in men, males also have a certain amount of it. Progesterone is one of the body’s chemicals that significantly contribute to characteristics  that define femininity and make the female reproductive system functional. Some of its many affects include:

As I mentioned above, levels of progesterone naturally vary during different phases of a woman’s life, but supplementation with USP progesterone can provide many benefits including:
 

• Prevention of miscarriages:  Progesterone accomplishes this by reducing risk for immune system rejection of the baby and lessening the chance of blood clots. The use of BHRT during pregnancy has many benefits for mom as well as baby. Studies have shown that children born of mothers who used USP progesterone during pregnancy generally have larger and more developed brains, and later in life to have higher IQs as well as significantly higher than average academic skills, especially in mathematics. “USP babies” also develop motor skills such as standing sooner than children born of mothers who did not use BHRT.
• Reducing risk for endometriosis:  One of the affects of estrogen dominance is the development of uterine tissue outside of the uterus. This can lead to heavy or irregular periods, pain, and possible infertility. One of the best ways to combat endometriosis is through the use of natural progesterone cream to offset excess estrogen.
• Minimizing symptoms of premenopause, menopause, and PMS:  Many of the classic symptoms that plague many women at certain times such as mood swings, irregular cycles, and hot flashes.
• Helping fight depression:  Natural progesterone is known to have a calming effect which many women find helpful in combating depression associated with hormonal changes during all phases of life.

What About Synthetic Hormone Replacements?

Synthetic progesterone and estrogen have been linked to many medical risks including an increased incidence of breast and reproductive cancers. These foreign substances are toxic to the body and should be avoided. True bioidentical hormone replacement therapy involves the use of hormones that are bioidentically exactly the same on a molecular level as progesterone produced by the body. Synthetic hormone replacements are molecularly different than hormones found in the body, and are therefore a drug rather than a natural substance that the body recognizes and can make use of.
 

Also beware of any products that claim to be BHRT when their main active ingredient is raw, unprocessed “wild yam.” It is true that bioidentical progesterone can be produced in the laboratory from the wild yam plant, but the delivery of wild yam without the necessary procedures needed to extract natural progesterone will not yield bioidentical progesterone. True USP progesterone is extracted from plant oils and fats. In most natural products, Mexican wild yam is used, and a component of it called diosgenin is isolated. Diosgenin is then broken down in the lab to produce progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and other hormones that are exact replications of these substances as produced by the body. Some companies that sell raw wild yam extract claim it will convert into hormones within the body as needed, but there is no evidence that this has ever occurred outside of a laboratory.
 

What is Vitex and How Does It Help With Hormonal Balancing?

Vitex, also known as Vitex agnus castus or chaste berry, is an herb gleaned from a shrub that naturally grows in Mediterranean regions and Central Asia. The fruit of the plant is harvested and has been used as medicine for many centuries. It has been particularly applied to the female hormonal system due to its natural hormonal influences. 

Vitex has had many medical uses over the years, but it is particularly useful for dealing with conditions that result from insufficient levels of progesterone. Unlike BHRT, Vitex does not add progesterone to the body from outside sources, but rather stimulates the body to produce more natural progesterone on its own. Some of the most common uses for Vitex include:
 

When using Vitex, it is important to remember that it is not a fast-acting remedy. It may take 2-6 months before significant results are experienced. Vitex seems to have the ability to adapt to the needs of each woman individually, which is why it is often called an adaptogen. Research has shown that this herb can actually gauge your body’s needs for hormonal balance, and respond accordingly. Vitex has the capability to help in a variety of situations such as when there is too little progesterone or estrogen present or too much of these hormones present. Because of these qualities, some women find that the use of Vitex is more beneficial to them than the use of BHRT.
 

The needs and circumstances of every woman are different, and thus certain applications work better for some than others when it comes to seeking hormonal balance. Some individuals find that the use of BHRT alone is sufficient, and some find that Vitex alone meets all their hormonal needs. In other cases, women have found that a combination of the two is what suits them best. It is recommended that you try different formulas and see what is the most beneficial to you. Your needs most likely will change as you enter different life phases, but a general protocol using both USP Progesterone cream and Vitex that has been helpful to many menstruating women is as follows (keep in mind that “Day 1” is the first day of bleeding):

In addition to the use of BHRT and Vitex, I cannot overemphasize the importance of diet and other lifestyle choices when it comes to maintaining hormonal balance. Eating natural, whole foods, keeping your weight down, avoiding synthetic hormones in your diet and from such sources as birth control pills, and cleansing your bowel regularly are just a few tips that will lead to more consistent hormonal balance and better overall health as well.