Bio Identical Hormones

[taylur]

I am MTF and started hrt sept 2014. I was taking the standard estradiol and spironolactone meds twice daily. I recently undergone bottom surgery so now I only need to take estradiol. My experiences with hrt has been ok, Ive had the normal symptoms and affects from it, decrease in hair, softer skin, breast development, etc. throughout my time on hrt ive experienced major weight gain, thyroid issues, and mental issues. Now having had bottom surgery and only needing to take estradiol I thought id feel better, however I have not. I am someone who gravitates to the natural and holistic way of things and been researching on bhrt. I spoke with my endo which is under Kaiser and ask about bhrt and/or getting off hormones. He did not recommend either. Which is not to my surprise. Not many health care professions are willing to go the "natural" route. I want to know has anyone switched from normal hrt to bhrt? Have you noticed any differences? Also I'm finding it difficult to find and endo who specialize in bhrt and trans in the southern California area, if anyone knows of any legit doctors please let me know.

[KathyLauren]

Hi, Taylur!

Welcome to Susan's.

Congratulations on your surgery.

To the best of my knowledge, estradiol is considered bio-identical.  This is in contrast to other estrogens such as premarin or DES, which are not.

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[Dena]

Welcome to Susan's Place. Estradiol while the product of a laboratory is a Bio Identical Hormone which is the same as that produced by a human female. Most anything else will have chemical differences and is more likely to have additional risks or flaws. When I started HRT, I was give premarin which is extracted from horse urine. While a "natural" product, there were difference that made it risker to take and I think also made it less effective.

As for discontinuing HRT, because of outdated information, I was off HRT for about 10 years. Some of the benefits of HRT reversed themselves and I lost facial fat and I found fat tended to migrate toward my stomach. You levels should remain in the mid menopause area or higher after surgery if you wish to avoid this and other problems.

[Kirsteneklund7]

Experienced ladies like yourselves might be able to comment on this one.

My prescribing doctor suggested transdermal 17b estradiol produces less estrone than using Progynova which in turn has less negative effect on mood compared to Progynova.

Any thoughts - especially for post op scenario's.?
Yours truly , Kirsten


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[Janes Groove]

If the estrogen is 17b estradiol then it's "bioidentical  hormones."
Pretty much ALL doctors prescribe it now.  It's chemically identical to the estrogen women naturally produce.

Since it's the same as the estrogen women naturally produce you have to ask 'Why would a competent doctor prescribe anything else?'

[Dani]

I think the problem here is confusion over natural hormones and synthetic hormones.

While Estradiol is identical to the estradiol produced in the ovaries, the drug companies make the commercial product from a synthetic process. Once you extract any hormone from the original source there are impurities in the mix. Most of these impurities are harmless, but if you want the most pure form of estradiol currently available, then the synthetic processes that start with a vegetable source are the best. This is the way almost all Estradiol tablets are manufactured.

Once you have the hormone, it needs to get into the body where it can do it's job. So, in a sense, every form of external hormone therapy is NOT natural. The only truly natural estradiol is produced in the ovaries and for those of us who have no ovaries, we rely on external hormone therapy.