Bio-Mimetic Hormone Replacement Therapy
Sunday, September 27th, 2009In the field of menopause medicine over the last century, women and medical practitioners have been used to discussing about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. But there’s a problem with this terminology. One can’t replace hormones. Instead, hormones can only be mimicked. We are used to talking about bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) in menopause medicine. The truth, however, is that hormones can’t be replaced - meaning, they are not really bio-identical. Instead, they can only be mimicked and restored.
The latest treatment for women in menopause is multi-phasic rhythmic dosing of bio-mimetic hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) which utilizes natural hormones in a bio-mimetic manner. Over 2 million women in the U.S. make use of customized hormones for menopause symptoms. “Natural hormones are not bio-mimedic unless the body can recognize them as hormones, and they are not considered restoration unless what has been lost is truly restored,” author TS Wiley contended.
A question is posed: would the symptoms of aging disappear if bio-mimedic hormones are dosed to mimic the normal fluctuation of the hormone levels in menstrual cycle of a young woman? Presently, however, a standard for compounded bio-identical hormone replacement protocol is non-existent. However, she has created a registered pharmacy system to address the current lack of legality and availability of bio-mimetic, currently known as bio-identical hormones, for testing and study.
Also, a University of Texas study will be carried out; the Bio identical Hormones on Trial, or B.H.O.T. hopes to compare the patterns of dosing and administration of compounded bio-identical hormone therapy (BHT). This will be a breakthrough study on the tracking and quantifying of outcomes based on varying dosing and administration patterns of BHT. The main goal of the study will be to examine clinical outcomes and quality of life indicators of patients receiving BHT at 10 to 12 primary care provider’s practices.
Ultimately, the results of the study would be the basis in identifying the most effective dosage and pattern of BHT administration. Also, the results will help create a standard of BHT administration patterns and dosage.
This study, whose respondents are women between the ages of 35 and 60 who are current users of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT), is an observational one. It’s important to note that regardless of their involvement in the study, the respondents will not receive a change in clinical care. The study will have a timeline of 3 years. Quality of life, symptom relief and impact of BHT on physical health like breast, endometrial and cardiovascular measures are among the outcomes that will be monitored in this research.
These highly important results will be presented at national and international meetings, and will be sent for publication in professional journals to share the findings with women’s health care professionals. Once again, the results of the study will be used to create standardized BHT dosing and patterns of administration.
The main goals of the study are to: investigate the outcomes clinically and quality of life indicators of those patients receiving bio-identical hormone replacement therapy at ten to twelve practices of primary care providers; compare the effectiveness and safety, and quality of life of participants using one of three dosing patterns for bio-identical hormones: multi-phasic physiologic, bi-phasic or continuous dosing; closely monitor lab and imaging data of women using these bio-identical hormones; evaluate hormone regimen safety by tracking adverse events experienced by women using bio-identical hormone therapy; and measurethe performance of compounding pharmacies in standardizing the products.