Compounding - Women's Health
A woman’s body changes as she ages and many women need to replace or supplement their hormone levels.
More and more women are now using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) instead of synthetic medications to treat menopause, PMS and other hormone imbalances, and sexual dysfunction.
Bio-identical hormones are custom-mixed formulas containing various hormones from plants like soy and yams that are chemically identical to those naturally made by a woman’s body. BHRT actually replaces low or missing hormones without the unwanted side effects. Bio-identical substances cannot be patented, according to the FDA, and as such the only commercially available products are synthetic hormones. Structural differences that exist between bio-identical, and non-bio-identical synthetic and animal hormones may be responsible for side effects that are experienced when non-bio-identical hormones are used for replacement therapy.
At Prosperity Specialty Pharmacy, your BHRT therapy is individually compounded for you by one of our highly trained compounding pharmacists. That means that you are getting the exact amount of hormone prescribed by your healthcare provider, to meet your individual needs. Your treatment is tailored to you. Hormone replacement therapy should be initiated carefully after a woman's medical and family history has been reviewed. Every woman is unique and will respond to therapy in her own way. Close monitoring and medication adjustments are essential.
Managing Menopause
For women experiencing menopausal symptoms – such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and insomnia – there are a number of treatment options that can be prescribed. To relieve the symptoms of menopause, doctors may prescribe synthetic hormone therapy. This can involve the use of estrogen alone or with another hormone called progesterone. The two hormones normally help to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. Synthetic medications may have unwanted side effects and may not be tolerated by many women.
For women who prefer a more natural alternative, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is an important option.
PMS Relief
Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS can include a range of physical, psychological and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. Treatment options include medications to correct hormone imbalances, including compounded bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements.
Fixing Hormone Imbalance
Symptoms of hormone imbalance in women typically increase as a woman ages, but can begin in a woman’s late 20s. Symptoms – including depression, fatigue and anxiety, hair loss and facial hair growth, low sex drive, and weight gain, water retention and bloating – are caused by an incorrect balance of hormones in the body. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can be an effective, natural alternative for treating symptoms associated with hormone imbalance.
Sexual Dysfunction Treatment Options
At some point, most women will experience some sort of sexual dysfunction, usually because of hormone imbalance, or a physical condition such as arthritis, surgery or other pain or neurological problems. Psychological problems, such as untreated anxiety, depression or stress can also affect women and their sexual health.
Sexual dysfunction can often be successfully treated with hormone therapy, to help a women regain the correct balance of hormones in her body. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is a safe, natural alternative for many women.
Download our brochure on Women’s Health
Other resources on menopausal hormone therapy include:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Menopausal Hormone Therapy Information
www.nih.gov/PHTindex.htm
NIH MedlinePlus
The National Library of Medicine, NIH, has a website, www.medlineplus.gov, with information on many health subjects, including menopause. Click on Health Topics. Choose any topic you are interested in, such as menopause or menopausal hormone therapy, by clicking on the first letter of the topic and scrolling down the list to find it.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
409 12th Street, SW
Box 96920
Washington, DC 20090-6920
202-638-5577
www.acog.org
North American Menopause Society
P.O. Box 94527
Cleveland, OH 44101
440-442-7550
800-774-5342 (toll-free)
www.menopause.org
For more information on health and aging, including menopause, contact:
National Institute on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
800-222-2225 (toll-free)
800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)
www.nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/Espanol