Body Identical HRT Vs Bioidentical HRT
Hormones are an essential part of all major functioning in the human body. In the female body, it plays a bit more prominent role since the biological changes happen more frequently in the female body than the male one. Besides, the change in hormones highly regulated the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of humans. In this regard, the reproductive system is more dependent on the balance of hormones than any other chemical in the body. In females, the menopausal stage is the result of bigger changes in hormonal capacity, quantity, and production. Any lack or excess of these hormones creates biological changes like menopause in women. Menopause needs proper and professional treatment such as hormone therapies in which the most prominent and preferred one is body identical hrt.
Although body identical hormone replacement therapy remains to be very effective and quite safe, many prefer the bioidentical one over it. For beginners, let’s explore what is the main difference between these two therapies for menopause treatment:
Definitions of Body Identical and Bioidentical hormones
Although experts say that both bioidentical and body identical hormones are naturally extracted and have similar characteristics and uses for menopausal symptoms, they slightly differ in composition and their methods of use or administration in the patients.
Both are hormones that are very much similar to those that the human body produces from its glands. However, some changes might make them somehow dangerous or ineffective in certain cases.
In simple terms, BIOIDENTICAL hormones are customized to fit the needs of the patients. Their basic chemical composition might be changed in a controlled environment to cater to the needs of menopausal women. These hormones are naturally taken out from plants, especially yam plants since their chemical composition matches that of humans.
On the other hand, BODY IDENTICAL hormones are synthetically created by pharmacists to fit into the specific needs of each patient. They are useful to some extent but might be less effective in the long run since they are not fully natural. However, despite this fact, they are widely preferred for body identical hrt treatments for managing menopausal symptoms.
Modes of application/delivery
Both bioidentical and body identical hormone replacement therapies have similar methods of treatment however, there are some basic differences. These are delivered into the body through various methods according to the needs of specific patients and their conditions.
Bioidentical therapy is conducted through patches, gels, capsules, rapid dissolve tablets, pessary, transdermal creams, sublingual lozenges, sublingual drops, and vaginal creams.
While body identical hrt is conducted through simpler means such as gels, patches, capsules, vaginal creams, tablets, and pessary.
Ingredients/chemicals
Bioidentical therapy makes use of hormones like oestradiol, testosterone, and progesterone since they are highly similar to that human hormones. Their molecular composition is similar to what human hormones produce naturally. These ingredients are also used in the body identical to hormone therapy.
In this sense, both therapies are quite similar to one another however, the former is much safer as they are very much similar to naturally produced hormones in the female body, while the latter is synthetically produced to match that natural molecular composition. Since it does not match it completely since therefore it cannot be considered fully effective.
Summing up, be it bioidentical or body identical hrt, both help treat menopause symptoms. They are both widely used all over the world with some exceptions of doses or duration of use. Their modes of delivery are also the same however, one cannot ignore the fact that bioidentical hormones are natural while body identical are synthetically produced to fit into the “natural” characteristics of the body.
Thus, both can be used for menopause treatments, according to the patient’s needs.
