What is Bioidentical Estrogen Made From?

October 07, 2021

Bioidentical estrogen is a natural hormone that comes from wild yams, cactus, or soy. It’s 100% natural, plant-based, and safe to use. The hormones are "identical" to those generated in the body. In essence, your body doesn't know the difference since bioidentical estrogen mimics the structure and function of authentic estrogen.

But harnessing the power of plants isn't new. Using wild yams to treat menstrual cramps began in the 18th century. Then, in the 1950s, scientists discovered phytoestrogen in plant roots, which led to converting it into progesterone, estrogen, DHEA, testosterone, and cortisol. Once that happened, bioidentical estrogen became the norm.

What's the Difference Between Synthesized Estrogen and Bioidentical?

Bioidentical hormones, sometimes referred to as compounded hormones, have become widely used. But some people wonder about the difference between bioidentical estrogen and synthesized estrogen. 

Bioidentical hormones come from plants, and synthesized estrogen comes from horse urine. In the 1930s, scientists realized that certain glands in the body produce certain hormones. For example, the ovaries produce estrogen, and the gonads produce testosterone. Discovering this, led researchers to look at horse urine and realize that pregnant mare urine contained a complex set of estrogens and could be isolated, which resulted in synthesized prescription drugs. 

Synthesized estrogen is only available with a prescription, not pure estrogen (contains other ingredients), and mass-produced. Every woman taking the synthesized estrogen is treated the same and given similar dosages. 

While bioidentical estrogen comes from compound pharmacies and is tailored to meet individual needs and doses, it's also available without a prescription and completely natural from plant-based estrogen. 

Benefits of Bioidentical Estrogen

Estrogen is a powerful messenger in the human body and is essential for maintaining a healthy menstrual cycle, becoming pregnant, and sustaining a pregnancy. It also has a powerful effect on your bones and mental condition. But when you have low levels, it can result in moodiness, weight gain, depression, and even brittle bones. 

Helps Menopausal Symptoms

The most significant use of bioidentical estrogen is to balance hormones. The most common time for this is before, during, and after menopause. Menopause is a snapshot in a woman's life when her estrogen levels plummet. The drastic reduction of estrogen generally occurs in a woman's early fifties, but it can happen much earlier for some women. 

All menopause means at the foundation is that a woman can no longer become pregnant and stops having a menstrual cycle. Women are officially through menopause when they don't have their period for six months. 

Hormone replacement can help with the following menopausal symptoms. 

• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Dry skin
• Vaginal atrophy
• Weight gain
• Weak bones
• Moodiness
• Night sweats
  
  

Balances Hormones

Leading up to menopause is the perimenopause stage. During this time, your body is learning how to function with fluctuating and lower hormone levels. So even though you haven't officially started menopause or gone through it, you may experience symptoms of low estrogen years before you transition. Or you may have premature menopause, which can affect women in their 30s or 40s. 

It's essential to remember that menopause is a completely normal part of aging and not something to fear or be ashamed of at all. But you don't have to suffer through it without help. Bioidentical estrogen hormone replacement adds back the missing hormones to make the transition through menopause easier.

Taking estrogen helps balance hormones while combating menopausal symptoms. If you think you have a hormonal imbalance, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. 

Builds Strong Bones

It's common for men and women to lose bone density as they age. The reasons vary, but one of them has to do with low estrogen levels. Estrogen provides regulation of bone metabolism for both sexes. Lower bone density is connected with the loss of ovarian estrogens, which occurs as women age and menopause. The lower amounts of estrogen can cause bones to break down, resulting in a higher risk for osteoporosis. 

Applying a bioidentical estrogen cream adds the missing natural estrogen and helps to improve bone metabolism and density.

Rejuvenates Vaginal Tissues

Estrogen has a lubricating effect on the skin, and in particular, vaginal tissues. Therefore, one common symptom of low estrogen and menopause is vaginal atrophy. Atrophy means extreme dryness, which can cause the skin to tear or thin quickly and make sexual experiences painful. 

Research shows that higher levels of estrogen improve blood flow and provide needed moisture to tender vaginal tissues. In addition, a vaginal rejuvenation from bioidentical estrogen may give a better sex life, eases tampon insertion, and makes a gynecological exam easier.

Improves Ovary Issues

The ovaries make estrogen, and if they stop producing the hormone, hormone therapy may become necessary. Ovaries can stop producing estrogen due to menopause or another health condition.

Some health conditions that affect ovarian function are hypogonadism, failure of both ovaries, or oophorectomy. Hypogonadism is decreased function of the ovaries, and oophorectomy is the removal of both ovaries.

Another condition that can cause premature menopause is a total hysterectomy. This is when both ovaries and the uterus are removed. Bioidentical estrogen hormone therapy helps ease symptoms for those with poor ovarian function, oophorectomy, or hysterectomy.

Bioidentical Estrogen Supplements

Bioidentical estrogen supplements come in pills, suppositories, and creams. The best form is a transdermal cream applied directly to the skin. Once a day, rub the estrogen cream on a delicate part of your flesh. In this case, delicate doesn't mean sore, but rather a thinner piece of your skin and less open to the elements. 

Good places are your inner thighs, back of the neck, or right under the armpit. The estrogen soaks through the skin to flow into the bloodstream and then transmits to awaiting estrogen receptors. 

Bioidentical estrogen is natural and plant-based. It's proven safe without a prescription and can help with a wide range of health concerns coming from low estrogen. If you suspect you have an estrogen deficiency, try estrogen or estriol creams. The easy-to-use pump system makes it simple, and there are no bulky pills to swallow. 

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