Can’t Find A Bioidentical Doctor?

What if you can’t find a bioidentical doctor? What if there is no compounding pharmacy in your area? What should you do if you are suffering from menopause symptoms and you don’t want to use synthetic hormones to treat your symptoms? I don’t blame you if you have decided not to use synthetic hormone therapy with all the bad side effects and the dangers to your health.

Speak with your regular doctor. If he or she does not know how to prescribe bioidentical hormones, you can still ask your doctor to do some hormone testing on you and get your results. Then ask your doctor for a prescription for either Estrace or Gynodiol and Prometrium. These are both non-compounded bioidentical hormones. Any pharmacy will be able to provide them for you. Prometrium is a form of non-compounded bioidentical progesterone. Estrace and Gynodiol are non-compounded bioidentical form of estradiol, an estrogen.

You will take estradiol as Estrace or Gynodiol twice a day and the Prometrium/progesterone twice a day. Though, my doctor has given me Estrace and told me to take the Estrace in the morning and to break up the Prometrium pill into two and take it both in the morning and the other half of the pill in the evening. He has told me to take it for three months consecutively, without a menstrual period. He is then going to take another hormone test to find out where my levels are. He said that after the third month I would take it cyclically so I can have a period which will help shed the lining of the uterus. Taking it cyclically means that I will take the Estrace from day one to day 14. On the 14th day, I am to add the Prometrium progesterone and on the 28th day, I will have a period. I’m then supposed to stop taking both for a period of one week.

You might ask why I am doing this? I was using bioidentical hormones, but was still plagued by hot flashes. My body doesn’t seem to absorb the bioidentical estrogen cream and one the week that I rested the body and didn’t take any hormones, I would immediately start getting very severe hot flashes again. So he is going to try me on the non-compounded bioidentical forms of estrogen and progesterone. We are going to see if this helps with my hormone levels. So I’ll let you know in about three months’ time how this new form of non-compounded bioidentical hormones works out.

So, my advice, if you don’t have a bioidentical doctor in your area and there is no compounding pharmacy either, and traveling out of State is too difficult, then ask your regular doctor about these non compounded bioidentical hormones. It might just work out well for you and you can get on with the job of living life to its fullest, in spite of menopause.

Hormones and Stress

Stress, as we already know, has a multitude of negative effects on the body. It can have long term negative health consequences for your body and it can also affect your hormone levels and how you experience menopause. High stress can cause the early onset of menopause and it can determine whether menopause symptoms during this time are severe or not.

Stress and other issues can affect how we experience menopause. Lifestyle issues can affect your menopause symptoms. Unhealthy diets, smoking, alcohol and unresolved problems can effect your symptoms. Life events, divorces, problems with your teenage children and even traveling can upset your hormone balance. You may experience weight gain for no reason or an increase in hot flashes. You may experience increased tiredness. All of these symptoms are because your hormone levels are decreasing and stress is blunting the positive effects of bioidentical hormones.

If you are using bioidentical hormones, you may find that your estrogen levels decrease because of stress. You may suddenly be gaining weight, even though you are eating carefully. Your bioidentical doctor can re-test your hormone levels and decide that you need an increase in your estrogen (estradiol) or progesterone cream until your symptoms have disappeared and a second hormone test shows that your levels have become more adequate.

Because of the negative effects of stress on your hormones, try to find ways to reduce your stress. Eating a careful, healthy diet will help. Quit smoking and stop drinking in excess. If you have unresolved life issues, try and work these problems through with the help of friends or relatives or a therapist. Add some yoga sessions to your daily life. Learn to meditate and breathe deeply. Center yourself. Think positive thoughts and visualize your life without these problems. These are all ways that you can reduce the stress in your life, balance your hormones and be healthier. All of these things will affect how you experience menopause.

Menopause is no easy ride. It takes strength and health to manage this passage of life. However, it is a time of new beginnings and change and can be a positive force in your life.