Hormone therapy is a known cause of later-life problems such as breast cancer, blood clots, and heart disease. Side-effects of the treatments can lead to further need for prescription drugs. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, or BHRT, creates synthetic hormones that are identical to the ones produced naturally by the body, yet they do not have the same harmful effects as regular hormone therapies.

There are several advantages to bio-identical hormones: BHRT is more specific than regular hormone therapies because it can be compounded individually to match natural hormone levels in the body, rather than the blanket approach of regular hormone therapy. Bio-identical hormones are also derived from natural sources such as soy and yams, and are more easily metabolized by the body.

Research into bio-identical hormones is ongoing, and it is recommended to consult a specialist, since no form of medicine is effective in every case.

Peter Fallon
is a compounding pharmacist and president of Fallon Wellness Pharmacy, LLC, which specializes in functional medicine and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Peter Fallon is a member of The Institute of Functional Medicine (www.functionalmedicine.org) and the International Association of Compounding Pharmacists. He has taken five advanced practice modules including hormone-focused modules, and gives free lectures on health topics including BHRT.