One of the methods to increase health is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is unique because it uses hormones that are identical to the hormones made in the human body. Because the hormones are identical, they are more compatible with the body. This allows the body to respond naturally and lessens the chance of harsh side effects. For women, the body starts do decline in hormone generation over time that will later account to menopause. Estrogen and progesterone are the primary sex hormones in women. These hormones begin to decline in the time leading up to menopause, known as peri-menopause. Peri-menopause can last from 4-6 years. Menopause officially begins when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months. For many women the transition into menopause is marked by unpleasant symptoms caused by drastic hormone fluctuations. Hot flashes, sleep disruption, fatigue, memory difficulties, mood swings, weight gain and loss of interest in sex are symptoms that may result.
Somers endorses the use of bioidentical hormones not just for the relief of menopausal symptoms but as a veritable fountain of youth. She says that it “gives you back your lean body, shining hair, and thick skin, provided you are eating correctly and exercising in moderation. This new medicine allows your brain to work perfectly and offers the greatest defense against cancer, heart attack, and Alzheimer’s disease.” According to Somers, bioidenticals work by tricking the body into thinking it’s still “reproductive.” Ironically, similar claims were made for hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now called hormone therapy (HT), in the late 1960s by the British gynecologist Robert Wilson in his book Feminine Forever. Wilson wrote that HRT reversed a postmenopausal woman’s status as a “castrate” and ensured that she wouldn’t “become dull and unattractive.” Like Wilson, Somers appears to view menopause as a deficiency disease and hormone replacement as a lifelong necessity. (Harvard Women’s Health Watch, 2011)
- Decreased Hot Flashes: The hypothalamus is the body’s internal thermometer. Hormonal deficiencies can cause signals going to the hypothalamus to get crossed, and this can result in hot flashes and night sweats.
- Increased Vaginal Lubrication: Vaginal tissue needs estrogen to be healthy. Low estrogen levels can cause vaginal dryness. By supplementing the deficient hormones, vaginal dryness can be relieved.
- Increased Skin Elasticity: Collagen is responsible for skin youth and elasticity. When the collagen bonds break apart, skin can appear dry or wrinkled. Vitamin C and estrogen influence the formation of collagen and help keep skin youthful.
