As a woman ages and starts experiencing menopause, her body produces lower amounts of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Symptoms of declining hormone levels include:
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Decreased sex drive
This results in hormone imbalance which increases your chances of developing diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease and colon cancer. Experts believe that Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) offers protection from disease and also alleviates the symptoms experienced during this time. By supplementing the hormones with HRT, women are able to correct the hormone imbalances that are causing their menopausal symptoms.
Common ingredients found in bio-identical hormone creams include:
- Estradiol
- Estriol
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
There are many products available for HRT, including synthetically manufactured hormones available commercially and bio-identical hormone products compounded specifically to meet the patient’s needs. The bio-identical hormones used in prescription compounding have the exact chemical structure of the body’s natural hormones. This allows the product to be recognized by the body and to mimic the function of the hormones the patient produces on her own.
Our compounding pharmacist here at Rx for all Pharmacy works with physicians to prescribe appropriate Hormone Replacement Therapy for their patients. We can customize the amount of hormone that goes into the body and put it into a topical cream (applied to the skin), troche (small lozenge that dissolves in the mouth) or into capsules as well. Our pharmacist can also assist our patients with consultations in order to optimize the therapy of women needing HRT.