If you are experiencing mood changes, anxiety, irritability, or crying spells, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

If you feel as though you are losing your mind or lacking motivation, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

If you no longer feel like yourself and want to be the person you used to be, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

If you are feeling fatigued or want to feel vibrant again, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

If you are waking in the middle of the night, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

If you are experiencing acne or hair loss, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

If you are having unexplained weight gain, then bioidentical hormones are for you.

Bioidentical hormones have the exact molecular structure of the hormones that a woman's body produces naturally. Most physicians prescribe synthetic hormones that are foreign to the body and unhealthy. I specialize in balancing women's estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and thyroid levels for a healthy life and feeling of wellbeing. Bioidentical hormones have not only been shown to eliminate HOT FLASHES and NIGHT SWEATS , but they can improve:

SLEEP, LIBIDO, ENERGY, MOOD, HEADACHES, MEMORY, VAGINAL DRYNESS, SKIN TONE, & JOINT PAIN.

I see patients in Denver and Aspen. At the initial appointment, together we will review your medical history, symptoms, and questions. I will then draw blood to determine your baseline hormone levels. After interpreting your hormone levels, I will prescribe a combination of bioidentical hormones that is specifically formulated for you based on your hormone levels and symptoms. The hormones are produced at a compounding pharmacy. Women usually yield positive results within two weeks. I will then want to see you for a follow-up visit six to ten weeks after your initial visit to ensure that your hormones are properly balanced. After that I will check your levels annually. Between appointments I am available by email free-of-charge should you have any questions or minor symptoms that require attention. I'll often make micro-adjustments to your hormone prescription between visits if I deem appropriate.

In addition to women, I treat men. Many female patients often inform me that their improved libido and vigor has become greater than that of their husband's and that he suffers from some of the same symptoms as those from which they once suffered. Similar to menopause, men can suffer from andropause in which they experience falling energy, falling libido, a loss of zest for life, and mood changes. Men can also gain relief through bioidentical hormone therapy.



What choices do you have?

All women eventually reach menopause; there is nothing anyone can do to prevent or delay it. The average age of menopause is 51 but symptoms of estrogen and progesterone deficiencies usually occur long before. Women also suffer from falling testosterone, DHEA, and thyroid hormones. When women's hormone levels start to fall they have four choices:

1. Take no action and suffer from the symptoms of low hormone levels. The most common symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, low libido, low energy, mood changes, mental fogginess, and vaginal dryness.

2. Attempt to mask the symptoms with herbal remedies, anti-depressants, and/or the birth control pill. Herbal remedies often offer nothing more than would a placebo and if they do help, their effects are usually short lived. Many physicians will prescribe anti-depressants and the birth control pill with little consideration. Antidepressants can prevent hot flashes and help with stabilize moods but the side effects include worsening libido and weight gain.

3. Take synthetic hormones that are foreign to the body. The body is not accustomed to recognizing these unnatural hormones that often adversely affect the body. Most women who take hormones take foreign hormones. The most commonly prescribed synthetic hormones are Premarin and Provera. Premarin is derived from pregnant mares urine, hence the name. Provera is a synthetic progesterone and it is not nearly as safe as natural progesterone. Premarin and Provera were the two hormones studied in the Women's health Initiative (WHI). Synthetic hormones are often referred to as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) however I believe this should be referred to as hormone substitution therapy (HST).

4. Take bioidentical hormones, which is true hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormones have the exact molecular structure of the hormones that a woman's body produces naturally. In other words these hormones are no different from the hormones that a women's bodies produce from about age 12 through 51. Bioidentical hormones are more effective in eliminating symptoms of menopause and are safer than synthetic hormones. In this day and age it is shocking that a physician would rather prescribe horse hormones than hormones with which a woman's body is familiar.



How to take your hormones

Most hormones are prescribed in pill form. When hormones are absorbed by the stomach they go directly to the liver by the portal circulation. This results in the “first pass liver” effect which is an unnatural way to take hormones. When the ovaries make hormones they put them directly into the blood supply via the ovarian vein. I believe in mimicking the body's natural physiology by adding bioidentical hormones directly to the bloodstream. This can be accomplished using sublingual troches or transdermal creams. I prefer transdermal creams which offer slower absorption resulting in fewer peaks and valleys of hormone levels. It is important to take the hormones as prescribed on days of subsequent blood draws.




Contact Kenton Bruice, M.D. with your questions about bioidentical hormone therapy.