Do you feel a bit confused about what types of hormones you should or shouldn’t be using?
If so, this article is for you.
Second only to the thyroid, I find so much misinformation out there on the internet as it relates to hormone management and hormone replacement therapy.
It’s frustrating for me when I see false information ranking at the top of search engines and I can only imagine how confusing it must be for a patient when they see this.
Well, today, we are going to draw back the curtain and explain everything you need to know about hormones and hormone replacement therapy.
But first, why is there so much confusion regarding this area of medicine?
The answer is simple.
There’s been a push from pharmaceutical companies to obfuscate and blur the line between bioidentical hormones and hormones which are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.
It’s in their best interest to do this because they don’t want you to use the cheaper and more effective medications that they don’t make money off of.
Today you are going to learn…
- What bioidentical hormones are and how they are different from pharmaceutical hormones
- Examples of bioidentical hormones so you aren’t confused
- Whether or not bioidentical hormones are safe (and why we don’t really need studies to ‘prove’ it)
- The difference between birth control and bioidentical hormones
- And much more
Let’s jump in:
What Does the Term Bioidentical Hormone Actually Mean?
Let’s talk first about the definition of bioidentical hormones and synthetic hormones produced by pharmaceutical companies.
Bioidentical hormones are hormones that look exactly like the same hormones that your own body produces naturally.
The term bioidentical hormone is often used interchangeably with the term body identical hormone, but both terms are used to describe the same thing.
Think about it this way:
Your body produces a number of important hormones such as testosterone, estradiol (the most potent estrogen), progesterone, and thyroid hormone.
Unfortunately, there are medical conditions that cause your body to secrete less hormone than you would if you were otherwise healthy.
The treatment for these conditions is to simply take the same hormone that your body would produce naturally, and give it to you in a pill or capsule form.
Makes sense, right?
Well, that’s not what we do (at least not all of the time).
Instead, doctors typically prescribe medications that look SIMILAR to the same hormones your own body produces naturally in their place.
While these hormones may look similar and activate the same hormone receptors on your cells, they are NOT the same thing.
These hormones are what I refer to as Frankenstein hormones.
And the chances are high that you’ve probably taken them in the past.
How do I know? Because birth control pills fit into this category.
We will talk more about those later, for now, let’s stay on the topic of bioidentical hormones versus hormones created by pharmaceutical companies.
Why would pharmaceutical companies want you to use their Frankenstein hormones over bioidentical hormones that your own body produces naturally?
It all comes down to money.
Because bioidentical hormones are considered biological compounds, they cannot be patented by pharmaceutical companies.
Because they can’t patent the compound, there’s not much money to be made.
To get around this they take a bioidentical hormone and slightly alter it. Just enough so that they can patent the compound and then call it something “new”.
But why does your body need something “new” when it’s been designed (either intelligently or from evolution) to function optimally with the hormones that it secretes naturally?
It doesn’t, but, again, pharmaceutical companies can’t make money off of bioidentical hormones so they just don’t push them.
And to make matters worse, they do their best to blur the line between these two types of hormones.
They refer to both bioidentical hormones and their own man-made hormones as “hormones” in medical studies.
They use the term “testosterone” to include both bioidentical testosterone as well as their man-made testosterone.
They use the term “progesterone” to refer to both bioidentical progesterone as well as progestogens and progestins which are their man-made versions.
So a study may conclude that “progesterone” is unsafe for certain women but the study only looked at their synthetic version.
See the problem?
These studies don’t bring clarity, they bring confusion.
And well-meaning doctors read these studies and then assume, wrongly I might add, that hormones are somehow unsafe (a topic that we will discuss briefly).
What you need to understand here is that bioidentical hormones are exact replicas of the hormones that your own body produces.
And these hormones should NOT be confused with the various synthetic, man-made Frankenstein hormones that pharmaceutical companies produce.
They are NOT the same, they have DIFFERENT safety profiles, and your body does NOT process them the same way.
Examples of Bioidentical Hormones
Now that you understand what bioidentical hormones are, let’s talk about some examples.
Once you understand what to look for you will then also understand which hormones you should avoid.
It turns out that there are bio-identical hormones available to use as a treatment for most medical conditions that are associated with corresponding low hormone levels.
Unfortunately, these bioidentical hormones are rarely ever used, and instead, pharmaceutical medications are often prescribed in their place.
Here are some examples of bioidentical hormones:
- Thyroid hormones (both T3 and T4) – ALL prescription medications are considered bioidentical including levothyroxine, Synthroid, Cytomel, and liothyronine. If you are taking thyroid medication then rest assured that you are using a bioidentical version. There’s a difference between synthetic and natural, though, which we will talk about next. The most active thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) require a prescription to get. T2 thyroid hormone is available in supplement form but is not as biologically active as T3 or T4.
- Progesterone – If you want to make sure you are actually using bioidentical progesterone then you need to make sure that the active ingredient in your medication is Progesterone USP (USP stands for United States Pharmacopeia). The only prescription medication which contains bioidentical progesterone not created by a compounding pharmacy is Prometrium. Prometrium contains bioidentical progesterone in capsule form which can be taken as a pill. The good news is that bioidentical progesterone is available over the counter usually as a cream. Bioidentical should NOT be confused with pharmaceutical versions of progesterone called progestins and progestogens.
- Testosterone – Many testosterones are bioidentical but several are not. Oddly enough, doctors do prescribe bioidentical versions of testosterone for men. Women generally only get bioidentical testosterone if they are getting their prescription from a compounding pharmacy. As a man, look for testosterone cypionate, Androgel (testosterone), and avoid all other versions such as methyltestosterone (Testred). Even though testosterone is incredibly helpful for women as well, doctors tend to avoid prescribing it because there are no FDA-approved preparations. This is obviously crazy, though, because women, just like men, can suffer from low testosterone. If you are a woman, I would recommend checking this list to make sure you don’t have symptoms of low testosterone.
- Estrogens – There is no hormone called estrogen in the body. Instead, estrogen is used to refer to a class of hormones that all impact the estrogen receptor. Bioidentical versions of estrogen include medications that contain estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Bioidentical estrogen prescriptions are known as Biest (combined estradiol and estriol), Triest (combined estradiol, estriol, and estrone), 17-beta estradiol (E2), Estrone sulfate (E1), Estropipate (E1), and Estriol (E3). ALL other prescriptions are NOT bioidentical. These non-bioidentical versions include Ethinyl estradiol (Loestrin), esterified estrogens (PremPro, Estratab), conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin, PremPro), and Dienestrol (vaginal cream). If you are a woman ensuring that you are using bioidentical hormone is incredibly important! Like progesterone, you can get estriol cream over the counter but you will need a prescription medication for estradiol and estrone.
If you are using a prescription medication to treat any type of hormone imbalance make sure you check to see what you are actually taking!
You will most likely be surprised to know that the version you are taking is probably NOT bioidentical.
The good news is that there are plenty of options to use in place of the man-made Frankenstein hormone that you may be taking.
The Difference Between Synthetic and Natural
While we are on the topic of bioidentical hormones, we should also spend some time talking about the difference between synthetic hormones and natural hormones.
Most people automatically make the assumption that any hormone which is “natural” is automatically better than one that is “synthetic”.
But what you may fail to realize is that you can have a bioidentical hormone that is synthetic and a non-bioidentical hormone that is natural.
In other words, the term natural or synthetic shouldn’t really play a role in which hormone you are using.
Instead, whether or not it is bioidentical should always take precedence over the source of that hormone and whether or not it is “natural” or “synthetic”.
The term natural and synthetic only refers to the SOURCE of that hormone.
“Synthetic” hormones, also referred to as artificial hormones, are created in a laboratory.
These are manufactured and designed using chemical processes that result in a target compound.
This target compound can either be bioidentical or not. The term synthetic doesn’t automatically mean that the hormone created is one way or the other.
Take Synthroid or Estrace (1), as an example. Both of these compounds are synthetic in that they were manufactured in a laboratory, but they are still bioidentical because they are exact copies of the hormones that your body produces naturally.
Other synthetic hormones that are bioidentical include Humulin (2) (bioidentical insulin), and Cortisone (3) (bioidentical cortisol).
Even though these hormones are SYNTHETIC they are still preferred over other medications because they are bioidentical.
“Natural” hormones are usually derived from a natural source such as plants, animals, horses, etc.
But just because a medication is natural doesn’t mean it’s preferred over a synthetic version.
Take, for instance, the prescription medication Premarin.
Premarin is “natural” because it is taken from the urine of pregnant mares (horses) but it is NOT bioidentical.
Even though the source is natural, the actual estrogens found in horse urine look nothing like the estrogens that your own body produces naturally (4).
The terms natural and synthetic also mean different things to different people.
In the world of thyroid management, the medication known as NDT is often referred to as “natural” because the name literally stands for Natural Desiccated Thyroid.
But this medication is derived from the thyroid gland of pigs.
It’s natural in the sense that it’s not created in a laboratory, but it’s not natural in the sense that a human produced it naturally.
The bottom line?
Don’t focus too much on whether or not your medication is natural or synthetic. Instead, focus on whether or not it is bioidentical as this is much more important.
Are Bio-identical Hormones Safe?
Another confusing aspect of bioidentical hormone use is their safety profile.
Doctors, especially those who are not really educated on the topic, will try to tell you to avoid bioidentical hormones because they aren’t safe or because they haven’t been proven to be safe.
But does that actually matter?
Why would we hold such a high standard for the very same hormones that our own body produces naturally?
Why would we even assume that these hormones cause some sort of negative reaction when used compared to obviously synthetic and non-bioidentical hormones that pharmaceutical companies try to make you take?
Whether you believe in evolution or creationism, you should have faith that the body was created (or evolved) to be perfect.
Why would evolution, or a divine creator, produce a body that makes hormones that are dangerous to itself?
It obviously wouldn’t.
The standard of proving medications to be safe only stems from the production of abnormal pharmaceutical-based medications.
We have to prove that these medications are safe because they are FOREIGN to the body.
And, it turns out, many of these synthetically produced abnormal hormones and medications DO cause problems and result in increased mortality rates.
But this is NOT true of bioidentical hormones (5).
Sure, bioidentical hormones CAN be dangerous but only if used incorrectly.
The safety profile of bioidentical hormones is based on the DOSE and not the compound itself.
The dose makes the poison (6).
Put another way, too much of a good thing can be harmful.
Taking abnormally high doses of bioidentical hormones CAN cause problems.
The dose that you take refers to the amount that you take.
If you take a safe amount, a similar amount (or less) to what your body would produce in the natural and healthy state, then you don’t have anything to worry about.
But to automatically assume that these hormones are dangerous is silly.
And it’s the default position that uneducated doctors take.
Can there be problems with the use of bioidentical hormones?
Absolutely.
But these issues typically stem from dosing errors or route of administration errors.
For maximum safety, it’s always best to start low and go slow.
Starting with a smaller than necessary dose and gradually increasing over time will prevent dosing errors and allow for maximum benefit from the hormones.
Birth Control Pills vs Bioidentical Hormones – What’s the difference?
Lastly, it’s worth touching upon birth control pills and how they fit into the conversation.
You may be wondering whether or not birth control pills are bioidentical given that they are frequently prescribed by doctors without a second thought.
The answer is NO.
And here is where things get interesting.
Doctors have no problem prescribing birth control pills to YOUNG women (7) (and women of all ages) which are filled with Frankenstein hormones that “look” like estrogen and progesterone.
And, by the way, these birth control pills contain doses that are so high that they completely shut down your body’s ability to produce its own estrogen and progesterone (8) as a side effect.
But then these same doctors absolutely REFUSE to prescribe bioidentical progesterone to women who are in menopause and have depleted levels of both estrogen and progesterone.
They won’t even prescribe LOW DOSE of bioidentical estrogen or progesterone for these women citing the “dangers” of such therapy.
Do you see the problem here?
These doctors are perfectly fine prescribing high doses of fake hormones to women which are associated with all sorts of risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer (9).
But won’t do the same for women who actually need it.
When it comes to birth control methods, the use of bioidentical hormones doesn’t really come up.
You can use bioidentical progesterone to help with some hormone imbalances, but you wouldn’t want to use it to prevent conception.
Instead, you can focus on other therapies, including forms of birth control such as the copper IUD or Paragard.
The copper IUD does not secrete hormones but does prevent implantation, so it is still very effective at preventing pregnancy.
The use of the copper IUD allows you to get the benefits of birth control pills without all of the negative side effects of using fake estrogen and progesterone.
Wrapping it up
Bioidentical hormones are hormones that look identical to the hormones that your own body produces naturally.
These hormones are NOT to be confused with the fake synthetic hormones that pharmaceutical companies produce.
The hormones that pharmaceutical companies produce are NOT bioidentical because they have been slightly altered.
Slight alterations to the structure of these hormones change how well they work in your body and how safe they are to use.
Bioidentical hormones are always safer to use compared to fake pharmaceutical hormones because your body was created (or evolved) to use them.
Bioidentical hormones can cause side effects, however, but these side effects are related to your dose and not the hormone itself.
MOST doctors are not educated when it comes to bioidentical hormones and may provide conflicting or flat-out wrong information if you ask them about these hormones.
Now I want to hear from you:
Are you currently using hormones right now as part of your therapy/treatments?
Do you know if your hormones are bioidentical or not?
Have you been told that bioidentical hormones are not safe?
Leave your questions, comments, or experience with these hormones below!
Scientific References
#1. https://www.drugs.com/estrace.html
#2. https://www.humulin.com/
#3. https://www.drugs.com/mtm/cortisone.html
#4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15213206/
#5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19179815/
#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4942381/
#7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27817837/
#8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/393456/
#9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25004338/
Hi Dr Westin,
I am putting this query for my son who is 18 years old. He was detected with high Anti TPO 2 years back. His ThyroGlobulin is also very high. His Anti TPO is not coming down despite following medicines and many different diet plans. May I kindly request for your advise.
I am a 55 year old female with Hashimoto’s (diagnosed at age 25) and am on bio identical hormones – progesterone, testosterone and for the past year bieste cream (low dose). I started the progesterone about 8 years ago, and after that added testosterone. I have been asked by other doctors why I continue to take hormones if I am past menopause. My doctor who specializes in hormones asks me why I wouldn’t since they help with brain function, bone loss, toning of bladder, etc. I am confused as whether to continue them or stop and no one including the internet seems to have an answer. I am thinking it is time to wean off of them. I know you probably don’t give advice over the internet but some direction would be nice. Thank you.
Kim,
We use bio-identical hormones to correct deficits or imbalances but also to preserve hormone dependent tissues – bone, brain, skin, heart, etc. – practically every tissue in the body has hormone receptors. For this reason, you should be on bio-identical hormones for life as long as you are managed by a hormone knowledgeable physician.
I’m 68 and have been on bioidentical estradiol and progesterone for 19 years, and always paid out of pocket. I look, act, and feel much younger and stronger than I should. My cardiologist said I have the heart of a 40-year-old. My mind is sharp, I feel great, have good bladder control, and zero bone loss. I was afraid my new Medicare/Kaiser health plan wouldn’t pay for it but they do! My regular doctor there said no, so I found another doc there who loves them, and believes strongly in bioidentical hormones for everyone past menopause. Never give up.
Hi Lola,
Thank you for sharing your story! Visually, I can almost always spot a woman who uses hormones as it absolutely does have an impact on skin, appearance, metabolism, and other physical features.
Hello Dr. Childs,
I have had RAI hypothyroid symptoms for nearly 20 years. I could never find a doctor who would budge off of the status quo of dosing for thyroid disease. I had to take matters into my own hands to try and make myself healthy again. In the meantime, I also had 3 bouts of HR+ DCIS, which at that time, warranted the first one as a lumpectomy, 2nd as a total mastectomy with reconstruction using the DIEP Procedure, and 3rd as calcium crystals in a milk duct with aesthetic surgery and minor recovery. Praise God. I’ve just begun using your supplements so I can’t weigh in on the benefits yet. But, I had to get dental implants and now the bone is decreasing under them. I’ve really tried to discover what may be causing this so I upped my Vitamin D, took Total Vitamin B supp’s sublingually and I’m on meds for chronic pain due to 2 failed back surgeries, plus HBP meds. I don’t know where else to go or what to do and the bone continues to recede. What kind of doctor would you recommend for someone in my case? I need a new starting point. Thank you! God has always been faithful to sustain me in these very trying times and I give Him the glory for it all! I’d like to belong to the living and in the light again. Please, your serious considerations would be totally appreciated. Thank you for caring about all of us who are suffering from this quality-of-llife stealing disease. You are a true treasure and a rare find!
Hello!
I created a resource designed to help thyroid patients find doctors to help them. Even though your case is slightly different, you would still want to find a doctor that specializes in functional/integrative or anti-aging medicine so the resource would still be helpful for you: https://www.restartmed.com/how-to-find-a-doctor-to-treat-your-thyroid/
Hi,
I went to menopause for the last 4 years. I tried the Compound medicine ESTRADIOL/PROGESTERONE4/100MG cream. When I used this I got 10 days of continuous bleeding and after that, it stopped. After they did the US, now it’s good.
Recently I moved to a different Gyncologist she did blood work and prescribed me the Divigel, 0.25 MG/0.25GM, and Progesterone, 100 MG tablets. I didn’t start the medicine yet and looking for your suggestion. Can I ask for Biest 50/50 100mg Progesterone? Please give me a reply ASAP.
Symptoms:
Hashi Thyroid –Armor Thyroid 32mcg
Menopause –? Brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, dry skin
Orstropenia -VitaminD3 K2
Lab results:
ESTRADIOL <15 (pg/mL)
PROGESTERONE <0.5 (ng/mL)
TESTOSTERONE, TOTAL, MS 10
Please suggest to me where can I start?
Hi Radha,
Unfortunately, I am not able to provide medical advice regarding the dose or type of medication you should be taking.
Radha, you can obtain some information and help from Dr Karen Leggett DO ( Women’s Midlife Specialist ). Go online for information and products and testing. She is located in Florida and tele health consulting is available. Currently she has openings for a new group of women https://personalwellnessmedicine.com/offerings/
Hi I don’t have a thyroid anymore. Was removed over 4 years
What would you recommend?
Hi Maria,
I have lots of information designed for those without a thyroid. Here are some articles to get started with:
https://www.restartmed.com/thyroidectomy-5-things-every-patient-without-a-thyroid-should-know/
https://www.restartmed.com/thyroidectomy/
https://www.restartmed.com/can-you-live-without-a-thyroid/
Thanks so much for this very helpful information! I have wondered about many of the things you explained so well. Thanks for cutting through the confusion!
Hi Mendy,
Glad you found it helpful!
I was on bioidentical estrogen (Biest), progesterone and testosterone for three years because I have Hashimoto’s and hasn’t menstruated in over a decade because I produce no hormones and had a rectocele and my GYN said I started premature menopause due to hypothalamic pituitary ovarian axial dysfunction when I turned 40. I was told I was infertile and could only become pregnant any if I started menstruating again which would be nearly impossible. The testosterone booster my libido a lot in the beginning and then effect disappeared. Two years into hormone therapy I started suffering severe breast pain that keep me up at night and made me cry because they hurt so much, and my hormone dosage kept getting lowered and lowered then one day I was miraculously and unexpectedly pregnant. I don’t know if the hormones somehow made me fertile again or what. No one seems to have an answer. I’m not saying bio identical hormones are bad. They helped rejuvenate a dry, very thin vaginal wall that had collapsed. But I think they do come with risks if the medical provider doesn’t have a whole lot of experience and it’s hard to know if the doctor who is prescribing them knows what they’re doing. I’m off then now and feel much better, but as far as preventing another rectocele, I don’t know if it’s worth it to try bio identical or any hormones again.
Hi Naty,
That’s certainly true. Bioidentical hormones can certainly cause issues if they are used inappropriately or at higher than normal doses.
Hello…
I am 62 and have been diagnosed with hashimoto’s autoimmune difficiency…
I need a knowledgeable doctor to be willing to prescribe bioidentical
Hormones…
Where I live there are no doctors like that…
So how can I do this without being supervised by a doctor?
I simply can’t…
I need help!
I am afraid to take the regular hormones that doctors rather prescribe.
Hi Bonnie,
You can use the recommendations in this article to help you find one: https://www.restartmed.com/how-to-find-a-doctor-to-treat-your-thyroid/
What are your thoughts on Biote pellets??
Hi Michele,
Not a huge fan of pellets for the reasons listed here: https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-pellets/
I was not clear about the estradiol. Is the low dose patch bio-identical? Or were u saying that one needs to add the estriol and possibly estrone as well to make it bio-identical. Thank you for your always helpful articles.
Hi JD,
It depends on the medication being administered through the patch. Patches such as the Vivelle dot do provide the body with estrdaiol which is bioidentical.
Hi! I enjoyed this article! I’m an FNP and can find all kinds of information for hormones for post-menopausal women, but what about younger women in their 30s who may be experiencing hot flashes and night sweats or severe PMS with their cycles? Is it safe and customary to give bio-identical hormones to this population? Thanks!
Hi Adrienne,
I tend to avoid using hormones in younger women (unless absolutely necessary) as it tends to cause more harm than good. Hormones such as thyroid and testosterone seem to be well tolerated but estradiol usually causes more harm than good. Progesterone can usually be used as well in younger women.
I was very low on testosterone an using testosterone cream did zip. Needed to bump up but Gyno said It really doesn’t do anything! I was shocked to read this as I go to a top drawer Gyno. I took it into my own hands bec if he thought testosterone should’t be of concern, he’s out of his mind! Hormones are the heart of a woman.
So I am taking the Pellet (2nd time) with estrogen( prior not working) an testosterone. Best decision I made an stopped the hot flashes in a heartbeat. Believe me I feel the diff getting my testosterone back. Never let anyone tell you you don’t need testosterone. Thank goodness I followed my gut!
I understand the concern for those on the fence bec if it doesn’t work out you can’t change the dose like you can w a pill, an may be one or a few side effects to deal with in the beginning (everyone is different) but that could be the same with a hormone pill. That said, the Pellet works great on me and I don’t have to remember what day it is w the patch an no pill at night.
I am also in a thyroid nite mare and after being given synthetic for period of time, which I don’t want anything synthetic, nothing has worked on me so now taking compounded thyroid porcine SR per my request. I’ve been studying thyroid and understand allot therefore figured out the ratio with a compounder prior to the other an so far so good. No side effects.
In closing, I can’t say enough how informative Dr. Childs emails are. They always seem to hit my Inbox at the time I happen to be wondering about what he’s written about. It’s ironic. Dr. Childs is my Bible when it comes to thyroid an hormones.
Hi Cindy,
Glad you find the information helpful! Thanks for sharing.
How about use of bio estrogen and progesterone after menopause? I used progesterone on and off for a few years while in peri meno and then together with estro for awhile after. Had a friend on bio’s for 5 years and got breast cancer. got scared and stopped. Also seemed like i gained weight when i used them. would love to reap the benefits, but concerned about using after being in meno for about 4 years…as our bodies dont naturally produce them then. what about blood clots? ALso, thank you so much for your articles, I love them!
Hi Denise,
I’m a big fan of using biest and progesterone for menopausal symptoms in low doses. Doses that are sufficient to eliminate symptoms but not sufficient to significantly raise serum levels are quite safe. The data I’ve seen suggest that this sort of dosing has no impact on blood clot risk.
Hi Dr Childs
I was using usp prog with a bio sandrena gel but my functional GP retired and mainstream refusing as say it won’t protect against endometrial hyperplasia as “no evidence” as per menopause.org.
I tried Prometrium but terrible depression (normally not) …is their dose related evidence for uterine protection with USP cream? Suggestion is now Mirena but think this is localised Frankenstein?? May have to sacrifice my uterus to get the oestrogen I need – lol!?
Hi Ofra,
I haven’t looked at the literature for progesterone usp in the setting of endometrial hyperplasia but I can’t imagine how mirena could be efficacious and usp progetserone could not. If the mirena is effective then it only follows logically that the progesterone usp would also be effective.
I I found your article very informative. I was recently diagnosed with Osteoporosis and I have a doctors appointment coming up soon. Do you know if any of the bio identical hormones can help rebuild bone? I’m against the traditional medications that they usually prescribe like Prolia and Fosamax. Any information you have is appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Betty,
Yes, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy with estradiol and estriol can be very effective at helping to rebuild bone density.
Very interesting and informative article….thanks. I used to be on NatureThroid and it worked perfectly for a long, long time. Now that it’s no longer available I’ve been struggling to find something that works. Right now I’m on compounded thyroid…similar to Armour which I can’t take and a dose of Levo to keep my T4 up as my T3 is high enough. I think my only option is to now switch to bio identical so that my dosages can be fine tuned to exactly what I need. I am also doing a cortisol/adrenal saliva test as I may be T3 pooling. T4 which used to be mid-range is now about to go below the range after just one year. But the T3 is near the high end. Just so tired of feeling hypo. Thanks for the article!
Hi Diane,
My pleasure! Glad you found it helpful.
Ah..thanks for clearing this up. Since only Armour is available, even in compounding, I have two options…Armour dosing like NDT or switching to bio-identical. I do not do well on Armour. I am now slightly hypo and need to make adjustments. Need to rule out T3 pooling and cortisol before I lock in to a new dose. But I feel much better about going with bio-identical now. Tell me…how do you feel about mixing NDT with additional Levo?
Hi Diane,
All thyroid medications are bio-identical so I’m not quite sure what you mean by that. In regards to adding NDT with levo, I don’t really see a lot of benefit in such a move.
HI Dr Childs,
I find your website and blog very helpful. I do have one question that I haven’t seen asked on your blog, but I might have missed it.
I am 49 yo female, have hypothyroidism; I currently take Armour. I am also on BioTe HRT for about 6 yrs. I usually do the pellet because it is easier for me. with Progesterone cream. I do like to watch progesterone dose because initially I was taking it orally and I gained a lot of weight retained water, ect..I have to take it because I still have a uterus and have semi-regular periods.
I also practice an anti-inflammatory diet (restriction of gluten, dairy, sugar, processed foods, caffeine and alcohol )
BHRT has changed my life for the better. I have more energy, my overall feeling of well being has increased and I sleep better at night.
One of the foods people with thyroid issues should avoid is soy, it is inflammaory. Based on my research and from pharmacists- BIOTE is plant based- soy and yam. This is my question: If I have Thyroid issues, and should be avoiding soy, is it counterproductive for me to be taking BIOTE?
Hi Dana,
The soy is probably not a huge deal but I recommend against pellets for the reasons listed here: https://www.restartmed.com/hormone-pellets/
You can also find more information on the soy story here: https://www.restartmed.com/soy-and-thyroid-problems/
Hi Dr, Childs,
I am 52 years old, I still take birth control, mainly for the hormone. I am on thyroid medication for low thyroid, Synthroid and Cytomel. Every doctor I go to wants to yank me off my hormones. I disagree strongly that a woman does not need hormones after a certain age. I know my body very well, and I have told them I feel it will not be good for me to come off my hormones. I have had to change multiple doctors because this disagreement. I broke my back a year ago and made the argument with my doctor i am seeing now, it would noy be good for my bones to take me off, however at the beginning of this next year he wants to do so. I do not know who I need to see? it seems like all the doctors in my area are all in agreement to take me off of hormones. I am not having it. I have offered to sign waivers not holding them accountable if anything were to happen to me. Ahlemeier’s also runs strongly in my family, my mother, her sister, their father and mother all had it, and an uncle on my dad’s side also has been diagnosed with it. No hormones will not be good for my mind as well. Please if you can offer any help, please I am desperate, thank you for all your wonderful articles and knowledge.
Hi Loretta,
It would be best to continue taking hormones but to take the right ones. Synthetic hormones found in birth control pills are not bioidentical and definitely can cause problems the longer you take them. Swapping to bioidentical versions (HRT) would be a much better option which will protect your bones and reduce your risk of other unwanted side effects down the road (the side effects your current doctors are trying to avoid).
Can I start using a natural progesterone cream when I have a Mirena IUD still in?
I plan to have it removed in the next month.
Thanks
Hi Dr. Childs! In researching bioidentical hormones (which I’ve taken for the last 6 mos.) I came across you! I do have a question re my hypo thyroid and bioidentical hormones with a newly diagnosed CREST autoimmune syndrome found through a blood test. I have symptoms of scleroderma in my cuticles. I have hiatal hernia, reflux, and webbing seen in my lungs which could all be bc of the autoimmune. I found on Scleroderma News website stated that taking higher levels of estrogen (Estradiol) increases scleroderma. I’m trying to find out what a high dose is as well as the effects of progesterone, testosterone, Liothyronine, iodoral on this autoimmune? Should I stop taking bioidentical hormones?Any information you have on this autoimmune with hormones would be most appreciated!! Thank you!! Lorri G. Would you please email me your response? I’m concern I might not catch it here.
Hi! Lorri G.again. The thyroid supplement I’m taking is by NP Thyroid.
I have been on bio identical hormones for 10 years, I feel great, but my practitioner highly recommends to stop taking them, I am 64. She mentions all the side effects and risks involved. I am also taking levo for my thyroids. All the information online is quite confusing and I am at a crossroad with my decision here. thank you for your help.
Hi Silvia,
The use of bio-identical hormones at physiologic or sub physiologic doses does not increase risk of heart disease or stroke as some physicians claim. This idea is based on a flawed study that was released in the early 2000s which has been heavily critiqued.
Dr. Westin Childs,
I’m a 55 yr old woman, which had a hysterectomy in 2009. I recently started receiving BioIdentical Estradiol and Testosterone pellets. I’m am thinking about starting Prometrium for the other benefits from taking it with my Estrogen pellets. I am asking for your thoughts on whether I should or should not take the Progesterone? I have fibrocystic breast and with mammograms they are dense, and I am also concerned about gaining more menopause weight. Thank you for any input you may provide to help with my concerns.
Jeannie