Difference Between Bio-Identical and Synthetic Hormones

Consumers have been told that synthetic treatment options work better because they have been created by scientists and tested more rigorously than bio-identical treatments. While synthetic hormones work for many patients, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy offers a natural and more effective alternative to chemically created products.

Made from natural sources like plants, bio-identical hormones work by mimicking the body’s natural hormone production. To be sure, when you break down the word “bio” as in biological which means living organism; bio-identical simply means that y our body recognizes these identical hormones at a molecular level. So, for example, testosterone has X amounts of carbon atoms, X amounts of hydrogen atoms, and X amounts of oxygen atoms. All testosterone is the same, all estrogens are the same. It’s all bio-identical.

In regards to the method of administration, whether via creams, injectables, or pellets, they are ALL bio-identical. Don’t let someone tell you an injection is synthetic and not bio-identical. The word synthetic is another word people are afraid of for lack of knowledge. To synthesize simply means: to form! Your body synthesizes proteins every day. It takes molecules and forms a compound. This is what the word synthetic actually means. It’s not a bad scary word.

So yes, all hormones that we take exogenously are synthetic because they are produced, but they are still bio-identical molecules. Once you understand that, you can start approaching your health with more certainty and autonomy to benefit you.

You should be aware that as of today there are over 80 peer-reviewed articles from institutions such as The Mayo Clinic, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), Pubmed, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, and The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) which show that testosterone, bio-identical hormones, and peptides are safe medications to take, and how hormone therapy could actually, in most cases, prevent cardiovascular diseases.

All of our treatments are personalized based on the patient’s bio-Individuality. Bio-individuality means “there’s no one-size-fits-all” hormone therapy protocol or diet. Each person is a unique individual with highly individualized hormonal and nutritional requirements. Personal differences in pharmacokinetics like anatomy, metabolism, body composition, and cell structure all influence your overall health and the foods that make you feel your best. So we make sure to build a program based on your hormonal and nutritional results.