Definition
Bioidentical hormones are pharmaceutical agents which are structurally and functionally identical to the natural hormones produced by the human body itself. In the narrow sense, this refers primarily to female and male sex hormones, namely dehydroepiandrosterone, estradiol, estriol, estrone, progesterone, and testosterone. In a broader sense, it also includes other hormones such as levothyroxine and cortisol. The active ingredients may be derived from substances of biological origin, but this is not a necessity. Most often, they are produced synthetically or semi-synthetically.
Assessment
- Bioidentical agents are also found in numerous conventional hormone medications.
- Bioidentical hormones have the same side effects as the supposedly dangerous synthetic agents.
- Chemical derivatives of natural substances often have better properties as drugs than their natural precursors.
