What is the “Real” Difference Between Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy and Synthetic HRT?

People and physicians ask all the time “what is the difference between bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and synthetic hormone replacement therapy.” A lot of people group them all together as HRT. They are wrong, they are not all created the same. There is that STRUCTURE FUNCTION claim, what that means is that if you change any part of the molecule you will change the function of that product. Is oil the same as gasoline! You can’t use oil to run your car. The same is said of  progestens  (synthetic progesterone) not structurally identical to progesterone many physicians confuse this, to this day. This is where the confusion comes into play, even physicians have a difficult time with it. So it all comes down to education. The more you know the more you will understand the differences between how different molecules work! If you can understand the basic chemistry you are on the right track to unraveling the BHRT discussion.

Phil Altman, R.Ph.,

Compounding Pharmacist

Related articles: Good Health “Investigating Bio-Identical Hormones” by, Kevin Evetts, D.Ph.,

What is the Difference between Synthetic Hormones and Natural Hormones, by, Cathryn Clifton