Prevent Osteoporosis With Bioidentical Hormone Therapy

Osteoporosis occurs when the bones in the body start to lose density and become brittle. This can be caused by poor nutrition and a lack of exercise. Causes that are more common include age, disease or changes in hormonal levels. Women who have gone through menopause and older men both have decreased hormonal levels in the body. The reduction of hormones like estrogens takes away the body's ability to regulate the normal cycles that would maintain bone density and bone health. Several treatments for osteoporosis exist although some have serious side effects. Bioidentical hormone therapy is a safe and effective treatment that can help to prevent osteoporosis.

Bone Remodeling

Osteoporosis develops because of issues with the process known as bone remodeling. Bone remodeling is the natural cycle where bone tissue is absorbed by the body and replaced with new tissue. This maintains bone density as well as flexibility and strength. The bone marrow creates cells called osteoclasts that absorb bone tissue. Other cells called osteoblasts then create new tissue to replace what was absorbed. These cells are regulated by a collection of estrogen hormones in women. Decreased levels after menopause result in a disruption where more bone tissue is absorbed and less or none is produced to replace it.

A bioidentical hormone is a special combination of the different hormones and other natural chemicals that are deficient in the body. A saliva or blood test is given to a person in order to determine the current production levels of the important hormones. The bioidentical hormone is created by compounding the amount of each hormone that is missing from the body. Bioidentical therapy might involve taking a pill, taking an injection or applying a cream to the skin. This therapy will compensate for the reduced hormone levels in the body and will eventually start to have several positive effects including the prevention of osteoporosis.

The behavior of osteoclasts and osteoblasts start to change as the levels of estrogens and other hormones start to rise. Restoring the proper balance can help to reduce the rate of absorption of the bone. This gives osteoblasts the opportunity to deposit new tissue at the same rate or slightly faster than it is reabsorbed. This stops the loss of bone density and the development of fractures, broken bones and other serious problems. The level of hormones in the body is re-tested at regular intervals in order to determine if the bioidentical compound needs to be adjusted due to increases or reductions in natural hormone production.

Anyone who is starting bioidentical hormone therapy should understand that it is also very helpful to begin eating a balanced diet that is high in vitamins C, D and K. Weight-bearing exercise can actually increase the production of new bone tissue. Combining these lifestyle changes with bioidentical hormone therapy will reduce the chances of developing full osteoporosis for many people.