What is the difference between natural and biologically identical (bio–identical) hormones?
Bio–identical hormones are often called “human identical hormones”. Dr. Uzzi Reiss, M.D., Ob/Gyn states “When I speak about bioidentical hormones, I am referring to an exact replica of what your own body produces. When I mean exact replica, I mean exactly, not almost exactly or mostly exactly”. Bio–identical (human identical hormones) and so–called “natural” hormones are both made from an extract of the Mexican wild yam. In order to make bio–identical hormones, the molecules from the extract are arranged until they are exactly like the molecular structure of the sex hormones in men and women. The body uses and breaks down the bio–identical hormones in the same way it would use and break down your own hormones. Premarin, a synthetic estrogen made from the urine of a pregnant mare (female horse), does not have the same molecular structure as a woman’s estrogens. Therefore, a woman’s body cannot use or breakdown this synthetic estrogen the same way that she uses and breaks down her own es
