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Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy: implications for practice

02 May 2019
Clinical
02 May 2019
Volume 8 · Issue 4

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a cultural shift towards greater acknowledgement of the effects of menopause on women's health, wellbeing and their relationships at both work and home, and an awareness of the very acute need for these symptoms to be monitored and addressed holistically as and when they change. No longer is it accepted that women should just ‘get on with it’, or feel helpless that there are few resources available to help them. As a result, there has been an increase in interest in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), especially following a greater media coverage of celebrities who have shared their own personal stories of this treatment. This has created a snowball effect, resulting in specialist clinics receiving an influx of new patients seeking cohesive and comprehensive advice. This article aims to explore some of the current advice relating to menopause and in particular the difference between HRT and BHRT. The authors will explore how this can impact the role of the aesthetic practitioner in supporting patients with symptoms relating to the menopause effectively.

The number of people undergoing cosmetic procedures to enhance their appearance and look younger continues to rise in the UK. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), there was a 13% overall increase in the number of cosmetic operations between 2014 and 2016 (BAAPS, 2016), and these figures do not include the cosmetic, skincare and beauty products that many people purchase to further enhance their appearance. While many people spend large amounts of money on their appearance, we seem to forget that beauty starts from within, and many women experience symptoms as a result of ageing that do not just affect their appearance, but their entire sense of wellbeing.

The average age of the menopause in the UK is 51 years (NHS UK, 2019), and with ever-increasing life expectancy, which is now around 82.9 years for women (Office for National Statistics, 2018), we could potentially live a third of our life after menopause. Along with the menopause come other life-changing symptoms, including hot flushes, joint pain, dry skin, stress incontinence and vaginal dryness, to name but a few (Box 1). These symptoms can have a negative impact on a woman's life, without the added concerns of physical ageing.

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Menopause
Hormone replacement therapy
Hormones
Women's health