10 min read
Under the leadership of Dr. Kay Chandler, a nationally recognized OB-GYN who has devoted her practice to helping women achieve hormonal health for the past 20 years, the Kiaora BHRT program was created to help women during perimenopause and menopause by replenishing essential hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone (as well as other hormones to support overall health)
Kiaora’s customized approach is designed to help women live healthier, happier lives for the long term by promoting heart, brain, bone, and muscle health, and by reducing or eliminating common menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, dry vagina, anxiety, depression, low energy, and libido.
The primary method of hormone delivery includes a transdermal cream (applied to the mucosal skin of the inner labia) and daily progesterone, which is taken orally at bedtime. These methods help ensure hormone optimization by supporting overall health and preventing diseases associated with hormonal loss.
It's important to choose safe and effective options, especially when dealing with the changes of perimenopause and menopause. BHRT is a great choice because it uses hormones that are identical to the ones your body naturally produces. These hormones—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA—are derived from yams, and work with your body in a natural way.
Unlike synthetic hormones such as progestins, which have been linked to the risk of breast cancer, bioidentical progesterone is considered safe. Our unique transdermal mucosal application also offers additional benefits over oral hormones (taken by mouth). For example, using estradiol transdermally does not carry an increased risk of blood clots or strokes (whereas oral estrogen can - particularly in those with higher underlying risk.)
In developed countries, key hormones start to drop as early as a woman’s late twenties or early thirties, with greater decline happening around 8-10 years before menopause and the most severe decline around menopause itself. By the age of 40, women may have lost up to 50% of their testosterone, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, low libido, and fatigue. Adding testosterone through BHRT can help with these issues. This explains why so many women feel physical challenges and experience strong menopause symptoms.
Many women question why they should use BHRT instead of just accepting their body’s changes and following a "natural approach.” While it may seem logical to let nature take its course, it's important to remember that many people who follow a "natural" approach don't always stick to it in other parts of their life. For example, when their doctor recommends they need more Vitamin D in the winter, they often take supplements. If their eyesight weakens with age, they usually buy reading glasses instead of just accepting poor vision. Similarly, if their muscles weaken as they age, they do exercises like weightlifting to stay strong instead of doing nothing.
This is why we support an "optimized" approach to menopause therapy, which helps many women recover the quality of life they might have thought was out of reach, while also offering the potential to live longer, healthier lives.
Estrogen is often called a "sex hormone," but it does much more than just regulate reproduction. It plays a major role in your body’s systems, including your brain, heart, bones, and skin. Many studies show that as estrogen levels drop during menopause, cognitive decline and memory problems can develop. Studies have found that bioidentical estrogen therapy helps protect against these brain changes. Estrogen can also lower risks of serious conditions like heart disease and Alzheimer's disease by as much as 40–60%.
Progesterone levels also drop quickly during perimenopause, leading to symptoms like heavy periods, breast tenderness, anxiety, and trouble sleeping. Even women who don’t have a uterus still benefit from progesterone because it helps balance estrogen and supports overall hormone health. Progesterone also helps reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms like anxiety and irritability, making it a key part of hormone therapy for many women.
Testosterone isn’t just a "male hormone"—women produce it too, especially in their reproductive years. Testosterone helps with sexual desire, confidence, focus, and energy. By menopause, women may have lost up to 50% of their testosterone, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, low libido, and fatigue. Adding testosterone through BHRT can help with these issues.
DHEA is another hormone that supports vaginal health, especially during menopause. When applied through the skin, DHEA turns into estrogen and androgens within vaginal tissues, helping reduce dryness and discomfort during intercourse. It also helps prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) that are common after menopause.
Many women fear hormone therapy because of the perceived link between estrogen and breast cancer. However, this fear stems from a study in 2002 that incorrectly suggested increased cancer risks from hormone therapy.
Later research found that the increased risk came from synthetic progestin, not from estrogen. In fact, women who used estrogen alone had a lower risk of breast cancer. Sadly, this misunderstanding has kept many women from using hormone therapy.
Another problem is that many doctors are not properly trained to treat menopause, leaving most women without access to this vital therapy.
Transdermal BHRT (applied through the skin) has benefits when compared to oral hormone therapy (taken by mouth). Using transdermal estrogen avoids the risks of blood clots associated with oral estrogen.
Bioidentical estrogen is structurally identical to human estrogen, unlike Premarin (horse-derived estrogen), which is molecularly different and acts as an endocrine disruptor.
Women using synthetic HRT showed a slight increase in breast cancer risk, while those on bioidentical hormones had a slight decrease. Interestingly, women who used no hormones had a six-fold higher breast cancer incidence than those using bioidentical hormones.
While BHRT is beneficial, it’s not for everyone. Women with a history of hormone-sensitive cancers, heart disease, or blood clots may not be good candidates. Although mild side effects are common (such as bloating, breast tenderness, or headaches) they are usually transient and naturally resolve over time as the body regulates and adjusts to restorative hormonal levels.
BHRT is a powerful way to manage menopause symptoms and support overall health. By working with a Kiaora healthcare provider, women can make informed decisions about BHRT to improve their quality of life. Menopause doesn’t have to be a time of decline—it can be an opportunity to restore strength and vitality for the years ahead!
