Hormones are chemical substances that are produced by the endocrine glands. They are then released into the blood, which transports them to different parts of the body where they have their effect.
There are two types of hormones: protein-based and lipid-based. Protein-based hormones are made up of amino acids, while lipid-based hormones consist of lipids (fats).
Protein-based hormones:
1) Oxytocin
2) Vasopressin
3) Growth hormone (GH)
4) Insulin
5) Luteinizing hormone (LH)
6) Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment that replaces hormones that were lost due to aging, disease, or surgery. There are many different types of HRT. They can be grouped into three categories:
Synthetic hormones: Synthetic hormones are made in the lab and mimic the natural hormone levels in a person’s body.
Bioidentical hormones: Bioidentical hormones are made from plant-based chemicals and have the same chemical structure as human estrogen or testosterone.
Natural HRT: Natural HRT is made from natural substances such as soy and contains molecules similar to those found in a person’s body.