It is easy to get confused by the terms “bioidentical,” “traditional,” “natural,” “synthetic,” and “compounded” when talking about hormone replacement therapy. It often seems as though one must have a medical degree to understand their differences. Although we are here to explain the benefits of bioidentical hormones, we will also touch on what the other terms mean.

Every hormone has its place in the body – even the stress hormones. There are times when your body needs you to be alert and ready to react to a potentially dangerous situation. Stress hormones, also called glucocorticoids, can improve your reactivity time.

The Trusted sourceStress and hormonesNCBIGo to sourcestress hormones definition will change from one hormone to another. Together, they are a group of hormones that impact the blood, tissues, and brain. Their purpose is to prepare the body for some form of emergency action. By doing so, they make it possible for the skeletal muscles to propel the body away from danger. These hormones send an increased blood supply to the muscles so that they have the necessary oxygen and fuel to respond at a moment’s notice.