Frequently Asked Questions

The term “bioidentical” simply means that the chemical structure of the estrogen (either in pill or patch) is the same as the estrogen that the ovaries make naturally. It has nothing to do with how the hormones are made. Estradiol pills are considered bioidentical.

Menopausal Hormone Treatment (MHT) is the newer term for what has commonly been known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). The name was changed to more accurately reflect what happens in your body when you take MHT. MHT is not intended to replace the hormones at the level that they were prior to menopause. The goal of treatment is simply to use the amount of hormone that adequately treats the symptoms of menopause. The amount of estrogen used after menopause is much less than the ovaries normally produce at ovulation and at least one half to one third the amount of estrogen in a low dose oral contraceptive. The Menopause Society published a position paper in 2017 stating that MHT is safe and effective for the overwhelming majority of healthy menopausal women. It’s important to speak to a doctor about what the right treatment is for you. Alloy provides access to doctors who specialize in menopause treatments.

Your body makes several different strains of estrogen, including estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Estrogens play a key role in the reproductive function of women’s bodies as well many functions outside of reproduction, including temperature regulation, mood stability, metabolism, maintenance of bone density and cardiovascular health. Estradiol is the most commonly prescribed estrogen for menopause.

We formulated the Alloy Synbiotic to be exactly what we were looking for ourselves to help support our overall wellness and to cultivate a highly diverse microbiome. The ‘microbiome’ refers to the millions of microorganisms (good bacteria) in your intestines that affect your digestion, weight, immunity, and brain. Significant bodies of research have shown that the common thread among people who have lived to the oldest ages in the best condition all had a diverse and thriving microbiome. Within your microbiome is your estrobolome, a mini-microbiome devoted entirely to regulating your estrogen levels. As we age and our estrogen levels drop, our microbiome becomes less diverse, and our estrobolome function declines, exacerbating estrogen deficiency and increasing inflammation in the body. The Alloy Synbiotic is formulated specifically to boost the microbial diversity and estrobolome function of perimenopausal and menopausal women. Our custom blend of potent probiotic spores, gold kiwifruit prebiotic fiber, and citrus polyphenols balances your microbiome as estrogen declines.

A synbiotic is a PRE-biotic plus a PRO-biotic. Why is that important? The good bacteria you need in your gut for a diverse microbiome need prebiotic fiber to thrive. Prebiotics are like food for all the good bacteria in your gut. Our synbiotic is a powerful spore-based probiotic combined with pre-biotic fiber made of golden kiwi fruits from New Zealand.

Progesterone is one of the hormones that the ovary produces after ovulation. Progesterone balances the estrogen produced in a normal cycle by limiting the growth of the uterine lining. Each menstrual cycle is delicate balance of these two hormones. The imbalance of these two hormones (more estrogen and less progesterone) can lead to unduly long and extremely heavy periods in perimenopause. Estrogen alone (unopposed) leads to unchecked thickening and possibly long term risks of endometrial cancer, and that is why after menopause women with a uterus need to take both estrogen and progesterone. Women with hysterectomies, women with hormonal IUDs, transgender women and women who have congenital absence of the uterus do not need to take progestins.

The board-certified medical doctors on the Alloy platform all have a passion for women’s health and are specifically trained in treating women in perimenopause and menopause. All of the doctors working with Alloy follow the protocols set by The Menopause Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.