Tag: Synthetic hormones

While chemically identical, Pitocin and natural oxytocin function very differently in the body due to their method of administration. In natural labor, oxytocin is released in intermittent pulses, whereas a Pitocin drip provides a continuous, steady infusion that can create a distinct labor experience.

Approximately 50% of women in labor in the United States receive Pitocin to either induce or augment labor [1.6.1]. This widespread use leads many to ask: **where does Pitocin come from?** The answer lies not in nature, but in a laboratory, as it is a man-made, synthetic version of a natural hormone [1.2.1, 1.2.3, 1.2.5].

Millions of people worldwide undergo hormone replacement therapy, but the question remains, **What is the safest hormone to take?** The answer is complex and highly dependent on individual health, lifestyle, and specific hormonal needs, requiring personalized medical consultation.

Progesterone is a hormone naturally produced by the human body, but its medical versions are more complex, encompassing both natural and synthetic forms. This complexity leads to a common question: Is progesterone natural or synthetic?

While some modern hormone therapies use 'body identical' or bioidentical hormones, which are precise replicas of natural hormones, other medications utilize synthetic versions. In this context, the question arises: is dydrogesterone bioidentical? The clear answer is no; dydrogesterone is a synthetic progestogen with a similar but distinct molecular structure from natural progesterone.

While many combined oral contraceptives use synthetic estrogen, Zoely contains a form of estrogen that is chemically identical to the body's own, prompting the question, **is Zoely bioidentical?** The answer is complex, as only one of its two hormone components fits this description.