Petty Medical Clinic 

21 Things To Help Balance Your Hormones

Reporting
Tracy Kornet

(CBS 11 News)

 

1. All hormones available for women are not alike and do not carry the same risks and benefits.

2. Dr. Leon Speroff M.D. (author of the Medical School Textbook for Gynecologists) said women can only feel optimal when all of their different hormones reflect a BALANCE of actions in their bodies.

3. Dr. Speroff also says only naturally occurring hormones in the human body can be called "hormones". If a drug company changes any part of the structure of the hormone (to obtain a new compound they can patent) then the new entity is no longer a hormone but becomes a drug with different effects and different side effects.

4. Therefore, human Bio-Identical Hormones can only include those hormones naturally found in the human body. We most commonly work with Estradiol, Estriol, Estrone, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, Pregnenalone, Cortisol, and the thyroid hormones T-3 and T-4.

5. The WHI Study (Women's Health Initiative Study) released in 2002 found if women used hormone replacement therapy, they would have an increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. That study did NOT use human Bio-Identical hormones; it used horse estrogen and a chemicalized progestin drug.

6. Women's Option 1- Use no hormones (do nothing) and let nature takes its course. Ouch!- accelerated rate of metabolic aging in all body systems including -for example- cardiovascular, brain, skeletal, endocrine, muscles, skin, and immune system.

7. Option 2- use herbal remedies for symptomatic control. Black cohosh and soy may give mild but short lived relief from hot flashes but does not fight the metabolic aging factors. In fact- soy has several negative effects including inhibition of thyroid production.

8. Option 3- use traditional pharmaceutical drugs for hormone replacement. Increased risks of breast cancer, heart attack and stroke (WHI Study).

9. Option 4- use human Bio-Identical Hormones to achieve hormone balance. In addition to better quality of life, experts in the field believe the balanced use of Bio-Identical hormones will reduce risks of heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, and dementia.

10. Bio-Identical Hormones are regulated by the FDA and are only allowed to be dispensed by prescription. If hormones are sold "over the counter", including Progesterone, DHEA and Pregnenalone, this is a direct violation of the law and according to the FDA, may be of questionable quality and strength.

11. The large pharmaceutical manufacturers cannot patent naturally occurring human Bio-Identical hormones, therefore these hormone prescriptions are prepared by specially trained Compounding Pharmacies.

12. By age 40, the average American woman has seen an 80% decline in Progesterone levels.

13. The ensuing imbalance of estrogen,

14. Women with strong levels of natural Progesterone have reduced breast cancer risk.

15. Natural Progesterone has a calming effect (to help with PMS, anxiety and insomnia).

16. Natural Progesterone stimulates new bone formation (to fight osteoporosis)

17. Estrogen slows the breakdown of existing bone tissue (but does not stimulate new bone formation)

18. Women need Testosterone too! (much lower dose than men -but helps with libido, metabolism, breast cancer prevention and brain).

19. Over 40% of the U.S. population suffers from clinical Hypothyroidism (low thyroid symptoms). Only 5% of those patients are ever diagnosed. (according to Dr Broda Barnes MD, a leading thyroid researcher with over 50 years of experience)

20. When evaluating the Balance of hormones and thyroid, clinical symptoms should first be evaluated, then use labs to validate those symptoms.

21. Today's doctors are smart and caring healthcare practitioners, but are not trained to practice this type of medicine. Compounding Pharmacists are a great resource for finding doctors experienced in balancing Bio-Identical Hormones and Thyroid.