Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) represents one of the most confusing and controversial issues in medicine today.  For a number of years the pharmaceutical industry has claimed that estrogen and other prescription hormones prevent fractures, reduce heart disease and enhance cerebral function (prevent senility).  Recently a number of published scientific articles have countered these claims.  In addition, it is now clear that the most prescribed HRT, conjugated estrogen from horses, cause cancer of the breast and uterus.  It is also now known that synthetic progestins such as Provera may also contribute to cancer causation.  These hormones also have numerous other side effects.

Despite these confusing aspects of hormone replacement, there are some very good reasons to undergo such treatment if it is done properly.  The reasons involve more than prevention of menopausal symptoms in women.  They also involve more than replacement of estrogen and progesterone.  Proper, scientific Hormone Replacement Therapy involves balancing the entire endocrine gland system.  All the glands work in harmony to maintain homeostasis of the body.  Hormones act at the level of our genes to regulate the replication of genetic material and the synthesis of proteins in every cell of the body.

Over and above simply correcting hormone deficiency symptoms, the concept of using hormones as an “anti aging” strategy has emerged.  One of the major theories of aging, the Neuroendocrine Theory of Aging, holds that aging involves the reduced sensitivity of key brain functional centers to levels of circulating hormones.

According to this theory, prevention of diseases and disability as we age can be partially accomplished by using natural hormones including:

• Estriol, Estradiol, Estrone
• Melatonin
• Progesterone
• Growth Hormone
• Testosterone
• Relaxin
• DHEA
• Plant Derived Isoflavones
• Thyroid Hormones (T3, T4)
• Cortisol

It must be emphasized that the treatment we offer is with “natural” – that is bioidentical homones.  These hormones have the exact same biochemical structure as the body’s native hormones.  They are therefore familiar to the body both with regard to their places of action (receptor sites) and to their metabolic fate (degradation and discharge).  In addition, we believe that the smallest possible doses should be used to achieve the desired result.  This is an art that is based on the individual patient’s response.  No two people are alike so this is a trial and error process to some degree.  In the case of estrogen replacement for relief of menopausal symptoms, often soy-derived isoflavones are useful and may in fact be better than estrogens themselves in addressing bone loss, cancer prevention and reduction of cardiovascular risk.  Sometimes herbal medicines, such as Vitex, Rehmanniae and Black Cohosh are also helpful.

Symptoms and Signs of Hormone Deficiency Disorders:

• Estrogens/Progesterone:  Cyclic Symptoms (PMS), sweating/chills, vaginal dryness, low libido, headache, depression, night sweats, anxiety, agitation, irregular cycles, infertility, loss of cycles, heavy bleeding, painful periods
• Thyroid Hormones:  Fatigue, low metabolism, dry skin, depression, constipation, brittle hair, feeling of coldness, high cholesterol, water retention.
• Testosterone:  Depression, anxiety, weakness, loss of sex drive, poor circulation, weakening of the heart and other muscles, excess weight (especially in the abdominal area), high blood pressure.
• DHEA:  Weakness, poor immunity, fatigue, loss of well-being, muscle weakness.
• Melatonin:  Inability to fall and stay asleep.
• Growth Hormone:  “Aging”, wrinkling of skin, poor immunity, loss of muscle mass.
• Relaxin:  Muscle tightness, fibromyalgia.
• Cortisol:  Fatigue, hypoglycemia, anxiety, poor tolerance of stress, spaciness, depression, cravings (especially sugar).

Most of the body’s hormones go down with age, which, along with the age-related reduction in hormone sensitivity, results in the myriad of symptoms we experience as ill health.

Besides HRT, patients will need to address lifestyle and nutritional aspects of their health.  Proper diet for your metabolic type, regular exercise, relaxation techniques, plentiful pure water and nutritional supplements are all very important in regaining and maintaining health.