Natural Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

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Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement

Written by: Dr. Dan Hale
Medical Director HRC Knoxville

Hormones control every system of the body. Hormone replacement is a treatment of prevention of disease instead of cure. Most diseases…..heart attacks, strokes, arthritis, loss of sex drive, obesity, breast and cervical cancers, fatigue, poor sleep…..occur after age 40. 98% of the patients over 40 have low hormones.

The blood work may include Estradiol, Testosterone, FSH (follicular stimulating hormone), TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), progesterone, and B12.

Many uses including:

Menopause
Fatigue
Poor memory

Testosterone aids in brain function

Poor sleep

Progesterone causes a slight drossiness which is why it is taken in the evening. Melatonin can also help with sleep.

Low libido

Testosterone increases our libido

Stress reduction
Foggy thinking

Testosterone keeps us alert

Depression

Many women with the above symptoms are on antidepressants. Testosterone gives us more self-confidence. There are 700,000 people on antidepressants. Antidepressants frequently causes weight gain.

Osteoporosis

Bio-Identical Hormones will increase bone density an astonishing 8%. This eliminates the need for Fosamax for most patients. Progesterone also strengthens bones.

Migraine Headaches
Diabetes

Many are able to reduce or even discontinue their diabetes medications.

Congestive heart failure

Testosterone strengthens the heart muscle.

Asthma
Anti-Aging

People with higher levels of DHEA live longer on an average. DHEA is the mother of all hormones as it can convert to testosterone, estrogen and progesterone.

Alzheimer’s

Patients low in testosterone are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

Obesity

Testosterone lowers insulin levels which allows weight loss. 100% of our patients who are overweight are low in hormones, especially testosterone.

Fibromyalgia

Progesterone relieves stress which is frequently the etiology of the inflammation of muscles and ligaments and joints with fibromyalgia.

Arthritis

Testosterone functions as a natural anti-inflammatory.

Erectile dysfunction

Testosterone deficiency is a direct contributor to ED. This is the reason Viagra and Cealis is so commonly advertised.

Cancer

Synthetic estrogens are associated with 6 different cancers. Vitamin D helps prevent cancer. There are studies which strongly suggest balancing your hormones can deter breast and cervical cancer.

Endometriosis
ADHD
Abdominal obesity
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy

Most men on Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy can see a reduction in their PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen)

Aging skin

Synthetic estrogens cause fat accumulation and cellulite.

Hair loss especially in women
Vaginal dryness
Menstrual cramps
Prevention of breast cancer……most likely breast protective.
Heart Attacks……Bio-Identical Hormones are most likely protective.
Immune system support
Urinary incontinence or stress incontinence

Testosterone strengthens the muscle around the urethra to prevent leakage of urine. Natural estrogens return the vaginal mucosa to its natural pre-menopausal state.

Bio-Identical Hormones are naturally derived from soy. Their molecules are identical to the hormones we naturally have in our bodies.

Bio-Identical Hormones produce a steady-state hormone release 24-7 for 4 to 6 months. This is in contrast to synthetic hormones which go up and down every day. The only real symptom the synthetic hormones relieve is hot flashes. Most believe the risk is not worth the reward.

Premarin and Provera are the most common synthetic hormones.

Synthetic hormones have many bad effects.

29% increase in heart disease
10% increase in breast cancer….The normal ratio of estradiol to estrone is 2:1.
Synthetic estrogens cause a reversal of these 2 estrogens to 1:2. The reason this is carcinogenic is because estrone stimulates the breasts tissue as long as you are taking this medication.
40% increase in embolic diseases (blood clots)
15% increase in cervical cancer

Synthetic estrogen is made from pregnant mares. This is natural for horses but not for humans.

HRT (ERT……estrogen replacement therapy) scares most women because they have the impression that all estrogens are dangerous. Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is just the opposite……BHRT prevents disease while relieving symptoms.

Almost everything doctors learn in medical school and after medical school while working in their offices is learned from pharmaceutical companies. This is all based on research by the pharmaceutical companies. They have no incentive to do research on treatments that are natural as they cannot paten the product. In short, the representative that is calling on the doctor is not going to recommend natural products because there is no profit for them.

It could be argued that BHRT is not “Alternative Medicine” as some would say but is Natural. Bio-Identical Hormones are molecularly identical to those hormones produced by the body. Using synthetic hormones is actually Alternative Medicine.

Insurance
Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy is mostly cash only. Most patients are able to retrieve some from their insurance for the consultation and the blood work. In our office the average is 40% to 80% reimbursement.

The Procedure
Blood work is done after a full history is obtained from the patient. The patient’s symptoms of fatigue, decreased sexual desire, poor sleep, foggy thinking, abdominal obesity, etc. are reviewed. A physical exam is done. When the reports are returned on the blood work the patient is called for a 2nd consultation at which time the lab reports are reviewed and suggestions are made to place a customized dosage of the appropriate hormones.

The Insertion
Placing the pellets is very simple requiring only 10 minutes. A small area is numbed on the upper lateral buttocks when the small pellets are placed. SteriStrips are used to close the tiny opening.

Depending on the patient’s symptoms he / she may receive one or more of the following:

Testosterone
Estradiol
Progesterone
DHEA
Melatonin
Vitamin D
B12 injections
General vitamins

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