your hormones can dictate who you are

There are different hormones for different body functions including metabolism, growth, sexual development and our response to stress and disease.

We were born with them, these tiny messengers called hormones that are produced by our glands and that communicate with the trillions of cells in our bodies, influencing the way that our organs and tissues work. There are different hormones for different body functions including metabolism, growth, sexual development and our response to stress and disease.

‘Control your hormones!’ is not an uncommon plea to youth and rightly so! There is a direct link between hormone production and age. From the teen years into our 20s, hormone production is at its peak.   

There are a few young women who experience irregular periods and some symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Unfortunately, they are usually put on birth control pills to regulate their periods and give them some relief from their symptoms. Most of these young women have low levels of progesterone and many are estrogen dominant (increasing their risk of breast cancer).  It is important to treat them for their particular hormone imbalance and then wean them off the supplement 6 months later. Hopefully, their own hormones will start working again – most of the time they do and symptoms disappear.

What happened to me? By the time we reach our 30s, hormone levels are sub-optimal, decreasing about 14% every 10 years and putting our bodies in hormonal imbalance. What impact does this have on our bodies?

·        Fatigue, loss of motivation, feeling burned out

·        Feelings of depression, irritability

·        Decreased libido (less desire for sexual activity)

·        Dry skin

·        Weight gain

·        Diminished muscle mass

·        Increased joint and muscle aches

When women enter peri-menopause/menopause (some symptomatic in their 30s; average menopause age in the US is 51) additional signs and symptoms appear, such as:

·        Hot flashes

·        Night sweats

·        Sleep disturbances

·        Frequent urination/leaking urine

·        Vaginal dryness

·        Headaches

·        Pain during intercourse

·        Difficulty concentrating/memory lapse/foggy thinking

·        Cold body temperature

·        Loss of scalp hair

·        Increased facial/body hair

·        Sugar craving

·        Water retention.

Sadly, it is only when we reach this point that we tend to look at our lifestyles. What can we do to get that “stuff of youth” back. We eat healthier, drink plenty of water, take the time to relax more and sleep better, exercise regularly and take vitamins and nutritional supplements.  These are important steps to remain energetic, clear headed and peaceful - they may not be enough to calm all symptoms.

Hormones matter for life.  Many believe that once past menopause, hormones don’t matter. Remember that different body functions including metabolism, growth, sexual development and our response to stress and disease are influenced by our hormone levels. Why would hormones be so important for body functioning from birth until menopause and not after? Does that mean you we should no longer be concerned about or skin or hair; midriff bulge or neuter ourselves by our own lack of sexual interest? Should we no longer be concerned about memory capacity, bone brittleness  and aching joints? 

From a physiologically standpoint, we need hormones for the rest of our lives to avoid complications of proneness to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, etc. In other words, different receptors in the body (including the brain, skin, nails, hair) need hormones on a consistent basis for us to function properly for the remainder of life.

All hormones are not created equal (synthetic vs. bio-identical hormones). Topping the list of most common hormone supplements are: progesterone, estrogen, testosterone (sex hormones), DHEA (energy, strength, immunity), Growth Hormone hGH (growth, healthy body tissue) and melatonin (sleep, immunity, energy). These are the hormones that support anti-aging.

Since peri-/menopause is a benchmark of aging and a pivotal time for hormonal imbalance lowering sex hormones (steroids) including testosterone, progesterone and estrogen, responsible for physical development from puberty to old age , we will focus primarily on supplementation to balance these hormones. 

The WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) Study (1998) concluded that there are risks (heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots) that outweigh the benefits of using synthetic sex hormones such as Prempro (a combination of Premarin and Provera). This resulted in the pharmaceutical industry lowering dosages. Women are no longer willing to accept the risks associated with synthetic hormones and searched for safer alternatives.

Bio-identical hormones have the same chemical structure as the hormones made by the human body. This is not the case with synthetic or animal hormones. They are usually administered as creams or drops which help avoid their absorption by major organs. There are no known risks from taking bio-identical hormones. 

Candidacy for natural hormone treatment should consider a woman’s history of cancer or cardiovascular disease or even whether she has fibroid tumors. Should a woman be experiencing irregular bleeding, the cause of this must first be identified before starting therapy.

Before starting any hormone therapy, it is important to identify a menopause practitioner who will work in partnership with you and will take a holistic approach to balancing you. That means that while he/she may prescribe and adjust your natural hormones according to your symptoms, you must commit to lifestyle changes including healthy diet and regular exercise and relaxation. After all, it is your body!  

Saliva testing for hormones is encouraged as it provides a more accurate reading of levels of hormones that are not linked to a protein receptor and can be used to support body functions. Blood testing does not always show the “free” hormones.   The sooner you recognize your symptoms of hormonal imbalance, the more successful you will be in your bio-identical hormone therapy. 

It is rewarding for menopause practitioners to treat women in early peri-menopause as virtually every symptom is eliminated, including low libido, which is one of the hardest symptoms to reverse when a person is in more progressive stages of menopause.  On average, it takes 3-6 months to regulate most symptoms of hormonal imbalance, however, some cases have shown improvements in 75% of symptoms after one month. 

Bio-identical hormone therapy helps, in the most natural way possible, to return you to the ideal main the person you recognize.  

For more information contact Dr. Stula at Lifesteps Wellness Center 414-906-1668.