About Hormones  

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         Hormonal balance restoration for men and women        
  “Utilizing bio-identical hormones, nature’s own to your advantage”™

Hormones Women Specifically Need to...Feel Like a Woman
Understanding the Interactions Between Estrogens, Progesterone, Testosterone and DHEA
Fitting Together, Like Pieces of a Puzzle
How We Treat Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal Analysis

Hormones are “chemical messengers”, they transport information between cells and therefore facilitate communications among different body organs, and regulate the various functions of our body.

Bio-identical hormones are derived from plants. Plant precursors to hormones undergo transformation in the chemical laboratory and create the end products, hormones, which are identical in biochemical structure and biological function to the hormones made by the human body. Because bio-identical hormones are identical to our human hormones, our body can utilize and metabolize them easily, without dangerous side effects.

Horse derived estrogens are not specific for the human species.

Synthetic hormones have different chemical structures and biological actions then human hormones; therefore they can create unpleasant side effects.

Phyto-estrogens (plant hormones) can help with menopausal symptoms, but they will not restore hormonal balance.

The goal of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy is to restore the levels of hormones which you had when you were in your prime feeling good and looking young.

Bio-identical hormones are prescribed by a medical doctor and are specifically custom-made for you by a compounding pharmacist.

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  Hormones Women Specifically Need to...Feel Like a Woman  ------------------------------------------------------------------- TOP 

Hormonal imbalances can occur throughout life and can manifest as growth and development problems in childhood. Hormonal imbalances can affect normal puberty; create disorders of the menstrual cycle (including PMS), lead to infertility and are the foundation of menopause.

The major hormones usually given to treat women’s hormonal imbalances through bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) are progesterone, estrogens, testosterone and DHEA. These hormones are often referred to as “sex hormones” since they influence the development of sexual characteristics starting at puberty. Their precursor is cholesterol and they belong to the category of hormones known as steroid hormones. It is actually a misconception that cholesterol is always bad. The right amount of cholesterol is critical for the synthesis of progesterone, estrogens, testosterone and DHEA. The reason many people have high cholesterol as they age is due to the fact that their body’s production of progesterone, estrogens, testosterone and DHEA decreases. The declined levels of production of these steroid hormones cause an excess of cholesterol circulating in the body.  

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  Understanding the Interactions Between Estrogens, Progesterone,  ------------------------------------------------ TOP
                  Testosterone and DHEA 
 
Estrogens:

The three estrogens produced by the woman’s body are estrone (E1) estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3). Estrogens are responsible for the development of female secondary sex characteristics such as breasts. Estrogen is secreted mostly by the ovaries, but can also be released by the adrenals and fatty tissue. After release to the blood stream estrogen moves to its receptors that are located in many different tissues such as the uterus, breasts, bones, heart and brain. Because there are estrogen receptors in the brain, estrogen plays a significant role in women’s mental health and its imbalances can lead to symptoms of mood swings, memory problems, and anxiety.

The level of circulating estrogen is not the only important factor for a woman’s wellbeing. The way estrogen is metabolized by the body is of great significance. There are two major pathways for estrogen metabolism. One leads to 2-hydroxyestrone (“good estrogen”) and the other leads to 16-hydroxyesrone (“bad estrogen”).

An excess of 16-hydroxyestrone increases the risk for breast cancer. The good news is that estrogen metabolism can be easily measured by a blood or urine test and if necessary can be positively influenced by supplements and dietary modifications.

Progesterone:

The hormone which most directly balances estrogen is progesterone.

Progesterone is made by the ovaries before menopause and in the later years by the adrenal glands.

Progesterone helps prepare the woman’s body for conception and pregnancy and regulates the menstrual cycle. It also plays a role in sexual desire. Progesterone has a calming, relaxing effect on the brain, it improves mood and insomnia. Progesterone may protect against uterine and breast cancer.

Progesterone improves bone density. Progesterone has a beneficial influence on the cardiovascular system and cholesterol. Progesterone increases metabolic rate. Progesterone has anti-inflammatory actions and regulates the body’s immune response. Progesterone should not be confused with progestins, which are synthetic forms of progesterone.