Estrogen Use: Are you confused?

Where do you turn to find out the risks and benefits? In our practice we inform our patients of the efficacy and safety of using estrogen. We address all concerns to see if estrogen use is appropriate for you. Our goal is to provide you with the tools to guide you through this life altering passage in good health and maintain the best quality of life possible.

Bio-Identical Hormones

The term "bioidentical hormones" ( also known as "natural hormones") is a very popular term these days. In reality they are molecularly structured to be identical to the hormones produced by a woman's ovaries. The female body can make various estrogens, such as 17-beta-estradiol, estrone, and estriol. It also makes progesterone, testosterone, and other hormones. While many identify "Bioidentical" with natural, homeopathic or a dietary supplement, Bioidentical hormone therapy means a medication that provides one or more of these hormones as the "active ingredient", although, non-bioidenticals are also "active".

Many hormones have been produced commercially to be chemically exact duplicates of the naturally-occurring hormones. These hormones are made available in well-tested, government-approved, brand-name prescription drugs. Several drugs contain 17-beta-estradiol (Estrace and generic oral tablets, Estrace vaginal cream, all the estrogen skin patches, and now topical gels) from plant sources.

Progesterone Use

Progesterone is a necessary hormone in protecting the uterus from endometrial cancer due to unopposed estrogen. There are three progesterone products, Prometrium oral capsules, injectable progesterone in oil, and progesterone vaginal gel.

Custom Compounded Hormones

Custom compounded hormones are sometimes used by our patients. They are hormone combinations that are custom compounded for accuracy and specific to a patients hormonal needs. When a compounded hormone is made it contains active hormone ingredients and a base or vehicle by which the hormone is delivered. This could mean tablet, cream, gel...etc. Most Insurance companies view compounded drugs as experimental and often do not cover such preparations.

A note on Hormone testing...

Many patients come to us with tests other practitioners have run or the expectation that we will run hormone tests. Hormone testing has not been proven accurate or reliable in giving us the information needed to access a woman's level of hormonal balance. Blood and saliva testing both have the drawback that the individual being tested can have varied and fluctuating hormones throughout the day as well as day to day. This is especially true in menopausal patients. The hormone level at the active tissue site may not be the same as the level in blood or saliva.

Testosterone

Testosterone is an Androgen that can be used to restore a flagging libido. It can improve orgasmic response, increase your mental and physical energy, give you a sense of well being, and leave your skin feeling moister. Testosterone in female replacement doses is safe, it will not cause you to grow facial hair or make you loose the existing hair on your head. Testosterone supplementation, as with estrogen supplementation, needs to be individualized. In those of us with osteoporosis, testosterone along with estrogen, calcium and exercise can improve bone density.

DHEA

Another Androgen, like testosterone, is DHEA. Found to be useful in improving quality of sleep and joint pain. DHEA naturally diminishes in everyone starting at age 30. Like testosterone, this androgen works well with estrogen.