In his classic book Natural Progesterone, John Lee, MD, enu-


merates the following effects of natural progesterone for women prescribed not just in menopause but pre-menopause for PMS and associated menstrual difficulties as well.


• Natural diuretic • Natural antidepressant • Improved libido • Facilitates thyroid hormone action • Stimulates osteoblasts for bone building • Helps protect against the formation of fibrocystic breasts • Helps normalize blood sugar regulation • Helps prevent against clotting • Helps use fat for energy


Doctors practicing BHRT utilize the benefits of progesterone and its ability to balance estrogen, whereas in common gynecologi- cal practice estrogen is often given alone. Additionally, a bioidenti- cal hormone prescription may be ordered from a compounding pharmacy and tailored to the exact dose the doctor is prescribing for the patient. Not only are bioidentical hormones prescribed individually, but it is the general practice of doctors using BHRT to occasionally monitor the patient’s hormone levels and adjust doses, if needed, for the patient’s maximal results and benefit.


Testing for and Treating Hormone Imbalance


What are the hormone imbalances that should be checked? As a practitioner, I routinely check the following before starting treat- ment: the bioactive levels of estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol. The best approach takes into account not just each hormone level, but the balance between them. In particular, the balance between estrogen and progesterone is very important. Estrogen dominance, a condition and concept of great importance that describes what millions of women suffer, displays as estrogen hormones being too high relative to the progesterone levels. Estro- gen dominance can occur even when a woman develops estrogen deficiency at the start of menopause, causing symptoms such as hot flashes. This can happen because even though the produc- tion of estrogen is dropping, the production of progesterone drops even more, resulting in comparatively more estrogen than proges- terone circulating in the system. It is the balance between these


hormones that needs to be addressed, as well as their basic levels standing alone, and addition of progesterone to estrogen is even more crucial in this situation.


When estrogen becomes the dominant hormone and proges- terone is deficient, estrogen can have the following harmful effects on the body:


• Water retention • Breast swelling • Fibrocystic breasts • PMS • Decreased libido • Uterine fibroids • Weight gain • Cravings for sweets Response to Treatment and Disease Prevention


Most people will see the benefits of bioidentical hormones quick- ly. Within several days a patient will begin to sleep better, and hot flashes and night sweats will start improving. Libido will begin to return and weight control will be noticeably improved over time.


Follow-up by the physician should include monitoring the


person’s response, retesting for hormone levels after a reasonable pe- riod of time, and adjusting the treatment on an individualized basis. The compounding pharmacy can then be instructed by the doctor to change prescriptions as per the unique needs of each patient.


Ideally, a BHRT regimen is accompanied by improved nutrition and fitness as well as lifestyle changes. If hormones are deficient and/or out of balance, the body will not respond as well as it will when these lifestyle measures are implemented. Taking all of these factors into account enables an individual to feel rejuvenated, with a better opportunity for healthy longevity.


Dr. Sobo is a member of A4M—The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, The Age Management Medi- cine Group, and is also a pioneer member of the new medical organization, the Clinical Peptide Society. For more information see www.drsobo.com or call 203.348.8805. See ad on page 30.


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