At the Nourishing Wellness Medical Center, we address hormonal imbalance from a comprehensive approach. After the age of thirty-five, hormone levels decline due to aging, stress, and environmental factors such as exposure to toxins. We test for multiple hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, pregnenolone, free and total testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, a complete thyroid panel, leptin, adoponectin and Vitamin D (a pro-hormone). These hormones work together like instruments in a symphony. The goal is to find the ideal harmony of hormones for your body
Are Bio-identical Hormones Safer and More Effective than Synthetic Hormones?
Bio-identical hormones are derived from wild yams and soy and are designed to replicate the same chemical structure as the hormones produced naturally by our bodies. Based on your hormone levels, a specialized compounding pharmacy can individually tailor a bio-identical hormone regimen designed for you.
On the flip side, synthetic hormones are not biologically identical to human hormones and are recognized by the body as “foreign.” For example, Premarin®, is an example of synthetic estrogen and derived from pregnant mares’ urine. In fact, there are more than 50 horse estrogens in Premarin®. Because horse estrogen is foreign to the human body, women lack the enzymes and cofactors to metabolize it safely. Also, dosages can’t be adjusted with synthetic hormones – it’s more a one-size-fits-all approach to symptom relief.
Because these hormones occur naturally in the female body, they cannot be patented and so large pharmaceutical companies have no financial incentive to fund research on these types of hormones. Despite this, there is large body of evidence that proves that bio-identical hormone therapy is safer and as effective as synthetic hormone replacement with less side effects.
Dr. Peters explains the difference between bio-identical hormones and synthetic hormones.
Comparison Charts
What About Bio-Identical Hormones and Breast Cancer?
We are asked on a daily basis if we are concerned about hormones causing breast cancer. We are very concerned about breast cancer in general, but are very confident that the bio-identical hormones will not increase any cancer risks.
Studies show that the high levels of hormones in pregnancy, including estriol and natural progesterone (not synthetic hormones like Premarin and Progestins) protect women from breast cancer.
Breast cancer is most prevalent in women over 50 years of age and who are in menopause. While estrogen levels drop during menopause so do many other anti-aging, cell protective hormones such as melatonin, thyroid, testosterone, estriol, progesterone and DHEA. Lack of these hormones is related to the aging process. Medical studies show that women who have had multiple pregnancies tend to have the lowest breast cancer risk. Studies show that the high levels of hormones in pregnancy, including estriol and natural progesterone (not Premarin and Provera/progestins) protect women from breast cancer. Ratios of estrogen metabolites (16-OH/2-0H estrone) can also be checked to identify an increased risk of breast and other cancers.
Treatment and reversal of such risk factors and immune system enhancers can help as adjunctive treatments for cancer and prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of cancer. We can also run state-of-the-art laboratory tests to determine your risk for developing cancer and integrate anti-cancer strategies into treatments to significantly reduce your risk.
What about the Impact of Testosterone and Prostate Cancer?
Over the past 70 years, there are many studies documenting the effectiveness of testosterone in producing increased vitality and improved health outcomes in men. There has NEVER been a study showing an increase in prostate cancer by taking testosterone supplementation. However every precaution should be taken not to give it to a patient with known prostate cancer.
How many young men do you know with a diagnosis of prostate cancer? Why is that? Young men have plenty of testosterone and but its aging men age with declining levels of testosterone that get prostate cancer. Aging men may also get an in increase in estrogen. If you are experiencing symptoms of weight gain, man boobs, gall bladder problems, anxiety, insomnia and prostate enlargement that is making you run to the bathroom, then you could be experiencing an increase in estrogen. In the prostate, there is an enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone(DTH). Increased DHT levels is a primary cause of male pattern baldness and it also proliferates prostate cells which leads to an enlargement of the prostate gland and narrowing of the urethral channel. Our goal is to get your testosterone levels optimal while ensuring that it is not converting to DTH.
REFERENCES
- The Hormone Handbook: The keys to safe hormones therapies: How to do it and how to solve therapy problems. (This is the “Hormone Bible”) Hertoughe: 2006 622 pages references. (290 pages of references!)
- Dr. Kent Holtorf, MD: “The Bioidentical Hormone Debate: Are Bioidentical Hormones (Estradiol, Estriol, and Progesterone) Safer or More Efficacious than Commonly Used Synthetic Versions in Hormone Replacement Therapy?” Postgrad Med. 2009 Jan; 121(1):73-85.
- Brownstein, David. The Miracle of Natural Hormones, 3rd Edition. Medical Alternative Press: 2003
- Lichten, Edward. Textbook of Bio-Identical Hormones. Foundation For Anti-Aging Research, LLC.: 2007
- How to Achieve Healthy Aging: Why Everyone Should Replace Hormones, A Review of the Medical Literature. Rouzier 2007. 36 pages of annotated references.
- Ibid: Male Hormone Restoration 2014 with 5 pages of references
- Ibid: Bioidenetical Hormones: Why Are They Still Controversial? 2009 238 references
- Ibid Male Menopause:Avoiding Andropause with Testosterone Treatment 2003 36 references
- Ibid: The Testosterone Controversy 2012 131 References
- World Experts and Androgen Study Group Petition JAMA to Retract Misleading Article on Testosterone Therapy: “Gross data mismanagement” led to unreliable results that contradicted 30+ years of medical literature producing a media frenzy that misled consumers and compromised public health. The Androgen Study Group 2014