Hormone Deficiency… A Cause of Chronic Illness
Suzanne Somers has got the FDA with its knickers in a twist. She's popularized bio-identical hormones through her books The Sexy Years and Ageless, stirring up a controversy that leaves most people's heads spinning.
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| Hormone imbalance can make you miserable. |
In middle age we find our looks fading and sexual desire waning, yet we are told that hormone replacement is a risky business. What to do?
I've got good news for you. You don't have to lose your sex appeal as you age! Its possible through a variety of protocols to keep yourself in tiptop condition, gradually aging instead of going into a steep decline once you enter menopause. And yes, one of the protocols that can be helpful is bio-identical hormones, just as Suzanne Somers says.
Why You Don't Want a Hormone Deficiency
If you are deficient in hormones, you might find yourself experiencing a number of pretty unpleasant symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Loss of libido
- Loss of hair
Unpleasant enough? Or shall I go on? Let's add just a few more:
- Brain fog
- Muscle and joint aches
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Vaginal dryness
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia.
I think you get the picture that hormones are incredibly important to our well being. If they are in short supply, the symptoms that can result make the post-menopausal years sound like a truly unattractive deal.
It would be nice if the solution were as simple as dosing you up on replacement hormones. But as the pharmaceutical industry has discovered, there are real questions about the safety of such an approach-and the FDA has increasingly encouraged the restricting of hormone replacement to short periods.
Enter Suzanne Somers, who argues that natural hormones, which mimic the hormones produced in our own bodies-hormones that are almost completely lost with aging-are the answer, not synthetic hormones. And she's not alone. A barrage of news reports over the last few years have heralded the bad news that synthetic hormone replacement (HRT, Premarin, and Provera) can harm women.
What Are Bio-Identical Hormones?
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| Our body is designed for vibrant health. |
"Bio-identical" hormones have chemical structures identical to that made by the human body. However, most hormone prescriptions written today are not bio-identical. Structural differences existing between synthetic hormones and the bio-identical kinds are most likely the cause of side effects experienced by people taking structurally altered versions.
For replacement hormones to fully replicate the function of hormones produced in the human body, their chemical structure must match the original exactly. Bio-identical hormones can be obtained by physician prescription through a compounding pharmacy.
Bio-identical hormones can be helpful, but the FDA points out that the individually compounded mixtures have not been federally approved-and in fact by their very nature are not susceptible to approval. This means they are untested for purity, potency, safety, and efficacy. Some may actually contain unknown contaminants.
At the same time, it's important to recognize that in the case of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, there are FDA approved forms. In fact, estradiol, a bio-identical form of estrogen derived from soy or yam sources, is found in some approved medications.
Bio-identical hormones from compounding pharmacies are tailored to particular patients when doctors deem FDA versions inappropriate for treatment. These hormones from compounding pharmacies are considerably less expensive than approved versions.
The FDA, weighing in on the side of the pharmaceutical industry, has warned the compounders of bio-identical hormones that they cannot claim they are safe and effective because there is insufficient evidence to support such a claim. Yet many women find that the use of bio-identical hormones over a protracted period does indeed aid their general health, slow the decline of their looks, and keep them sexually active.
A Problem for Everyone
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| Hormones are a male issue, too. |
It's not just women who are at issue here, either. Male menopause, known as andropause, is a very real phenomenon. Starting in their thirties, men experience a decline in hormone levels, including thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and growth hormone.
People didn't have to worry about these things when most of the population died young. But now, as we live considerably longer lives than most humans generally have, both men and women are experiencing a severe decline in hormone levels, which not only affects looks and libido but can also be a cause of chronic illness.
The decline begins in our thirties for both males and females. It is marked by loss of thyroid function, coupled with a lower production of progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA.
In women, the hormonal slide begins about a decade before the onset of menopause. For this reason the hormonal changes that occur in a woman's body are often misdiagnosed. Many women are told that it's "all in your head."
Men too find themselves experiencing very real symptoms that are often dismissed. The doc gives them a prescription for an anti-depressant, which doesn't touch the underlying hormonal imbalance at all.
Who to Believe?
Drug manufacturers have petitioned the FDA to take action against compounders of bio-identical hormones. But as L. D. King, executive director of the pharmacists group, explains, "Thousands of doctors are making patient by patient decisions that compounded hormones are medically appropriate." He adds that it is a decision that should be left to doctors.
In my clinic, I am wedded neither to the pharmaceutical industry nor to the compounding pharmacies. I prefer to ascertain what's most advantageous for you as an individual. How can you best achieve the goals you are pursuing when you come to me and ask for bio-identical hormones?
Intensive research into this field has shown that there are a variety of ways in which both women and men can slow the aging process, keep themselves looking good, maintain their sense of well-being, and enjoy meaningful sexual relationships far into the golden years. Thankfully bio-identicals are not the only resource at our disposal.
People with complex health problems often have what I call a multiple deficiency syndrome-a shortage of various nutrients and hormones. When specific nutrients are low, we can't manufacture hormones. But if we correct these deficiencies, most all symptoms resolve. In many cases hormonal balance can be achieved without the use of bio-identicals.
Hormones are orders of magnitude more powerful than drugs, so they are not something to pay around with. This is why you need a truly informed physician. A skilled physician can suggest a healing, hormonally supportive diet, natural medicinal supplements, and appropriate doses of natural or bio-identical hormones as needed.
New highly effective herbal therapies have become available over the last several years. Often these work when other approaches haven't. Matching the patient, their philosophy, preferences, and individual biochemistry is paramount to success. Some prefer herbal or homeopathic remedies, while others prefer bio-identical hormones.