Sex Hormones

The sex hormones in the body are Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone.  Most people believe Estrogen and Progesterone are produced by women and Testosterone by men.  It is important to understand that both men and women have all three hormones, and they need to be at sufficient levels  in order to perform their functions optimally.

Estrogen:  Estradiol is the primary Estrogen throughout a woman’s lifetime and is made from Testosterone. Some functions are:

 Progesterone: Is produced by the ovaries, placenta and adrenals.  It is one of the most important hormones produced by the female body.  Some functions are:

Estrogen Dominance:  This is a condition where there is more Estrogen in relation to the amount of Progesterone in our bodies.  For menstruating females, this imbalance is known as PMS: breast tenderness, bloating, fatigue, headaches, backaches, increased irritability, emotional, and mood swings one to two weeks prior to your period.  PMS is so common that girls/women think it’s normal, but it is actually a warning signal from your body. 

If left untreated, it can also cause a woman to stop ovulating, have irregular, heavy or no periods, ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, miscarriages, heart disease, stroke and decreased cognitive ability.

Most of the women I have treated for pre-menopausal symptoms have suffered not from simple estrogen dominance, but from a more fundamental disruption of the body’s ability to maintain hormonal balance. There are usually multiple causes, including stress, emotional factors, heavy metal toxicity and the estrogen-like chemicals in our environment called xenoestrogens.

Testosterone:  Produced primarily by the ovaries and testicles and a very small amount from the adrenals.   Some functions are:

Most people have the impression that Testosterone is a ‘man’s‘ hormone and is primarily for sexual desire and function.  But, when you look at the functions listed, you can see how incredible and necessary Testosterone is for both men AND women. 

We need to know the true levels of the hormones and how much is actually available to the cells.  Just as important is how your body is utilizing the hormones. Proper testing is key.

For Pre-Menopausal women who are still having periods, it is imperative that they get their hormones tested to resolve the PMS they are experiencing.  Whether mild or severe, it isn’t necessary to endure those symptoms every month.  PMS has been responsible for decreasing quality of life, marital strife, abuse of children, etc.  Balancing the Estrogen and Progesterone can eliminate this syndrome and restore normalcy to your life.

Most practitioners who treat menopausal women are just treating the symptoms of hormone imbalance rather than trying to restore the normal physiology of our youth.  Wouldn’t it be nice to feel like you were in your 30s again?  The awesome energy, focus, memory, sexuality and muscle tone that we experienced when we were younger.  These are the times we were looking forward to traveling, playing with our grandkids, experiencing new adventures…..but, a lot of women are too tired or unhealthy to do these things. It isn’t necessary to feel old and tired.  We don’t have to accept it when our practitioner tells us it’s normal to feel this way when we get ‘older’.  They just don’t know how to help you feel better, except by putting you on an antidepressant.  Women NEED Testosterone and our bodies produce a much higher level when we’re young than people realize.   We need to have knowledge and understanding so we can have confidence to seek out a practitioner who will work with us in restoring the youthful balance of our hormones.

 As for men, there is a lot of misinformation about Testosterone, especially in regards to the prostate.  The studies show no correlation of Testosterone levels with prostate cancer. Young men, as well as those 50 and beyond, can have Testosterone deficiencies.  There are a number of reasons for this, toxins being high on the list.  Many men are in denial about their health and would rather feel lousy than seek help.  But, they too can experience a renewed youthfulness by safely raising their Testosterone levels.  I have couples come in together on occasion and it is so nice to see how good they feel and how much they’re enjoying their lives again.