Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers, either secreted into the bloodstream or used locally, that affect the functioning of other cells. A hormone affects only specific cells called target cells that have unique receptors for that hormone. Think of it as a lock and key. Cells which do not have the specific receptor for a certain hormone cannot be influenced directly by that hormone. Some cells go even further, and regulate their own internal production of a needed hormone. For example, estrogen is made inside the cells that utilize estrogen (brain, bone, heart, etc.) from testosterone. The most common hormones that are balanced through hormone replacement therapy are the following:
Testosterone: Testosterone is vital to the health and well-being of BOTH men and women. It goes without saying that women require substantially less testosterone than men. In women, testosterone is produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands. Testosterone is the force behind a woman’s sex drive and boosts the body’s ability to build muscle, lose weight and increase energy levels. Testosterone contributes to muscle mass, strength and endurance, decreased fat, increased exercise tolerance, and enhancement of sense of well-being and psychological health. Testosterone protects against cardiovascular disease and reduces blood sugar. It leads to improved lean muscle mass, increased bone density, a decrease in cholesterol, improved skin tone, improved healing capacity, increased libido, and enhanced sexual performance. It improves the quality of life for both men and women by decreasing the diseases of aging. Cells that require estrogen use testosterone to manufacture estrogen inside the cell by a chemical conversion that uses an enzyme called aromatase.
Estrogen: Estrogen refers to a group of similar hormones produced in the body. Like testosterone, estrogen is a required hormone for the health of BOTH men and women. The main three are estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). Estrogens are believed to be protective against heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and memory disorders. It also protects against vaginal atrophy, urinary incontinence, and prevents symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and poor temperature regulation (e.g. “hot flashes”). It can improve balance by the “visual somatosensory” system in the central nervous system. Estrogen deficiency is linked to: urogenital atrophy, incontinence, increased skin wrinkles of the face, fatigue, depression, mood swings and decreased libido. However, the vast majority of women we treat need only testosterone (see above) as their body, like those of men, makes all the intracellular estrogen it needs from testosterone, thus avoiding the serious problems that can occur with high circulating estrogen levels in the blood. While estrogen supplementation is rarely necessary, it is important that any estrogen prescribed be a bio-identical estrogen and not a non-human estrogen. The non-bio-identical synthetic estrogens bind nearly 20 times stronger to your cells’ receptors and have been proven to be harmful.
Progesterone: Progesterone is primarily produced in the ovaries just prior to and after ovulation. It is also produced in large quantities by the placenta during pregnancy and in small quantities by the adrenal glands. If you are on bio-identical estrogen, you should probably be on this hormone as well. Studies suggest it protects against uterine and breast cancers, fibrocystic disease and ovarian cysts. Unfortunately, most U.S. women are prescribed a synthetic horse-derived progestin (Provera) which can cause side effects such as bloating, headaches, fatigue, weight gain, and heart disease. Bio-identical progesterone is much safer.
Progesterone plays an important role during a woman’s reproductive years, but as a woman gets older, most women produce less and less of it. With the decrease of both progesterone and testosterone levels, many women don’t feel like their old selves and begin to experience the symptoms above.
