All Natural Hormone Replacement with Bioidenticals

Some women (and men for that matter) know that something is ‘off’ with their bodies but they can’t quite put a finger on the trouble. Some women also go to the doctor for a series of tests and a physical and find that nothing is wrong or at least not wrong enough to treat.

I might be that woman. So might you if you’ve landed on this page. My trouble, at the age of 45, was that I was peri-menopausal. My hormone levels were a little off when compared to my baseline of 4 years previous but not enough to really fret over. I was experiencing hot flashes and night sweats, bloating without cause, and insomnia. Other symtoms of hormonal imbalance are water retention, tenderness of breasts and irregular bleeding. If you are suffering from any or all of these symptoms and your doctor is without suggestions you might consider some low-level, all natural, hormone balance.

The supplements and the cream at right are two that I use after I did a home test kit for hormone levels. They put me back on my even keel without any prescriptive or synthetic drugs. I’m not keen on taking pills based on horse urine.

About the All Natural Hormone Cream

The cream at right has a natural progesterone that is bioidentical to the human body’s progesterone. Your body uses this compound in the same manner as it would progesterone that was present or being made in your system when you were a few years younger. A nice side effect is that it also will assist in keeping your bones strong – therefore less likely to develop osteoporosis.

If you’re worried that bioidentical progesterone is some new-fangled, non-tested, product, don’t be. This is an all-natural treatment that has been used since the 1930s. In fact there have been no reported or known side-effects of natural progesterone in over 60 years. Don’t take my word for it though – do a litte research online to see for yourself. Just be sure you are reading about natural vs. synthetic progesterone.

Can A Cream Really Work?

You bet it can! Your skin is your body’s largest organ. You absorb and excrete all types of substances through your pores all day, every day, for as long as you’re living. Creams, patches, gels are in wide use for the last 50+ years. Just think about how many treatments (in naturopathy or in the medical field) are prescribed as trans-dermal or topical. In fact, if I had to give up one of my own treatments I’d give up the oral supplements first. Most of the vitamins and supplements taken orally are eliminated through normal liver function. Not so with a topical or transdermal application where over 90% of the progesterone is absorbed.

Whether at the doctor’s office or through a home saliva hormone testing kit, these are the recommended hormones to assess – if you’re going through menopause or peri-menopause or feel your hormones are out of whack.

Estradiol: Estradiol is also labelled E2 estrogen. This is the strongest estrogen that your body produces. It promotes cell proliferation and is produced with every menstrual cycle. If your hormones are off kilter and you’re noticing it, this is the most probable cause. It is the first prescribed hormone in most replacement therapies. On a personal note, I tested super low on E2 (to a count of 7 but as hormonal levels change with our cycles, this could be different in a week’s time).

Progesterone: Progesterone is one of the neutral hormones. It is a balancing hormone to E2 (or estradiol – see above). This is the hormone that protects your uterine lining and breast tissue. If you have low progesterone levels you may find that you have an estrogen dominance (not in my case as seen above). Progesterone also assists your body to build new bone and aid in the prevention of osteoporosis.

Testosterone: This hormone is a love/hate thing for me. I’ve always been a little high, but as I’ve aged my testosterone level is growing higher. Concern over a genetic disposition to heart troubles as high levels can triple heart risks for older women. The hormone might cause facial hair growth but will also increase libido. (See what I mean about love/hate?)

DHEA: Found in your adrenals, (the orchestrator of hormone availability as it was explained to me), DHEA converts to testosterone and the estrogens. If you are tested and are deficient this one is an easier ‘fix’ than other hormones with a DHEA supplement.

AM Cortisol: Cortisol, also made in the adrenals, as a reaction to stress. High cortisol causes weight gain, decreased libido, low energy, and mild confusion or forgetfulness. My cortisol levels were only slightly out of whack, but given other factors in my life, I was told to assess and make changes in my daily stress levels immediately.

Bioidentical hormones are used in replacement therapy (and other situations) as an alternative to synthetic hormones. Unique bioidentical compounds are manufactured in a lab, extracted from organic sources and have the same molecular structure as hormones made by your own body.

Synthetic hormones are not organic and have received a lot of controversy over the years – moreso today than ever as the results of repeated usage is finally showing up in the elderly. An example of a recent scandal look no further than BPA found in plastics that had once been certified food safe. BPA is actually a derivative of a synthetic estrogen (a synthetic hormone) and is now being reported as causing major damage in our youth.)

Since drug companies (big business with lots of profit) can’t patent a bioidentical mixture, compound or genetic structure, they’ve invent synthetic hormones that can be patented and sold for massive profit – at our expense, on two counts (out of pocket and overall health).

On the other hand, bioidentical hormones have been around for years. Unfortunately they have been dismissed and disregarded by many physicians and practitioners as part of the hippie, tree-hugging, health kick. Times are changing though, especially given that the synthetics are receiving such bad press. Today you’ll find several branded versions of bioidenticals available for use in hormone replacement therapies.

Although many proport individualized testing and monitoring with a physician, you can begin the process yourself with home test kits and a good book or website on the topic of bioidenticals.

Bioidenticals are available in all hormone ‘categories’ such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and DHEA.

If you can afford to work with a practioner or physician (or for that matter find one who supports this type of therapy) you’ll be tested, prescribed and re-tested every three months or so until your hormones balance out.