Bio-Identical Hormones

Are you feeling tired or weak? Do you fatigue too easily? If so, you should consider getting your hormone levels checked. To check your hormone levels for deficiencies, a hormone profile is usually best. I have designed one such profile for men and one for women. The profiles require a blood draw and a specialty lab performs the testing. 

Should hormone supplementation become necessary, we recommend using hormones from natural sources. The term, “natural hormones,” refers to the substances that are biologically equivalent to chemicals in our own human bodies. These hormone products are obtained from naturally occurring sources such as soy or yam. For the treatment of medical conditions, I recommend using prescription hormones obtained from a compound pharmacy. The reason for this preference is that product purity will be greater and a higher concentration can be made for the patient. 

When used properly, natural hormones merely augment the body’s production of its own hormones. This is the opposite of what can happen with chemically-produced hormone drugs as these can inhibit hormone production. Chemical drugs also have side-effects. Such side-effects are not associated with natural products, although one still needs to be familiar with the actions of a hormone and its influence on the body.

With the foregoing in mind, let us briefly consider properties of some of the more commonly used natural hormones: 

1. DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) —DHEA is produced by the adrenal gland. It is often referred to as a “mother steroid” because it gives birth to some 10 different steroidal hormones and other active metabolites. Unlike other hormones, DHEA “de-excites” the body’s cells. Thus, it is often important in supplementing adrenal glands weakened from prolonged stress.
   
2. Pregnenolone —Pregnenolone is a steroid produced by the mitochondrion of all the body’s cells which functions as a precursor to other hormones (e.g., progesterone, DHEA). It is the first steroid produced from cholesterol, under the influence of thyroid and vitamin A. The need for producing pregnenolone increases when under stress (e.g., physical, emotional, or mental) which stimulates the production of free radicals. In cases where the mitochondria have accumulated free radical damage (e.g., iron, copper, lead, aluminum, mercury, etc.), hypothyroidism is present, or cholesterol levels are deficient, pregnenolone itself seems to be needed.
3. Thyroid —Thyroid is necessary to convert cholesterol into steroid hormones. Consequently, a thyroid deficiency can result in inadequate production of other hormones in the body as well. Thyroid is also critical for regulating metabolism. Natural thyroid supplementation is preferred over the synthetic drug prescription, Levothyroxine, because the natural source contains both inactive and active thyroid. The synthetic drug only contains the inactive form of thyroid while the natural source contains both active and inactive forms of thyroid.
4. Estrone —Estrone becomes the primary estrogen as the ovary loses its ovulatory function in menopause. Most of estrone’s biosynthesis is dependent upon the production of androstenedione (an androgen) in the adrenal glands and the conversion of androstenedione to estrone (aromatization) in various peripheral tissues, particularly adipose, or fat tissue.  Estrone has a half-life of approximatley 3-5 days and can be given intramuscularly 1-2 times weekly.  It can also be obtained via prescription for topical application.  This estrogen hormone is believed stimulate immune function and be protective against breast cancer.
5. Progesterone —Progesterone is a major tool for physiological adaptation. It improves brain function, counters the effects of stress, and increases fertility. It also provides anti-estrogenic action. Both men and women require it, but in different doses.
6. Growth Hormone —One of Anti-Aging medicine’s greatest tools in fighting the disease of aging is human growth hormone (“HGH”). In general, the goal is to get one’s IGF-1 levels between 300 to 350 mg/dl, the normal range of 20 to 30 year-olds. A deficiency in HGH is now formally recognized as a specific clinical syndrome, characterized by decreased muscle mass, increased body fat, decreased exercise capacity, osteopenia, abnormal lipid profiles, and diminished feelings of well-being. HGH supplementation has been found to have beneficial effects on body composition, cardiac function, exercise capacity, renal function, bone mineral density and quality of life. Additional benefits are known to include increased sexual potency, higher energy levels, improved skin elasticity, better memory, and increased resistance to common illness. HGH is a prescription item only available in an injectable form.   

There is no reason for you to be operating at less than your optimal capacity. Being excessively tired, feeling weak, and/or easily fatigued may indicate inadequate hormone production secondary to prolonged physiologic stress. This can often be corrected with natural hormone supplementation. Get your hormone levels checked at the Royal Center for Advanced Medicine ("RCAM") by calling (702) 836-0961. There is no reason for you to be operating at less than your optimal capacity. Being excessively tired, feeling weak, and/or easily fatigued may indicate inadequate hormone production secondary to prolonged physiologic stress. This can often be corrected with natural hormone supplementation. Get your hormone levels checked at RCAM by calling (702) 836-0961.