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ADVANCED HORMONES AND FUNCTION What is Estrogen?The word "Estrogen" generally refers to the group of hormones produced by the ovary with similar actions. The three most important hormones of this estrogen class are Estrone-E1, Estradiol-E2, and Estriol-E3. In Popular writing however, each of these specific members of this class continues to be referred to as Estrogen. The symptoms of estrogen deficiency are hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and vaginal dryness. Other symptoms are severe depression or anger, vaginal and bladder infections, joint and muscle pain, dizziness, rapid skin aging, loss of tone in breasts, fatigue and heart palpitations. Choosing natural supplemental estrogen can stabilize moods, relieve hot flashes, increase mental clarity, alleviate sleep disturbance, prevent vaginal and bladder infections, slow bone loss, improve vitality and energy, improve skin and breast tone. Recent studies, and as far back as 20 years ago, show that high levels of Estradiol E2, and Estrone E1, can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. But Estriol E3 is protective. What I advocate is using natural hormones to eliminate cancer risks posed with the use of synthetic hormones, and maintaining appropriate balance between your levels of estrogen and progesterone. Synthetic ETHINYL ESTRADIOL is used in estrogen supplements and birth control pills. This is the chemical you want to stay away from. Women who have a history of breast or uterine cancer and women who are at risk of recurrent urinary tract infections and vaginal infections, as well as women with atherosclerosis, hypertension, varicose veins and diabetes need to stay away from synthetic hormones. Natural hormones appear to be the superior choice and the least harmful to take when choosing your Hormone Replacement Therapy. There is a common misconception that menopause, the cessation of menses, means that a woman no longer makes female hormones and that she needs estrogen replacement and the continual care of a doctor. Estrogen levels do not fall to zero. The truth is you make less estrogen than is necessary for the monthly preparation of endometrium for pregnancy. But your body still makes estrogen from androstenidione in your fat cells. Lack Of Estrogen After menopause, in some women, body changes occur due to a lack of estrogen. One example is vaginal dryness and shrinkage of the vaginal mucosa which predisposes a woman to vaginal inflammation or vaginitis, bladder infection or cystitis. To treat the infectious agent with antibiotics is only temporarily successful because the underlying real cause of the problem is loss of resistance and resiliency due to secondary hormone deficiency of progesterone and estrogen. Women who opt for hormone therapy have been remarkably free from problems. This is true of natural or synthetic products. Their previous vaginal dryness and mucosal atrophy disappeared. Undesirable Side Effects of EstrogenBad effects of estrogen are often linked to the estrogen allowing an influx of water and sodium into the cells, thus affecting aldosterone production leading to water retention and HYPERTENSION. It also causes intracellular hypoxia, opposes the actions of thyroid, promotes histamine release, promotes blood clotting, thereby increasing the risk for stoke and embolism. Also, it thickens bile, promotes gall bladder disease, causes copper retention, and causes zinc loss. The copper and zinc imbalance is what causes mood swings!
What is Estrogen Dominance?John R. Lee, M.D. coined a phrase that he calls Estrogen Dominance. How can you know that you have what Dr. Lee calls ESTROGEN DOMINANCE in your body? The signs and symptoms of estrogen dominance are (and by the way, you can have one or many of these):
These are undesirable side effects of two much estrogen in your body. You
always knew your hormones were a little off but couldn't quite put your finger
on it. Now you have a few answers?. ESTROGEN DOMINANCE! So What Should You Do if
You Have Estrogen Dominance? What is Progesterone?Progesterone is the precursor from which other sex hormones are derived, both
the male hormone testosterone, and the female hormone estrogen. Progesterone is
devoid of secondary sex characteristics. As might be expected, the surge of
progesterone at the time of ovulation is the source of libido, the urge to
have intercourse, or procreate. The Functions of Progesterone Are:
What is Natural Progestrone?Today natural progesterone is mostly produced from soybeans. It is not a patentable product. Therefore, money from pharmaceutical funding for progesterone research veered in the direction of expensive patentable progestins such as that used in synthetic provera or synthetic birth control pills. A billion-dollar industry was born when birth control pills were created and there was no further interest in "Natural Progesterone." Many physicians believe that progestins such as Provera are the same as progesterone, but they are not! Many physicians also mistakenly believe that natural progesterone shares Provera's side effects. That is also not true. Let your physician know that his prescription progestin begins with natural progesterone and then it is chemically altered to be patentable and therefore a more profitable product to the pharmaceutical industry. A great example to share is this: while natural progesterone promotes and sustains pregnancy, synthetic progestins cannot be used during pregnancy due to the potential risk to the fetus because of their wider range of hormonal effects - especially loss of the pregnancy! Natural progesterone is not new! It is used as a base in over 400 plus FDA approved drugs! The late Dr. John Lee advocated progesterone as the forgotten cure and recommended daily use of topical progesterone cream as a preventative and treatment for estrogen dominance and breast cancer. Epidemiological studies are supportive of these theories, in that women who underwent breast cancer surgery in their luteal phase (after ovulation), when progesterone is highest, had a significantly better prognosis than women who were in their follicular phase (first half of the cycle). Additionally, breast tissue removed during breast reduction surgery did not show increased cell proliferation after having been exposed to progesterone cream before surgery. European researchers are looking at their own use of estrogen, progestins, and progesterone. Two studies from France are reassuring. They found sharp contrast between natural progesterone and the use of progestins. In conjunction with a transdermal estradiol gel, there was no increase in rates of breast cancer in the women using natural progesterone. Additionally, a recent review of progestins, progesterone, and breast cancer risk looked at over 100 references and found that only the synthetic progestins, particularly when given continuously, increased breast cancer risk. What are Progestins?In the U. S. A. and many other western countries, the pharmaceutical industry purchases the natural progesterone which comes from wild yams and soybeans, and then changes them to make NON-NATURAL substances called Progestins. Progestins are any chemical compounds other than natural progesterone able to sustain human secretory endometrium. They are synthetic man-made, they are NOT NATURAL progesterone. Progestins such as Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) do not undergo the same chemical reactions in our bodies as natural progesterone and they are not as safe to use because of their side effects. Again, I advocate using only natural progesterone. OTHER IMPORTANT HORMONES HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE – the growth hormone
TESTOSTERONE – the male hormone
DHEA – the mother of hormones
PREGNENELONE – the gateway hormone
THYROID – the master hormone of metabolism
INSULIN – the hormone of storage
CORTISOL – the hormone of stress
LH/FSH/PROLACTIN - Regulators of the Menstrual Cycle and Male Testosterone and Sperm Production FSH and LH (gonadotropins) are produced by the pituitary gland. They (especially LH) are released in a pulsatile fashion in response to the pulsatile secretion of hypothalamic gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). In women, the pulse frequency (generally occurring as often as every 60-90 minutes, but may be as few as 2-3 per day) and amplitude vary during different phases of the menstrual cycle. This is reflected in varying serum gonadotropin levels, not only within the phases of the menstrual cycle itself but even within a single day. Gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) is synthesized in the hypothalamus. It stimulates FSH and LH release from the pituitary gland. Sex hormones, predominantly estradiol, generally inhibit both gonadotropin and GnRH secretion via a negative feedback loop. In addition to the sex hormones, at least two other gonadal hormones, activin and inhibin, selectively activate and inhibit pituitary FSH secretion. Prolactin, also an anterior pituitary hormone, is secreted as a prohormone and subsequently cleaved to its mature, active form. Episodic release of prolactin causes serum levels of prolactin to follow a circadian/ultradian (recurrent cycles throughout a 24 hour period) rhythm. In contrast to other anterior pituitary hormones, the predominant hypothalamic control over prolactin secretion is inhibitory, mediated by the neurotransmitter/neurohormone dopamine. The stimulatory signal for prolactin release is mediated (under some conditions) by thyrotropin releasing hormone, and possibly by oxytocin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and a host of other endogenous neurohormones and neurotransmitters as well. During pregnancy, estrogens appear to exert some degree of positive control over prolactin synthesis and secretion. Hormone Function FSH In women, FSH is the predominant circulating gonadotropin prior to puberty as well as after menopause. Its function during the ovulatory cycle is to stimulate the development of ovarian follicles and selection of the dominant follicle during the follicular phase of the cycle. In men, FSH stimulates seminiferous tubular function, leading to sperm production. LH In women, the mid-cycle LH secretory spike is induced (positive feedback) by increased estradiol secretion from the dominant follicle. This LH surge initiates the final maturation of the dominant follicle, and induces rupture of the ovarian follicle, extrusion of the ovum, and luteinization of the follicle to form the corpus luteum. Subsequently, progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum acts on the estrogen primed endometrium to induce the changes necessary to make the endometrium receptive to implantation of an embryo. In men, LH stimulates testosterone production by the Leydig cells in the testes. Prolactin In women, the function of prolactin is to stimulate milk production in the estrogen primed breast. Serum prolactin levels increase during pregnancy and suckling. Prolactin also suppresses gonadotropin production, e.g. during breast feeding. In men, the function of prolactin is generally unknown. However, elevated prolactin levels are known to suppress gonadotropin production and libido, which often results in clinical hypogonadism, low serum testosterone levels and a low sperm count. Women In women, FSH is often requested in conjunction with other tests (such as LH, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone) in the assessment of infertility. FSH levels are useful in the investigation of menstrual irregularities and to aid in the diagnosis of pituitary disorders or diseases involving the ovaries. Primary Lack of Periods Gonadotropin measurements help to distinguish an ovarian cause of amenorrhea (e.g. Turner’s syndrome)from a hypothalamo-pituitary cause (e.g. pituitary lesions, Kallman’s syndrome). In primary ovarian failure, estrogen concentrations are very low. This results in a lack of negative feedback on the pituitary and thus elevated FSH and LH levels. In hypothalamo‐pituitary dysfunction however, serum gonadotropin as well as estrogen concentrations are low. There can be numerous causes for this and dynamic testing of pituitary and hypothalamic function is often appropriate. Secondary Lack of Periods The commonest cause of secondary amenorrhea is pregnancy – ruled out by measuring serum b-hCG. In the absence of pregnancy, serum gonadotropin levels will help distinguish between ovarian failure (e.g. menopause), and estrogen deficiency due to hypothalamo-pituitary causes. FSH levels are often elevated for 2 to 3 years before menses cease because of increasing ovarian resistance to gonadotropins during perimenopause. Other causes of secondary amenorrhea may include:
With the approach of natural menopause and the beginning of ovarian failure of any cause, serum FSH levels increase. Here as well, imaging and dynamic pituitary testing may be necessary to distinguish different causes for low serum gonadotropin levels. Men Serum FSH, LH and/or prolactin levels may be requested in cases of hypogonadism/suspected gonadal failure, low sperm count, testicular feminization syndrome and/or testicular dysfunction. These hormone levels are also of value in ruling out pituitary or hypothalamic failure, as discussed above. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) The diagnosis of PCOS is commonly made in young women with irregular or infrequent menses. These patients typically present with evidence of hyperandrogenism, with hirsutism, acne and oily skin. A large proportion of these patients are overweight. Infertility is a common presenting complaint. Increased prevalence of PCOS as well as metabolic syndrome in other family members is common. The underlying mechanism in a large proportion of these patients is hyperinsulinemia, usually secondary to selective insulin resistance. The increased insulin level is thought to have a direct effect on the ovaries, causing disturbances in normal hormone output and follicular development. Evidence of elevated androgen/androgen precursors (testosterone, DHEAS) is sometimes found. About 20% of the patients have a mild hyperprolactinemia – typically less than 40 ug/L. The differential diagnosis includes other causes of hyperandrogenism and amenorrhea, such as late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, androgen secreting ovarian or adrenal lesions or pituitary tumors. Paradoxically, ultrasonic identification of polycystic ovaries is not required for the diagnosis to be made. Elevated Prolactin Level In women, the most common reasons for measuring prolactin levels are:
Elevated serum prolactin levels may cause infertility due to a disruption of regular ovulation. Clinically,this can present as irregular cycles or as secondary amenorrhea. Note: (a) It is important not to do a breast examination for at least an hour before drawing blood for measurement of prolactin, as this may raise the prolactin level and (b) elevated serum prolactin levels should be confirmed with a repeat test on a fresh blood sample drawn after an overnight fast. In men, the most common reasons for measuring serum prolactin are erectile dysfunction, lack of libido or gynecomastia. In men with hyperprolactinemia, serum gonadotropins and testosterone levels are usually low and there is often an accompanying diminished sperm count. In both sexes, the most common causes of elevated prolactin levels are:
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