Hormones are chemical messengers that are delivered to body tissues through the blood. Once hormones enter tissues, they turn on genetic "switches" which regulate everything from reproduction to emotions, general health and wellbeing.

Different glands and organs in the body produce hormones. For example, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin, the ovaries produce estrogens and progesterone and the adrenal glands produce cortisol and DHEA. Other glands such as the pituitary in the brain secrete hormones such as FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone), which control how much estrogen and progesterone are produced by the ovaries.

Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT) refers to the therapeutic use of hormones that are identical in every way to the hormones released naturally in the body. Bioidentical hormones used in BHRT include estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone and testosterone. Some bioidentical hormone therapies are available from drug companies as standard prescriptions, others must be compounded for the individual woman by a pharmacist.


Hormones - A Closer Look

ESTROGENS. (estradiol, estrone, estriol) are predominantly female hormones. In adults they are important for maintaining the health of the reproductive tissues, breasts, skin and brain. High estrogen levels can cause fluid retention, weight gain, migraines and over stimulation of the breasts, ovaries and uterus. Insufficient estrogen levels can lead to hot flashes, vaginal dryness, rapid skin aging, urinary problems, excessive bone loss and changes in memory/cognition.

PROGESTERONE. This is a hormone balancer, particularly of estrogens. It enhances the beneficial effect of estrogens while preventing problems associated with excessive estrogen. Progesterone creates a balance of all other steroid hormones. It has intrinsic calming and diuretic properties.

TESTOSTERONE. Testosterone performs the following important roles in women:  improvement of mood and assertiveness, reduction in depression and anxiety, improvement in bone density, muscle density, muscle size, enhancement of sex drive and sexual sensitivity.  The decrease of testosterone occurs earlier and initially at a greater rate for women than for men. 



Treatment Options

ORAL. Products taken by mouth must pass through and be broken down by the liver. Oral delivery metabolizes differently and requires higher doses and some hormones can transform into other unintended hormones, so it isn't always the safest way to give bioidentical supplements. There are some exceptions to the rule such as Estriol and, in some cases, progesterone.

TRANSDERMAL (Through the skin) or TRANSMUCOMAL (via vaginal tissue). Products miss the liver so doses can be smaller and are less likely to metabolize into "bad" hormones.

Hormone balance is so individual, and, as Dr. Uzzi Reiss, MD pointed out in a recent book "The Sexy Years" by Suzanne Somers, "Our unhealthful environment makes us more prone to illness and also "confuses" the natural function of our hormones. Processed foods and the materials they are packaged in are full of artificial hormones that compete with and therefore confuse women's natural hormone balance."

The Westcoast Women's Clinic recognizes that customized analysis and treatment are essential for any woman experiencing the effects of hormonal imbalances.

[The above material is adapted from "Bio-Idential Hormones", by Monterrey Marks, October 19, 2004.]

West Coast Women's Clinic - Vancouver , BC ( British Columbia ) , Canada - Bioidentical Hormone Therapy