Progesterone/estrogen imbalance has a profound effect on the
GABA receptors in the brain. Women are often misdiagnosed as
depressed, anxious, bipolar or having other mood disorders.
 Millions
of women have been placed on antidepressants unnecessarily.
Many women have become addicted to antianxiety
medications in an attempt to treat the symptoms of excess estrogen
and decreased progesterone.
Perimenopausal women
often complain of symptoms of low thyroid function such as decreased
energy, fatigue, and sudden weight gain. However, in many cases,
thyroid levels are found to be normal. Estrogen blocks the action
of thyroid hormone while progesterone allows thyroid hormone
to work more effectively. If progesterone levels are restored
to normal, symptoms of hypothyroidism resolve.
Women in perimenopause
who experience bloating and weight gain prior to menses are
often given diuretics to decrease water retention. Progesterone
is a natural diuretic and when low progesterone levels are corrected,
weight gain and swelling resolve. The symptoms mentioned in
this section are but a few of the perimenopausal symptoms which
afflict women and greatly decrease her quality of life. Treating
symptoms without an understanding of the cause can lead to more
problems than solutions.
 Testing
Hormones and Replacing Hormones
Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that are fat soluble.
Because fat or oil soluble hormones are not dissolvable in water,
they are attached to a protein when in the blood stream so they
can be transported to the appropriate organ. More than 99% of
the hormone is attached to this protein and is inactive or has
no effect on the body. The free or active portion of the hormone
is not found in the blood, but in fat tissue, the uterus, the
brain, and saliva. Measuring blood levels does not reflect the
amount of free hormone affecting your body.The saliva gland
is able to absorb fat soluble hormones. Saliva reflects how
much estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and other fat
soluble hormones are actually available to carry messages to
other organs. Saliva testing is not new, it has been used for
years by the World Health Organization and NASA, because it
is much easier to collect than blood. It is beginning to be
accepted by conventional medicine and a number of insurance
companies pay for the test.
Women
experiencing perimenopausal symptoms will almost always have
salivary hormone levels that reflect a progesterone deficiency,
estrogen excess or both.
The amount
of information that can be gained from salivary
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tests is enormous. Salivary testing can also more accurately
diagnose abnormal thyroid and adrenal function. Another advantage
is that it allows your physician to monitor your treatment with
bio-identical hormones and to make adjustments to achieve the
best results.
The symptoms of perimenopause can be effectively treated with
bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones differ from synthetic
hormones such as Premarin® and Provera® in that they
are identical to the hormones made by our bodies. They are safe
and do not produce the adverse side effects associated with
synthetic hormones.
We have compiled a few suggestions that can restore and maintain
balance to perimenopausal women, which is spelled out
in the acronym HEALTHY.
H– Hormone Balance– hormonal balance
is essential for a woman to feel healthy and whole. This can
be achieved by testing for the imbalance and replacing with
bio-identical hormones from a compounding pharmacy.
E-Eat organic, whole grain, unprocessed food
which allows you to avoid pesticides that influence hormone
function. Unprocessed food contains important nutrients and
vitamins like vitamin C, E, B complex, magnesium, selenium,
calcuim, zinc, copper, and manganese . Whole grain food is high
in fiber and helps eliminate excess estrogen and toxins through
the bowel.
E- Is for exercise. Exercise positively affects
all aspects of women’s health and increases one’s
lifespan.
A– Avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and
stress. They all increase estrogen levels and increase their
influence on the body.
L-Less animal protein more plant protein. Animal
protein contains animal fat. Animal fat stores estrogen and
pesticides that are consumed by the animal.
T-Take time for yourself. Stress exacerbates
hormone imbalances. Make sure that you participate in activities
that decrease stress and relax your body.
H-Herbal and vitamin supplementation. There
are a variety of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements that
enhance hormone functioning and aid the liver and bowel in the
detoxification and elimination of excess hormones. Vitamin B
complex, folate, omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, fiber, black cohosh,
evening primose oil, chaste berry, soy, and milk thistle are
a few of the more common supplements that aid hormone metabolism.
Y-You are in control. Take control and start
making a few easy changes, and you will begin to see significant
results. To learn more about hormonal imbalances, get your copy
of Are Your Hormones Making You Sick? today at Barnes &
Noble or Amazon.com.
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