Female hormones are complex and need to be balanced for a woman to feel her best physically and mentally. Conventional medicine does not acknowledge the importance of hormones in women’s health and the connection hormones have to many other health issues. Imbalanced hormones can be the result of stress, poor diet, thyroid dysfunction, and many other underlying causes that are often overlooked or not addressed.

• Premenopausal conditions include PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), PMS/PMDD, menstrual irregularity, fertility concerns, and lowered libido. Menopausal patients can experience mood changes, sleep problems, hot flashes/night sweats, brain fog/memory loss, lowered libido, and physical associated conditions like osteopenia/osteoporosis. 
•  Estradiol – The strongest estrogen. It protects blood vessels, increases good cholesterol, prevents bone loss, supports collagen and healthy skin, improves cognitive function, and reduces hot flashes. Estradiol has a proliferative effect on tissues and must be properly balanced with other estrogens and progesterone to prevent estrogen dominance.
•  Estrone – Estrone is the predominant estrogen made during menopause. It can convert into potentially harmful metabolites that can increase risks of fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, and fibroids.
•  Estriol – Estriol is the predominant estrogen made during pregnancy. It is found to be protective against cancer.
•  Progesterone – Progesterone balances the effects of estrogen in hormone responsive tissues of the body, even the brain. It can help regulate other hormones and alleviate common hormonal concerns. Progesterone is known to have a calming effect and improve sleep.
•  DHEA – Dehydroepiandrosterone is an adrenal hormone that is also a precursor to other sex hormones. It is important for the immune system, improves insulin sensitivity, bone health, and cognitive function.
•  Testosterone – Testosterone is important for women also. It can increase lean muscle mass, libido, bone health, and improve mood.

 
Testing:

• Sex Hormone Evaluation, Women:
  • Pre-Menopausal/Peri-Menopausal
    • One Month Female Cycle Test
      • Salivary hormone testing of estrogen and progesterone levels throughout the entire menstrual cycle to evaluate for imbalance. We also look at adrenal hormones, testosterone and DHEA levels, which are also important hormones for women.
      • Patients who may benefit from testing: PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), PMS/PMDD, Menstrual Irregularity, Fertility Concerns, Sleep Issues, Anxiety/Depression, Peri-Menopausal Symptoms
    • Serum Test of Hormones During a Particular Day in Her Cycle
  • Menopausal
    • One Day Female Hormone Test
      • Salivary hormone testing of estrogens, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, and adrenal hormones.
      • Patients who may benefit from testing: Menopausal Symptoms (hot flashes/night sweats, libido concerns, brain fog/memory issues, bone density loss, poor sleep)
    • Serum Testing via Blood Depending On Type of Treatment to be Utilized

Treating Hormonal Imbalance:

• Address underlying issues such as stress, diet, and thyroid dysfunction.
• Treatments can include natural herbal and/or nutritional supplementation.
• Bioidentical hormones are prescribed to patients since they are identical to what is made in the human body and can also be customized to the individual patient.
  • Bioidentical hormones can be in the form of pellet therapy, cream, injection, troche, or pill. 
  • Bioidentical hormones are often compounded so that they are free of fillers, dyes and preservatives.