A Woman's Guide to Natural Hormones

AcknowledgmentsxiiPersonal Note from Christine ConradxiiiForewordxixForewordxxiiForewordxxivPart 1Understanding Natural Hormones1What Are Natural Hormones?32Using Natural Hormones193Diet, Supplements, and Exercise-Keys to Hormonal Health294Finding Your Hormonal Profile37PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and Hormone Imbalance37Perimenopause46Surgical Menopause50Menopause53Postmenopause56Part 2Your Questions Answered5Hormones and Your Body61What are hormones?61How do hormones work?62What is a natural hormone?64What is a bio-identical hormone?64What's the difference between a synthesized hormone and a synthetic hormone?64What is a precursor hormone?65What is estrogen?65What's the difference between natural plant-derived estrogen and synthetic estrogen?68My doctor says Premarin is natural because it's made from horse urine, which comes from nature. Is he right?69What are the possible side effects of Premarin?69I've heard the phrase estrogen dominance. What does it mean?70What is tri-estrogen?70What is bi-estrogen?71What is a phytoestrogen?71What are isoflavones? Are they hormones?73I've been told that estriol protects against breast cancer. Is this true?73What is progesterone?74What is the difference between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins?76What are the possible side effects of progestins such as Provera?77Does natural progesterone protect against endometrial cancer?79Does natural progesterone carry the same cancer risks as Provera?79Do natural hormones lower "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL)?80What is testosterone?81What is DHEA?81What is pregnenolone?82What is cortisol? Is it a hormone?82What is a xenoestrogen?82How does diet affect my hormones?83How does digestion affect hormone levels?84What are the benefits of natural hormones?87Can hormone replenishment prevent Alzheimer's disease?88Will natural hormones improve my skin?89My hair is thinning. Will natural hormones help?91When I look in the mirror, I see the beginnings of middle-age spread. Do hormones have anything to do with this? Can taking natural hormones help?91Can taking hormones give me more energy?936Using Natural Hormones95How can I get natural hormones?95How do I take natural hormones-or what's a "delivery system"?95What's a compounding pharmacy?99If I want to use an over-the-counter natural hormone, how do I choose among them?100How much do natural hormones cost?102Will my insurance company pay for natural hormones?103What does it mean to individualize hormones?103If I use natural hormones, will my periods continue?104I'm on Premarin/Provera, but I want to quit taking them because of side effects. Before I switch to naturals, I'd like to get my hormone levels tested. Should I stop taking the Premarin/Provera altogether before I get tested? If so, for how long?105Are natural hormones FDA-approved?106I have a friend who is very happy with the Climera patch. How does a hormone patch work, and are there any risks involved?107What about the brand-name oral natural estrogens such as Estrace and Estratest?107Are there any brand-name natural progesterone products?108When I asked my doctor about naturals, she suggested I try Ogen or Ortho-Est, which she said are plant-derived. Are they the same as naturals?109Are there side effects with naturals?109Will natural hormones make me gain weight as Premarin does?110Will taking natural hormones help normalize my sleep patterns?111My doctor says that despite the 2002 NIH study repudiating Prempro, he won't consider prescribing bio-identical hormones, as he says there are no long-term studies to support their use. How do I answer him?112My doctor says that taking hormones transdermally doesn't work. She says that you would have to slather your whole body with them to get any absorption. Is she right?112Since the results of the NIH study of 2002, my doctor has switched me to the patch, Climera-Pro. When I asked him if it was a natural/bio-identical hormone, he said yes. Is he giving me the right information?1137PMS, Hormone Imbalance, and Natural Hormones115Does progesterone help alleviate PMS?115My periods can be very irregular. Can naturals help me?116I have excessive bleeding and my doctor has prescribed Provera. Will this help? Can I take natural progesterone instead?116I have fibrocystic breasts. Can natural hormones help me?117I have fibroids. My doctor has recommended a hysterectomy. A friend said she eliminated her fibroids by taking progesterone. Is this possible?1178Fertility, Birth Control Pills, and Natural Hormones119I'm trying to get pregnant, and I've heard that fertility clinics use natural progesterone as part of their treatment plan. Can I do it myself with progesterone cream?119I'm 35 and still get PMS like a 14-year-old. I use a diaphragm for birth control. If I take natural progesterone to control my PMS, will it make me more fertile?120My sister had horrible postpartum depression. Can I take natural hormones after I deliver my baby to avoid this condition?120Do birth control pills "mask" symptoms of perimenopause?121When I told my gynecologist I was beginning to feel as if I'm in perimenopause, he prescribed the contraceptive pill Loestrin to keep my bones strong and reduce my mood swings. I'm not even in a relationship! Does this make sense?122I'm 42 and have been on birth control pills for five years. I'd like to get off, but my gynecologist told me I should keep taking them because they protect against endometrial and ovarian cancer. Is he right? What are the natural hormone alternatives to the Pill in terms of cancer protection?122I'm 44 and am taking birth control pills, but I'm curious as to whether I'm in perimenopause. Can I get my hormone levels tested even though I'm on the Pill?1239Perimenopause and Natural Hormones125I'm 46. About a year ago I noticed a drastic change in my emotions-I cry at the least provocation. My doctor suggested Prozac, but that seems extreme. Can I treat my blues with natural hormones?125I'm in perimenopause and have started to suffer from severe headaches and anxiety attacks. Can natural hormones help me?127I seem to be losing my sex drive. Help!128I'm in perimenopause and my doctor gave me Estrace. It didn't help at all-in fact, it made me feel worse. Why is that?12910Menopause and Natural Hormones131Since menopause began, I could swear my brain cells are dying off. I'm getting really scattered, and it's beginning to frighten me. What's going on, and can natural hormones help?131I entered menopause about two years ago, and my mood swings are driving me (and my family) crazy. Will natural hormones help stabilize my emotions?132My hot flashes have become a nonstop source of embarrassment to me. Can natural hormones provide some relief?133I'm experiencing a lot of vaginal dryness since I stopped my periods. It's seriously interfering with my sex life. Can hormones help?134I've been on Premarin/Provera for five years and I feel fine. Why should I switch to natural hormones?134How do I switch from Premarin/Provera (also Prempro and Premphase) to the naturals?135I hear that soy contains phytoestrogens. Can I control my menopausal symptoms by just eating lots of tofu?136I've heard about taking black cohosh for menopausal symptoms. Is this a natural hormone?137Can traditional herbal remedies such as dong quai relieve my menopausal symptoms?138I'm 55 and feel fine. My doctor just prescribed Premarin/Provera because he says I have to protect myself against heart disease and osteoporosis. What should I do?139There is heart disease in my family. I have no real menopausal symptoms, but should I take estrogen for prevention?141I'm taking Provera along with Premarin to protect against endometrial cancer. Will it?142I've had breast cancer. What can I do for menopausal symptoms?143Do women in menopause need to supplement testosterone?143A friend in menopause is taking only progesterone to control her symptoms. She says her doctor told her she doesn't need estrogen. Can I do this too?144I see DHEA advertised in magazines for "mature" readers. What is it? Should I take it?145I hate the idea that I'm still bleeding at age 58 while taking Premarin/Provera. Will the same be true on naturals?14611Hysterectomies and Natural Hormones147I've had a complete hysterectomy. My doctor has prescribed estrogen, but do I also need to take progesterone?147I've had a hysterectomy but my ovaries are still intact. How do they affect my hormones? Do I need hormone replacement?148My doctor tells me that after my hysterectomy I will be in "surgical menopause." How is this different from regular menopause?149A year ago I had a hysterectomy and was prescribed Premarin. I've already gained twenty-five pounds and can't exercise it off. Why?150I'm 70 and just had a hysterectomy. Do I need to replace hormones?151Since my hysterectomy I have no interest in sex, Will natural hormones help?15212Healthy Bones and Natural Hormones155I've just had a bone mineral density test and it says I'm at high risk for osteoporosis. What does that mean?155Why do bones lose their mass?156Which naturals should I take for osteoporosis?156My friend, who is 70, is taking Evista for her osteoporosis. She says it's a designer estrogen. What does that mean?157My doctor has prescribed Fosamax for my osteoporosis. What is it?158Can I just take Tums with calcium for my bones?159Can I just exercise and improve my diet to increase bone mass?160Looking Forward161How Do the Recent NIH Study Results Relate to Natural/Bio-identical Hormones?165Resources176Doctor Referrals176Resources for Hormone Testing177Recommended Products178Compounding Pharmacies179Bibliography181Index183