Dr. Alison Beach, Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Clayton Bostock, Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Faren Brogan, Naturopathic Doctor
Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate numerous biological processes in the body. Imbalances in hormones can cause a wide variety of health conditions and symptoms including fatigue, insomnia, anxiety,
depression, fibrocystic breasts, PMS, light or heavy periods, irregular periods, infertility, erectile dysfunction, low libido, and/or uncomfortable perimenopause/menopause symptoms (including hot flushes, brain fog, vaginal dryness).
Dr. Beach, Dr. Bostock, and Dr. Brogan recognize the importance of achieving optimal hormonal balance. This is attained by determining hormonal status and then restoring hormone balance as indicated. Hormonal testing includes salivary and/or serum hormone testing. The salivary hormone panels include a female panel (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol), a male panel (testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, DHEA), and an adrenal function panel (4 point cortisol). Treatment to restore hormonal balance may include botanical support, homeopathy, phenolics, acupuncture, and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). Dr. Beach, Dr. Bostock, and Dr. Brogan have taken extra training in BHRT through the American Academy of Anti-aging Medicine.
Anti-aging and BHRT are becoming increasingly popular today as more celebrities, such as Suzanne Somers, are sharing their secrets as to how they stay young and as Suzanne puts it “sexy.” Menopause is a natural biological process whereby a woman’s ovaries decrease in function leading to a significant decline in the production of sex hormones including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. This decline can lead to very unpleasant symptoms including fatigue, depression, hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia and/or loss of libido. The good news is that these symptoms can usually be quickly and safely resolved with the use of BHRT.
BHRT is different from the conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) such as Premarin as they are made from natural compounds (soy, yam) and have the same chemical structure as hormones that are made by the human body. This means that bioidentical hormones are “human identical” and work like the body’s own hormones if prescribed in proper balance. Also, there have been many major studies on non-bioidentical HRT such as the Women’s Health Initiative study showing that HRT can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer.
