SAFE HORMONE THERAPY FOR WOMEN
BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE, YES! DESIGNER HORMONES, NO! by Lane Sebring, M. D.

Hormone replacement has become a very complicated issue, but it is governed by a few simple principles. By understanding and following these principles, you will be able to determine if hormone replacement is appropriate for you.

If it seems a contradiction that the same hormones which help build strong bodies when we are young, and help us maintain our health during our middle years, suddenly seem to turn on us promoting cancer, heart attack and stroke when we attempt to maintain their levels by supplementation in our later years, then you may appreciate the information presented here.

The first principle is simply that bio-identical hormones (the exact same molecules that our body has been making since before your birth: estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone), do not cause the deadly side effects associated with hormone replacement.

In fact, when bio-identical hormones are used, especially through the skin as a cream or gel, there is a reduction in the risks associated with hormone replacement as compared to women who don't use hormones

The second principle is that Nature's human hormones, which are used in Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, can't be patented, so offer little profit incentive to the pharmaceutical industry.

As a result, the published studies which show some bad risks associated with hormone replacement therapy were done using synthetic, non-human hormones. These studies are flawed.

In objective medical research studies, whereby Bio-identical hormones were given to humans, in human dosage amounts, to replace deficiencies, we see outcome results much different from the Pharmaceutical company-based, research studies.

Additionally, the objective research studies demonstrate that Bio-identical hormones administered through the skin, lead to either an improvement or cause no change in virtually every measurable parameter.

The problem with modern hormone replacement, which is more accurately called "hormone substitution", is that it utilizes molecules which have been altered quite dramatically. This can lead to very different and unintended actions on the body.

When the pharmaceutical industry makes major changes in hormones in order to secure patents, then sells them as hormone "replacement", trouble can result.

For example, when chemically altered by moving just two hydrogen atoms, the testosterone molecule becomes estradiol, a female hormone. Since estrogen and testosterone have very different functions in the body, that chemical change will produce an undesired effect.

A third principle to consider is that the liver processes both natural and synthetically-made, hormones, and there are two different pathways in the liver where hormones are broken down to be eliminated by the body. One pathway is good and one is bad.

In large amounts, the breakdown products produced in the bad pathway are strongly associated with an increased risk of estrogen-related breast, colon, and uterine cancers. High amounts of the breakdown products produced in the good pathway have been shown to actually result in a decreased risk of these cancers, even when compared to women who are not taking hormone replacement. It is vital in hormone replacement therapy to not introduce foreign hormones into the body.

The hormones that are taken should be broken down through the good pathway--- not the bad pathway. There is actually a lab test which can determine the ratio of the breakdown products in the good pathway versus the bad.

Eating cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussel sprouts---or taking indole-3-carbinol (I3C), which is the critical molecule contained in these foods, increases the enzymes in the Liver, thereby improving its ability to process hormones down the good pathway. By having these foods in her diet, a woman can ensure that her hormones move away from the bad pathway and process down the good one.

Additionally, when a woman takes hormones orally in pill form, she must be given ten times the amount needed, because 90% will be broken down in the liver before reaching the bloodstream. This oveload strategy of the pharmaceutical industry might sell more pills, but it unnecessarily causes much more of these hormones to be pushed down the bad pathway. Bio-identical hormone cream applied to the skin is far more intelligent and healthy method of hormone delivery.

Consider also, that the increased risk of heart attack and stroke caused by blood clots associated with hormone replacement is not the result of using Bio-identical hormones, but of using a synthetically-altered progesterone in the form of medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is the typical progesterone offered by Physicians (Provera and Prempro). When this hormone passes through the liver, it increases clotting factors, thus resulting in an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Paradoxically, medroxyprogesterone acetate actually acts as a progesterone blocker in most tissues----- not increasing bone density, but decreasing it; not decreasing fibrocystic breast disease, but increasing it; not promoting a calming effect on the mind, but promoting agitation and anxiety; not reducing the risk of breast cancer, but actually increasing it.

Considerable medical research indicates that: Bio-identical hormone replacement results in an improvement in cholesterol and increases insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the risk of diabetes and of gaining fat around one's middle. Bio-identical hormones are stronger than other prescription medications for treating osteoporosis. There is evidence they reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease by 86% if taken for more than ten years, which is profound in considering that 50% of women, aged 85, have some form of this disease. Despite all the research and available literature on Bio-identical hormone replacement, little of it shows up in the major medical journals. Most physicians are, therefore, completely unaware of the virtues of this treatment option for their patients.

Bio-Identical hormone replacement also makes women feel better and have more energy, reduces mood swings and makes them seem happier, both to themselves and to their spouses.Libido returns or increases. Vaginal dryness resolves. Mental clarity returns Healing is more rapid.Bladder leakage can be eliminated without surgery.Natural oils come back to the skin.Elasticity of the skin is maintained. Literally, the sparkle comes back to their eyes.Hormone replacement should respect our Nature's biology and only be done with Bio-identical hormones. The benefits for most women far outweight the risks.