Understanding Hormones; Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone, Thyroid

For women, the three most important hormones that need to be considered in optimizing an individual’s hormones providing longevity with outstanding quality of life and disease prevention are estrogen, testosterone and thyroid.  For men, there are two, testosterone and thyroid.

Estrogen:

Estrogen is an amazing hormone.  It has over four hundred functions in a woman’s body.  It protects the skin and keeps you looking young.  It protects the nerves in the brain, reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.  Unbeknownst of many, it is necessary to shed that unwanted “belly fat.” Estrogen is also very important in properly remodeling your bones and avoiding osteoporosis.

Testosterone:

Testosterone is one of the most important hormones in both men and women (yes, women produce a lot of testosterone every day). Women start losing their testosterone production in their twenties and men start losing theirs in their thirties.  In males, low testosterone known as androgen deficiency in the adult male (ADAM) causes a host of problems; increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, osteoporosis (men get osteoporosis too), prostate cancer, diabetes, and muscle loss.

Women with low testosterone have similar issues: increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, osteoporosis and fractures, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and possible risk for breast cancer.

Testosterone deficiency often results in many common complaints including loss of energy, loss of mental clarity, loss of muscle mass, weight gain (especially around the mid-section), difficulty losing weight even while exercising and eating appropriately, decreased exercise tolerance, anxiety, irritability, depression, bone loss, decreased sex drive in women, and loss of erectile ability in males.  Optimal levels of testosterone not only allow patients to get in shape more quickly, but stay in shape with much less effort.

Thyroid:

The thyroid gland is located in the front lower part of your neck.  Hormones released by the gland travel through your bloodstream and affect many parts of your body, including your heart, brain, muscles and skin.

The thyroid controls how your body’s cells use energy from food (also called metabolism). Your metabolism affects many things including your heartbeat, your body’s temperature, and how well you burn calories.  If you don’t have enough thyroid hormone, your metabolism slows down. That means your body makes less energy and you become sluggish, gain weight, and are less inclined to exercise.

Hypothyroidism, also called underachieve thyroid disease, is a common disorder whereby the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.

As many as forty percent of Americans are hypothyroid. That’s nearly fifty-two million people.  What kinds of symptoms would you have if your thyroid levels were low?  They might include fatigue, lethargy, sleepiness, depression, cold intolerance, dry skin, weight gain, joint pain, constipation, and high cholesterol.  These symptoms may resemble those experienced with low testosterone.

Progesterone: 

For women there is a “bonus hormone.”  It’s not one that everyone recognizes as important and not one everyone thinks about.  It’s called progesterone.  Not just any progesterone will do: it must be micronized progesterone.  Unlike synthetic forms you would find in birth control pills and many forms of synthetic HRT used for menopause progesterone derived from plants, and which matches human progesterone.  It’s called “micronized” to describe how it’s made using oil to encourage absorption through the digestive tract when taking capsules by mouth.

Many women feel micronized progesterone is more calming, helps them sleep, and complements their estrogen therapy very well, especially when compared to the side effects of synthetic progesterones  like Provera. Natural micronized progesterone has beneficial effects on the heart including reducing atherosclerosis and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of uterine cancer, reducing the risk of breast cancer, and improving cognitive function.  One of its few side effects is somnolence, which can be a good thing because it helps you sleep at night.

Synthetic progesterone, like that used in the Women’s Health Initiative, has adverse effects on your HDL cholesterol (the good one), the heart, and the brain.  In addition, the synthetics increase swelling, bloating, anxiety, irritability, headaches, food cravings, depression, and muscle aches.

The bottom line is that if your doctor is not familiar with the benefits of micronized natural progesterone and tries to put you on synthetic progesterone, you owe it to yourself to politely but firmly decline.

Regenerative Medicine Center, Founder Valerie Donaldson, MD offers consultations to discuss your health and wellness to begin your journey to an optimal healthy lifestyle. Call our offices to schedule your appointment today.  (412) 767-9890