Are Your Hormones Making You Sick?

Are Your Hormones
Making You Sick?
{
Making Sense Of All The Madness
by
Elvis Torres, D.O.,FACOG
Hormones 101
Everything you wanted to forget from Biology class
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Hormones function as chemical messengers in your
body.
The base molecule for many hormones is Cholesterol.
The sex steroids include: Estrogen, Progesterone,
Testosterone. Other just as important hormones are
TSH, Insulin, DHEA and Cortisol.
99% of hormones in the blood are protein bound and
as such cannot be used by the cells.
Approximately 1% of hormones are free and are active
in the cells.
Different factors can affect the amount of bound and
unbound hormones.
Hormones 101 cont.
Functions of Estrogen
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Stimulate the endometrium (uterine lining)
Maintain vaginal and bladder tissue health
Stimulate growth of breast cells
Development of female sex organs during puberty
Decreases bone breakdown
Effects mood, cognition and concentration
Decreases thyroid function, which slows down
metabolism
Increases fat storage
Estrogen Dominance
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Allergies
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Decreased sex drive 
Fatigue
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Low blood sugar
Headaches/ Migraines 
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Memory loss
Thyroid dysfunction 
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Weight gain
Breast pain/ cyst
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Depression
PMS
Fibroid growth
Fluid retention
Worsening of
endometriosis
Heavy periods
Cramping
Breast cancer
Uterine cancer
Irritability/ mood
swings
Increase hormone
binding globulin
Estrogen Deficiency
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Vaginal dryness
Decreased sex drive
Disturbances in sleep
Poor concentration
Thinning of skin
Not All Estrogens Are Created Equal
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Three types of Estrogen made in the human body
Estrone: A moderately strong estrogen made from
Androsteinedione (a male hormone) in the adrenal
glands and in women converted into estrogen in fat
tissue.
Estradiol: The strongest and longest lasting of the
estrogens, estradiol is made in the ovaries. It is the
primary estrogen found in birth control pills
Estriol: The weakest estrogen. Peaks during
pregnancy but in non-pregnant women it is made by
conversion of Estradiol. May reduce risk of estrogen
dependent cancers by blocking the receptor from
Estradiol’s effects.
Estrogens Continued
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Phytoestrogens: Plant derived estrogens that can bind
to human receptors and act as weak estrogens. May
reduce the risk of estrogen dependent cancers. Example
is Soy.
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Premarin: Very strong and very long lasting estrogen
derived from pregnant mare urine. By-products have
been known carcinogenic for decades. The most widely
prescribed estrogen for hormone replacement.
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Xenoestrogens: The most potent of the estrogens. Byproduct of commercial compounds. Usually found as
isolates in small quantities. When combined, they
potentiate each other. Examples include pesticides,
cleaners, pollutants.
Progesterone Deficiency
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Promote and maintain pregnancy
Diuretic: decreases water retention
Increases thyroid function
Anti-depressive and anti-anxiety properties
Increases libido
Decreases cramping
Decreases estrogen receptors
Promotes cell maturation
Promotes natural cell death
Decreases frequency of seizures
Regulates menstrual cycles
Promotes growth of new bones
Functions of Testosterone
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Increases libido
Improves strength and balance
Builds muscle and strengthens bones
Keeps prostate growth under control
Nourishes tissues of the urinary tract
Increases red blood cell count
Lowers cholesterol
Improves cardiac circulation
Increases energy
Improves mental alertness
Functions of DHEA
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Lowers cholesterol
Prevents blood clots
Boost the immune system
Strengthens bones
Reduces body fat
Low levels are associated with: Lupus,
Alzheimer’s, diabetes, breast and ovarian
cancers, obesity and heart disease.
Feeling Overwhelmed?
Points to Remember
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The presence of estrogen, progesterone and
testosterone in a proper ratio balance the body.
There are many factors that can alter this
perfect ratio.
Restoring the proper ratio can have significant
benefits to your health.
Why Get Tested?
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Would you take thyroid, blood pressure,
cholesterol medication or insulin without first
checking your levels?
Would you add gas to your car or replace the
brakes whenever you felt like your car needed
it?
Why maintain the car at all? It’s just part of
being an old car isn’t it?
Testing Methods
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Serum Hormone levels:
Disadvantages: Doesn’t distinguish between
bound (non-functional) and unbound
(functional) hormones. Invasive. “Normal”
ranges can vary from 30-500 milligrams.
Advantages: usually covered by insurance.
Salivary levels: Found in studies to more
closely mimic true tissue levels. Reflects free
(unbound) hormone levels.
Testing Methods
Pg Cream (daily dose)
0 mg
0.34 mg
30 mg
Plasma (ng/ml)
0.36 + 0.06
0.50 + 0.09
1.8 + 0.3
Saliva (ng/ml)
0.03 + 0.006
0.152 + 0.025
8.7 + 3.5
Direct Comparison of Plasma and Saliva Levels After Topical
Progesterone Application Dollbaum CM, Duwe GF. Absorption of
progesterone after topical application: plasma and saliva levels.
Presented at the 7th Annual Meeting of the American Menopause
Society, 1997
Bloom T, Ojanotko-Harri A, Laine M, Huhtaniemi I. Metabolism of
progesterone and testosterone in human parotid and
submandibular salivary glands in vitro. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol
Jan 1993; 44 (1): 69-76.
Salivary Hormone Levels Studies
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Painter-Brick C, Lotstein DS, Ellison PT. Seasonality of reproductive function and
weight loss in rural Nepali women. Hum Reprod May 1993; 8 (5): 684-690.
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Ellison PT, Painter-Brick C, Lipson SF, O'Rourke MT. The ecological context of
human ovarian function. Hum Reprod Dec 1993; 8 (12): 2248-2258. Ellison PT.
Measurements of salivary progesterone. Ann NY Acad Sci Sept 20 1993; 694: 161176.
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Campbell BC, Ellison PT. Menstrual variation in salivary testosterone among
regularly cycling women. Horm Res 1992; 37 (4-5): 132-136.
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Lipson SF, Ellison PT. Reference values for luteal "progesterone" measured by
salivary radioimmunoassay. Fertility and Sterility May 1994; 61 (3): 448-454.
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Bloom T, Ojanotko-Harri A, Laine M, Huhtaniemi I. Metabolism of progesterone
and testosterone in human parotid and submandibular salivary glands in vitro. J
Steroid Biochem Mol Biol Jan 1993; 44 (1): 69-76.
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Good Evidence Concerning the Absorption of Steroids Through Human Skin
Johnson ME, et al. Permeation of steroids through human skin. J Pharmaceutical Sci
1995; 84: 1144-1146.
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The Evidence of Red Blood Cell Transport of Progesterone Devenuto F, et al.
Human erythrocyte membrane: Uptake of progesterone and chemical alterations.
Biochim Biophys Acta, 1969;193:36-47. Koefoed P, Brahm J. Permeability of human
red cell membrane to steroid sex hormones. Biochim Biophys Acta 1994; 1195: 55-62.
Hormone Replacement Options
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Traditional Hormone Therapy:
Premarin, Provera, Evista, Estratest,
Climara, etc.
Bio-identical Hormones: synthetic hormones
made to be identical to human hormones
Natural vs Bio-identical Estrogen
Natural vs Synthetic Premarin
Natural vs Synthetic Progesterone (Progestin)
Myths and Misconceptions
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WHI looked at the effects of Premarin and Provera
on health. Study stopped due to increased risk of
Stroke 41%, breast cancer 26%, heart disease 29%,
worsening of lipid profile 31% and pulmonary
embolism 213%.
No difference in risk with progesterone.
PEPI Study looked at cardiovascular disease risk in
apes using progesterone vs progestins.
Decreased risk in progesterone group.
Not one study to date has shown an increased risk of
stroke, worsening heart disease, increased cancer,
worsening lipid profile, pulmonary embolism or any
other disease with the use of Bio-identical hormones
to balance hormones when prescribed and used as
directed.
So Why All The Confusion?
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Conspiracy theory?
Pharmaceutical companies control nearly every venue
of medical literature and support medical schools with
grants and donations and would never allow any
promotion or literature supportive of anything contrary
to their business to be promoted.
Pharmaceutical companies would lose billions of
dollars/ annually if synthetic hormones were no longer
used.
Most doctors know very little about most of the
medications they prescribe beyond that told to them by
the drug representative.
People (including doctors) tend to fear and mock what
they do not understand.
Very few studies have been done directly comparing
Bio-identical hormones to their synthetic counterparts.
Most medical literature group hormones together as if
they were all the same. Not all fuels are good for the
same vehicle.
Take Home Message
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You aren’t just getting old. It may be your
hormones that are making you sick.
Hormone imbalance may be the problem or it
may not. The only way to know is to check.
When done right, hormone replacement
therapy does not increase health risk but may
significantly reduce your health risk.
Want more information?
Contact Dr. Elvis Torres
414 Grand Parkway S. Ste 115
Katy, Texas 77494
281-392-3700