How Hormones Work: Overview of Hormone Balance

The key to hormone health for men and women is Balance.  Hormones are the messenger molecules that enter the bloodstream and seek cells with receptor sites into which they fit perfectly and in harmony.

Hormones affect all parts of the body. They are intimately related to each other, each one being made from another hormone or turned back into another hormone, depending on the needs of the body. One hormone leads to another. Current research to find hormonal imbalance solutions for all of us is progressing in the areas of enzymatic and genetic interventions. An example of the enzymes that act as catalysts for conversion of one hormone to another can be seen on this steroid hormones biosynthesis pathway model.  An example of the genetic components of the pathway can be seen at Gladstone Institutes' University of California San Francisco gene profiler project steroid biosynthesis pathways model. The Hormone Pathways Model guides us in choosing bioidentical hormone replacement therapy formulas.  A simpler view pertinent to  bioidentical therapy and symptoms with appropriate therapy for hormone imbalance for men and women is below:

Note that Pregnenolone is the "mother of hormones".  Also note that Progesterone is needed to make all other hormones. That’s why common sense would indicate progesterone for everyone regardless of hormone imbalance problem. Testosterone is created from DHEA, Pregnenolone, and Progesterone.  Common sense would indicate that Testosterone imbalance would be corrected with DHEA, Pregnenolone, and Progesterone. What about Excess Estrogen, too much estrogen? Or Estrogen Dominance where Estrogen Progesterone ratios are out of balance, when Estrogen is too high and Progesterone too low?  Adding Progesterone creates balance. What about Estrogen deficiency? Common sense would indicate to supplement Estrogen, most often with Estriol (E3), if Estrogen levels are low.  Estrogen alone would not be enough unless Progesterone is also added to increase receptivity at the cellular hormone receptor site and to allow the body to heal and make its own Estrogens. It is easy to see why treating hormone problems with the hormone itself is wise, and why hormone replacement therapy must also include the precursors that make the specific hormone. Bodies will heal themselves with the proper natural hormone therapy supplements… in balance.

Hormone Receptor Sites

It is difficult to attain and maintain the delicate balance of the hormones. There are profound effects on your body if one hormone is missing or is present in excess or lack. The effects are profound also from prescriptions for synthetic hormones and drugs that cannot fit into a cell’s receptor site perfectly or in harmony. Synthetic prescriptions are NOT bio-identical, nor are they natural.  Some modification of prescription patent drugs takes place (or they couldn't be patented) from the original hormone molecule and that modification means it will NOT fit into the receptor site at the cellular level perfectly and in harmony.  Think of it as a key fitting into a lock.  Receptor Sites need their own (bioidentical) hormones. Bio-identical simply means "natural" or "normal", i.e. biologically identical to that made by the human body.  Natural substances cannot be patented as drugs can.  Mimic, counterfeit, fake or synthetic hormones at the site lead to hormone imbalance because they are xeno-estrogens, foreign to the body.

Pregnenolone and the Adrenal Hormones

The adrenals provide us three key hormones for well-being, health, and hormonal balance: Mineralocorticoids which maintain sodium and fluid balance: Glucocorticoids, principally cortisol, which regulates blood sugar levels and energy; and male and female hormones.  The adrenals produce hormones, cortisol, that help to balance your blood sugar in the mechanism of providing you energy.   When blood sugar drops, the adrenals release hormones that cause the blood sugar to rise, and increases energy. The adrenals also release hormones when we're under stress, We all know the adrenaline rush, the "fight or flight" response when we are frightened.  Stress triggers the same hormonal response in the body, even if you don't notice that low-grade adrenaline rush.
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But being consistently under stress takes a toll on the adrenal glands, and eventually, they run out of steam, and stop producing sufficient hormones.  Intensity and frequency of stressors determines at which point in life it happens, but we often see it from age 30 and higher.   It is called Adrenal Fatigue, Adrenal Exhaustion, Adrenal Burnout.  It is always associated with other hormonal imbalances involving androgens and DHEA, and the balance of estrogen and progesterone in the body. 

Complicating adrenal exhaustion, women are often suffering from PMS, peri-menopause, or menopause at the same time, and low progesterone, high estrogen levels are seen in them.  Men are typically higher in Estrogen and lower in the Androgens. Both sexes lose a sense of well-being, strength, and endurance, with lower libido. It is also often occurring at the life stages when stress is high, cortisol is being overproduced, and finally the adrenals tire and stop responding. The result? Low DHEA, testosterone, adrenal fatigue, adrenal exhaustion. Hormone imbalance!  You feel sick.  It is extremely wise to have saliva testing done for all the hormones at 4 different times throughout a day.  You would use "the works" saliva kit package.  Click here

The solution for Adrenal Fatigue and Adrenal Exhaustion?  Hormones to boost the adrenals are DHEA, Progesterone, and Pregnenolone. Are you Low in something? Common sense would indicate that you supplement with that hormone.  Using all three hormones is critical to improve adrenal function. It takes a long time to regain strong adrenals. You need the right hormones at the right time of day. A single formula cannot be created to boost adrenals because the 3 hormones have different peak longevity cycles in the body. DHEA & Pregnenolone in the morning; Pregnenolone throughout the day; and Progesterone in the evening are the key to restoring adrenals. Creams bypass the liver and go where needed. Equalizer Plus originally developed for arthritis pain relief is superb with its high Pregnenolone formula content in an adrenal repair protocol along with DHEA and Progesterone: 3 hormones at the right times in the day.

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Progesterone

Progesterone and Estrogen are linked and must be in balance. Progesterone declines in aging, and declines at a much earlier age than previously thought. Low levels of Progesterone are now being seen in both men and women. Progesterone must be present for the body to manufacture other hormones. Thus, simple common sense in hormone imbalance would be that the FIRST natural hormone therapy is always Progesterone or some formula with USP Progesterone. (20 mg/use or about 450 mg/oz.)
 

                           Progesterone Decline by age for both Men and Women

Prescription Progestins (synthetic) drugs are NOT Progesterone. The actual Progesterone molecule is not found in nature outside the human body. The actual molecule can be synthesized using the Marker degradation process in a laboratory from wild yams or soybeans. The resulting molecule then is neither wild yam nor soy. The result of the synthesis is a bioidentical molecule, USP Progesterone. This is why “wild yam creams” are not effective. Common sense would indicate that it would be very wise to use only Progesterone formulas in containers that are not open to contamination and that are bio-identical.

Progesterone supplementation need is greater for those during Perimenopause,  Menopause, Pre-Menopause, Post-menopause AND by men after age 40, AND for fertility in young women.

A large number of young women have too much estrogen and not enough progesterone at the end of a cycle. Fertility problems, PMS, migraines, and risk of systemic problems  an occur. Progesterone cream is of great benefit in PMS.  Progesterone is needed in balance, lifelong

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Estrogen

Estrogen excess (dominance) is a much greater problem then estrogen deficiency.   Natural Progesterone is the treatment as it is the body’s natural way of keeping estrogen in balance and relieving symptoms. Progesterone and Estrogen are linked and must be in balance.  Estrogen deficiency symptoms are vaginal dryness and atrophy with persistent hot flashes despite adequate Progesterone treatment.  Natural Progesterone is also part of the treatment for estrogen deficiency because Progesterone maintains the cell’s estrogen receptor sensitivity. Without progesterone, a cell cannot respond to estrogen.

Low Estrogen? Common sense would indicate to supplement with estrogen.  Either Phytoestrogens or Natural Estriol can correct an Estrogen deficiency or low estrogen levels. Some pre-menopausal, peri-menopause, menopausal, and post-menopausal women use Phytoestrogens, herbal plant chemicals that have weak estrogen-like activity. They bind to and activate estrogen receptors, alleviating symptoms. Phytoestrogens like soy, black cohosh, vitex, or wild yam, when you do not need them, will make you feel worse, not better. Many women overuse soy, use the wrong Progesterone formula with plant estrogens, are really Estrogen dominant, and need a “plain” USP micronized bioidentical Progesterone cream.  Men likewise suffer from estrogen dominance as they age and also need Progesterone to recreate the natural hormone balance of the male hormones.

The key to all hormone balance is what happens at the receptor site of a cell. Receptor sites require very specific hormones at each cell’s site. Prescription synthetic estrogen or Progestin drugs mimic, block, and interfere at the site. They are “fake” or “mimics”. Normal activity cannot occur. People feel worse. Receptors need bio-identical hormones.

Estrogen levels decline throughout life, but not to zero.
Note the dramatic early decrease in Progesterone at earlier ages than previously known (explains PMS in young women.)  There are three estrogens: Estradiol, Estrone, and Estriol. 

Low Estrogen? Common sense would indicate to supplement with estrogen.  It is widely known that Estriol is the safest of the three estrogens. Estrogen works especially well for hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, or vaginal dryness. Only about 35% of postmenopausal women benefit from low dose estrogen, and are usually those with less body fat. Vaginal or topical creams containing Estriol are recommended because oral supplements must go through the liver and digestive tract, losing effectiveness, before they get to the cellular level.

Estriol bioidentical supplementation is recommended for estrogen supplementation for those truly Estrogen deficient.  Estriol helps with the symptoms of urinary tract infections, vaginal atrophy, relieving hot flashes and night sweats, protecting the skin from aging, when used with Natural Progesterone.

Topical or vaginal Estriol, 0.5-1.0 mg. every other day is recommended. Oral Estriol is not recommended, as it, like any other oral medication, must pass through the liver to be metabolized. Topical or vaginal applications of all kinds do not pass through the liver and thus are more “bio-available” for use by each cell and receptor site. NEVER use Estriol without Progesterone. Progesterone increases the Estrogen receptor sites' sensitivity. The receptors need both in balance.

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Testosterone, DHEA, & the Male Hormones

Testosterone declines most steeply about the time of the “mid-life crisis” for both men and women. DHEA begins declining at about age 25. Testosterone, DHEA, DHT, and Androstenedione are the Androgens, the male hormones. Androgens are equally important in the hormone balance of women. In the same manner that Progesterone is important to both sexes, so are the Androgens.

Androgen excess and androgen deficiency can occur in both sexes. Men are typically higher in Estradiol (men become Estrogen Dominant) and lower in the Androgens after age 40. Men lose a sense of well-being, strength, and endurance. Both sexes see lower libido.

Decreases in libido in both men and women account for the mad rush for “sex-boosting” formulas. Low libido is related to low androgen levels. Important Note: Testosterone given alone has a temporary effect for the symptoms of low libido, loss of strength, endurance, hair loss, thyroid deficiency, and restoring a sense of well-being. Using only Testosterone is a temporary solution.  Over long term use testosterone supplementation simply teaches the body NOT to make its own testosterone and in men and women it converts immediately to Estradiol.  It is much better advised to use DHEA, Progesterone, Pregnenolone, the precursors to testosterone, to retrain the body to make more of its own testosterone.   A Progesterone Prostate Care formula without the testosterone boosting Androgens also effectively increases testosterone because Progesterone is needed by the body to make all other hormones.  Some choose a Progesterone only formula to boost testosterone.

The hormones to boost Testosterone are found in the daily use of  DHEA Progesterone, and Pregnenolone formula. The Progesterone in this formula is excellent for men, but too low for women. Women need to use the DHEA formula especially designed for them. Additionally, women who use DHEA and enjoy its benefits need to know that DHEA (androgen) in excess has a masculine effect on women.  Remember: Balance is the key.

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