Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing for Men and Women

Men need testosterone, women need estrogen — or so it goes for the average person. But it is not so simple! There are many other hormones in the body that are crucial to good health, and the balance between them is most critical. But the principle hormone men think of as they age is testosterone (and women — estrogen.) These are the well-known players that most people recognize immediately. In this article, we discuss the benefits of balancing of group of hormones called the “Sex Steroid Hormones.” This group includes testosterone, estrogen and several others, but does not include many other hormones produced in the body. (Like thyroid hormones T3, T4 and TSH, etc.)

For more information about the Sex Steroid Hormone family, read
General Information About Hormones

Bio-identical hormone replacement has been in the headlines for the past month or so, due to the appearance of Suzanne Somers on the Oprah show in late January. In many ways, her appearance has had the positive effect of energizing the public to seek more information.

Bio-identical hormones are simply hormones whose molecular structure is identical to that produced by the human body. Such molecules are quickly recognized and assimilated by the body. Prescription hormone replacement therapy consists of animal or synthetic hormones. These hormones are not well recognized or assimilated by the human body, and thus, they cause unanticipated problems.

Hormones are messengers, which are central to the body's functions. They determine how people perform both physically and emotionally. Optimal hormone levels and hormonal balance are necessary to maintain health. Hormones impact virtually every major system and organ in the body.

With increasing age, some hormone levels begin to drop and others tend to increase. This changes the ratio between hormones causing imbalances that play an important role in the aging process. Such imbalances can at times interfere with muscle development, skin health, sexual function, sleep patterns, and cognitive as well as emotional processes, thereby reducing one’s overall sense of well-being. Hormone deficiencies and imbalances have been associated with heart disease, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, behavioral and neurodegenerative disorders, certain types of cancers, and other serious health conditions.

Thus, when hormone levels are insufficient or out-of-balance, health problems can result. Often these health problems are minor in nature, but over time may become serious, debilitating, and occasionally life threatening. Monitoring hormone levels via home saliva testing kits can easily determine if reported symptoms are associated with hormonal imbalances or a specific hormone deficiency.

Age-related hormone changes occur in both men and women. In both sexes, the changes often begin in the late thirties or early forties and continue slowly and progressively. Of course, we are all familiar with the female menopause, which has the specific physical marker of cessation of the menstrual flow. Men do not have a specific physical event that marks their transition, but it is certainly present, and is generally known today as andropause. It is important to understand that regardless of the onset of a physical event or symptoms that mark a transition, the actual decline typically begins many years earlier. Thus, the earlier one addresses age-related hormonal imbalances, the more benefits accrue.

In women the transition towards menopause is typically marked by the following symptoms:

Optimal health for both men and women is dependent on hormone balance, not just a single hormone. Men with low androgen hormones or imbalances in their androgen to estrogen (or progesterone) levels can benefit enormously from hormone supplementation designed to achieve balance. Similarly, women whose estrogen (or progesterone) to androgen level is out of balance can eliminate many pre-, peri- and post- menopausal symptoms. Unfortunately, there is significant fear on the part of both men and women regarding any kind of hormone replacement therapy.

For women, this fear is primarily due to the termination (in July of 2002), of part of the National Institute of Health (NIH) large, in-progress Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study. The purpose of the halted part of the WHI study was to examine the effects of widely used synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that combines the animal derived hormones estrogen and synthetic progestin. The study was discontinued because the HRT appeared to increase the risk of a woman developing breast cancer, blood clots, or stroke. (For more information, read A Guide to Natural Hormone Balancing for Women.

Likewise, aging men have — for many years — been advised that increasing low testosterone levels would raise their risk of developing prostate cancer. This was based on research performed nearly seven decades ago. Current research suggests that this paradigm is wrong and that low testosterone levels, particularly low free testosterone levels, are actually associated with prostate dysfunction. A growing volume of recent studies has challenged the prevailing theory that testosterone supplementation in men with low levels of the hormone can cause increased growth of a prostate tumor. (For more information, read Testosterone Supplementation for Older Men.

These fears cause many aging men and women to suffer through their “golden years” with considerable discomfort from serious hormone deficiencies or imbalances. Considering that natural bio-identical hormones are quite safe, and hormone levels can be easily determined in the privacy of one’s home with a saliva test kit, it is sad to see so many people suffering.

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Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing for Men and Women by James Occhiogrosso, N.D.

Bio-Identical Hormone Balancing for Men and Women
by James Occhiogrosso, N.D.