Bioidentical Hormones for Optimal Healthspan

Author: Ivy Garza, PharmD, RPh

Being healthy and feeling your best can allow you to live your best life, to go for your dreams and be happy! It goes without saying that your health is everything.

Healthspan is the protection from adverse effects of aging, attaining improved cellular vitality and quality of life. You want to do everything you can to extend your healthspan to stay free of disease and live an active life into your later years.

There are many aspects to increasing your healthspan, including the following:

Eating healthy
Staying hydrated
Exercising and staying active
Getting sound sleep
Managing stress

Optimal Hormone Status for Improved Healthspan

Did you know that optimal hormone levels are also key to your healthspan? Hormones are the body’s chemical messengers that coordinate different functions by carrying messages through your bloodstream to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissues. Hormones basically tell your body what to do. They are essential to life. Without hormones, you could not live. (1)

Hormones affect many different processes, including growth and development, metabolism, sexual function, reproduction, and mood. When your glands do not produce the right amount of hormones, a deficiency and imbalance occurs and this can result in disease. The age-related decline in hormones produces many of the diseases associated with midlife. (1)

Let’s discuss a few of our favorite hormones that contribute to good health.

PROGESTERONE

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is produced in women by the adrenal cortex and the ovaries. Progesterone is a derivative of cholesterol and has numerous functions in the human body, especially within the reproductive system. The main function of progesterone is to prepare the lining of the uterus for pregnancy.

Progesterone in women is helpful for:

Relieving PMS symptoms
Regulating the menstrual cycle
Fertility/pregnancy
Anxiety
Depressed moods
Postpartum depression
Bloating
Breast tenderness
Sound sleep
Fluid retention/weight gain
Relieving migraines/headaches
Bone health
Promoting optimal thyroid function

ESTROGEN

Estrogen is a group of steroid hormones associated with the female reproductive organs and is responsible for developing female sexual characteristics. The three types of estrogen are estradiol, estrone, and estriol. A woman’s ovaries make most of the estrogen hormones, although the adrenal glands and fat cells also make small amounts, too.

Estrogen is beneficial for:

Regulating the menstrual cycle
Menopause symptoms
Hot flashes
Night sweats
Vaginal dryness, atrophy and thinning
Mood swings
Memory and concentration
Bone health
Heart health
Depression
Sleep
Libido
Skin health/elasticity

TESTOSTERONE

Testosterone is a steroid hormone that stimulates development of male secondary sexual characteristics and is produced mainly in the testes.

Benefits of Optimal Levels of Testosterone in Men

Increases energy
Improves muscle mass, strength and tone
Increases stamina and endurance.
Protects the heart and arteries, decreases risk of heart disease, and lowers blood pressure
Helps maintain a healthy metabolism and improve energy
Improves libido and sexual ability
Improves mental sharpness
Enhances cognitive function and memory
Helps build strong bones
Increases sense of well-being and self-confidence
Improves moods
Relieves anxiety and depression
Decreases body fat around the waist
Improves sleep and sleep apnea
Improves initiative, assertiveness, decisiveness and drive

Benefits of Testosterone in Women

Women actually make testosterone, too, in their ovaries and adrenal glands.

Testosterone in women is beneficial for:

Improving libido
Bone density
Muscle mass
Cognitive function
Mood
Sexual function
Energy

BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES

When you are experiencing the symptoms of hormone decline, the solution is to restore those hormones with the very ones you are missing. Bioidentical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones produced by your body. Your body recognizes them and knows what to do with them.

Beware of what we call “counterfeit” hormone therapy, which includes Premarin, Prempro and Provera, among many others. These compounds are not identical to the hormones made by your body and have many negative side effects and dangerous health consequences.

Premarin, which is prescribed for women in menopause, is a perfect example. Premarin, which is derived from pregnant mare urine, contains numerous horse estrogens that are not found in humans. Birth control pills contain progestins, which are very different from progesterone. Provera contains medroxyprogesterone (progestins), again, not progesterone. Counterfeit hormones have been shown to have numerous negative side effects, including increased risk of blood clots, stroke and heart disease, as well as breast cancer.

The Women’s Health Initiative studied 27,347 postmenopausal women, age 50–79 years. The women were given conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin) with medroxyprogesterone acetate (progestin or Provera) for women with an intact uterus, and Premarin alone for women with hysterectomy, or their placebos. The main outcomes were coronary heart disease and invasive breast cancer, respectively, as well as stroke, pulmonary embolism, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, hip fracture, and deaths. (2)

We Are Here to Help.

As you can see, having optimal hormone levels can help your body function at its best. It is important for your healthspan to ensure that you are not deficient in any of your hormones.

Bioidentical hormones do require a prescription from your provider. Call our pharmacists today with any questions about your prescription needs at 281-828-9088. It will be our privilege to serve you!

Research

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