BioIdentical Hormones
ASK THE DOCTOR 3 Dr. Leila Kirdani Adresses: BIOIDENTICAL HORMONES 
Why would I need Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy?
- Do you feel tired all the time?
- Do you have trouble sleeping?
- Are you irritable or moody?
- Are you gaining weight?
- Have you lost your passion for life?
- Do you just want to feel like yourself again?
- You could be suffering from hormonal imbalance!
Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains: WHAT ARE HORMONES? Hormones are substances that are produced in special tissues in the body and then released into the bloodstream. They travel to cells in other parts of the body where the hormone then exerts a characteristic effect. Our human hormones include:
- Estrogen
- Testosterone
- Progesterone
- Cortisol
- Thyroid
- DHEA
- Vitamin D
Dr. Leila Kirdani Describes: The Purpose of Hormones Hormones are responsible for the vital functioning of our bodies. For example, estrogen has over 400 functions in a woman’s body, and testosterone has the same for men. When we lose our hormones, we lose our ability to function efficiently on all fronts. From a disease perspective, we have an increased risk of heart disease due to increased blood pressure, blood sugar and poor cholesterol profiles. Mentally, we can no longer make all the neurotransmitters we need to feel good, so we are irritable, anxious, and depressed. We lose short-term memory. Our bones become thinner and our muscle tone decreases. We feel our aches and pains more because we have now lost one of our biggest anti-inflammatories – Estrogen. Our energy levels are low and so is our libido. Basically, we fall apart! Dr. Leila Kirdani Addresses: The Myths of Hormones “I HEARD HORMONES WERE BAD FOR YOU– CAN ESTROGEN AND TESTOSTERONE CAUSE CANCER?” Well, that gets us into the discussion of bio-identical hormones versus traditional hormone-replacement therapy (HRT). Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are made from plants to be the exact same molecule that our bodies naturally produce. Because they are identical in structure to what we make, Bio-identical hormones are not able to be patented. Traditional HRT uses hormones that are NOT the same molecule. Our bodies are very complex and need the exact key to fit our molecular “locks”, or receptor sites on cells. If you think that small changes in structure don’t matter, think about this: The only difference between testosterone and estradiol are two chemical bonds and two hydrogen atoms. These small differences comprise the entire molecular difference between men and women! Hormones that are not bio-identical can have many more differences than just a few bonds and a few hydrogen atoms. These differences cause them to act very differently in the body. For example, for many years the most commonly prescribed form of HRT for women was Premarin. Premarin, or Conjugated Equine Estrogen, is derived from pregnant horse urine, and contains over 27 different estrogen compounds that are molecularly different from our own estrogens. Our bodies can only use two of these compounds, and then need to break down the other 25 which are not useable. Side effects of synthetic estrogens including Premarin include:
- Breast tenderness
- High blood pressure
- Vaginal bleeding
- Gallstones
- Blood clots
- Headaches
- Leg cramps
- Insulin resistance
- Worsening of uterine fibroids and endometriosis
- Jaundice and even cancer.
Premarin has been shown to cause DNA damage and therefore increase the risk of breast and uterine cancers. For years the most commonly prescribed progestin in the United States was Provera, or medroxyprogestin acetate. Progestins act very differently from progesterone in the body. Progestins actually counter many of the positive benenfits we receive from our own natural estrogens. They increase inflammation and the risk of strokes. They are contra-indicated in pregnancy due to causing birth defects. Provera has been shown to cause cancer! What changed all this significantly were the findings of The Women’s Health Initiative. This study, which included over 150,000 women showed that women taking Premarin and Provera together had an increased risk of cancer, blood clots and heart disease. When this study was published, millions of women stopped taking their HRT, and sales of synthetic hormones dropped by over $1 billion annually! Unfortunately, a lot of confusion was generated on the part of the pharmaceutical companies so that doctors and patients began to think that ALL estrogens were bad. This is definitely not the case. More recent evidence has shown that bio-identical hormones when used in the correct balance actually prevent cancer! Dr. Leila Kirdani Explains: WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP ME FEEL BETTER? It is important to start with lifestyle changes to help balance hormones because of the effects that stress and diet have on hormonal dysregulation. There are also many herbs that help balance hormones as well, including Dong Qui, black cohosh and chasteberry. For many women, however, these measures are just not enough. Fortunately, for these women there is Bio-Identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). By using BHRT we are trying to bring the body back in balance by imitating the body’s natural processes as much as possible. We replace hormones to the extent that we are alleviating the symptoms caused by the natural decrease in production of hormones. Of course it is best to find a provider who is trained in the use of bio-identical hormones, but even more important is to educate yourself as to the various options out there. Read reference books and articles. Listen to your body. Document changes you are experiencing, and talk with your health professionals. If they won’t listen try to find yourself a Doctor Board Certified in Anti-Aging and Functional Medicine.