The male and female hormone systems are very complex and should be looked at from many different avenues. A large majority of my patients come to the office with "hormone panels" that were run on a one day blood draw with their doctor extrapolating the issues from there. The problem with this is that the female cycle is 28-35 days and should be looked at over the entire cycle. In our office we recommend expanded male or female hormone panels. This is an example of the first page of the extended female hormone panel. Notice how it follows the full cycle including hormone value.

Female Hormones
As menopause approaches women lose their ability to make estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen is very protective for women and has been seen to help with inflammation. Low estrogen and progesterone effects brain chemicals that could lead to depression, lethargy, mood imbalances and irritability. The reason is because low estrogen impacts a mood enhancing chemical called serotonin, while low progesterone impacts a calming chemical called GABA.

A drop in progesterone can also cause women to feel more pain. When progesterone levels decrease during menopause there is a decline in pain reducing corticosteroid production. When progesterone levels decrease with menopause the adrenal glands should take over and produce it. However, adrenal burnout is very common in the U.S. which means that the adrenal glands struggle to make progesterone and pain reducing corticosteroids. Symptoms of progesterone deficiency: heavy menstrual bleeding, inability to lose weight, depression, headaches and PAIN.

There are other factors that can cause problems with female hormones. The first is severe low functioning thyroid or hypothyroidism. The thyroid hormones help to bring progesterone into the cells. Not enough progesterone in the cells can lead to the loss of ovulation. The combination of insufficient progesterone and no ovulation can leading to a build up of too much tissue lining in the uterus seen as excessive and irregular bleeding. When the lining of the uterus is too thick it can also cause infertility and miscarriage.

The second is adrenal stress. Adrenal stress fatigues the pituitary gland when we are under chronic stress, which leads to low progesterone in women. Prolonged adrenal stress runs down the livers ability to get rid of estrogen, which circulates estrogen back into the blood stream. High levels of estrogen found in the blood stream reduce the ability for thyroid hormones to get into the cell which can lead to symptoms of (low) hypothyroidism. This can be mistaken as hormone or thyroid issues.

The third is blood sugar imbalances. Insulin surges from blood sugar imbalances raise testosterone in women. The elevation of testosterone increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and possibly Poly Cystic Ovary Disease (PCO'S). These surges along with adrenal gland issues can lead to infertility. PCO'S are often seen with insulin resistance due to too much blood sugar for long periods of time. This raises testosterone which worsens the resistance of cells to taking in insulin.

These issues and others should all be address when women suffer from any hormone related events.

Hormone Cream CAUTION!
When a person floods their system with creams the brain gets the message that no hormones are needed and decreases the body's feedback to create its own hormones. Hormone production depends on the communication from the hypothalamus and pituitary to the hormone glands, based on feedback the brain get from hormone activity. Many hormone creams build up in body fat, especially in the obese, this stresses the liver to breakdown more hormones. Eventually the liver can't keep up with the demand and falters raising inflammation, cholesterol and lowering immunity.

Male Hormones
Blood sugar imbalances can change testosterone into estrogen causing men to lose their androgen dominance. The elevation of estrogen in men can begin andropause, the male equivalent of menopause. The rise in estrogen and subsequent lowering of testosterone can: create plaque in arteries, cause hair to fall out or thin, increase rage and emotions, and/or lead to erectile dysfunction or infertility. Dopamine, DHEA, low cholesterol, thyroid and adrenal issues can also cause problems in male hormones. To accurately address the male hormone system a wide based approach should be used. Far too often men are prescribed testosterone and erectile dysfunction medications without properly addressing the other issues that may be involved.