Question about bioidentical hormones

[Meganator]

I didn't want to hijack Barbara's hot flash thread, but it made me think of a question. I read all of the thread like that because I am 42 and have some very mild symptoms of peri-menopause (occasional, seemingly random night sweats, no hot flashes) and know that I am going to need all this information eventually!

Bioidentical hormones. My understanding is that, if you take this route, then a compoundin pharmacy makes you a hormone "prescription" that matches the hormone balance that is natural for your body. But if, by the time you need it, your hormonal balance has already changed, then how is it determined what your natural hormone balance was? :confused: It makes me think that I need to have something measured NOW, so that I can use the information later to potentially restore my body chemistry to its previous state.

The only thing that I can figure out is that the various hormones stay in the same ratio as one ages, but they each decrease in the amount you have. So then it is clear that the bioidentical hormones need to be in such-and-such a ratio. But how does the doctor know what the level was to start with, even if they know the ratio?

I'm sure I could study a while and find this info online, but this BB is such a great source of information from people who know stuff. :) Maybe the answers will be useful to someone else besides me.

Thanks,
Megan

[wallycat]

In my late 40's, I'd only get the night sweats the week before my period....and I was still regular till Tamoxifen (the only NICe side-effect is no more periods!!), but now the night sweats and occasional hot flash rear their heads.
I can't take any hormones, but from all the reading I did, my understanding is that bio-identical try to mimic the natural, healthier estrogen (or progesterone) that the body normally produces.
For example, women make 3 types of estrogen: estrone, estriol and estradiol.
Estradiol is mimiced using pregnant mare urine or other "synthetic" compounds to create that. Of the 3 estrogens, estriol is supposed to be cancer protective and gentler, but it take a lot more (higher dosage) to get the desired effects. (I suppose that's why the pharmaceutical industry used estradiol).
So even the the esriol may be synthetically created (pharmacy), it is "bio-identical" in that it is most similar to what our bodies produce..
I never actually understood why that term was used but that is my interpretation.

[Meganator]

Thanks for the information. I never considered the timing of the night sweats...I will take note of that next few times it happens and see if there is a correlation.

[gabbyh]

Megan...I'm posting a link to a great interview on Dr. Uzzi Reiss on bioidentical hormones below...the key to knowing what amount is needed is by getting your hormones tested via serum levels: total estrogen, progesterone, total testosterone, and if you really want to do a complete hormone balance, then adding in DHEA-S and pregnenolone...I work for an anti-aging company, and we see lots of info on hormones.

I've been using bioidentical hormones for a few years: micronized progesterone, and tri-est...and occasionally testosterone...I cycle them and use a different amount in each of 3 different times throughout the month....from 1-14 days I use more estrogen than progesterone, from days 15-25 I use the opposite, and from days 26-EOM I use the same amount of each.

Here's the article:

http://www.cbs.com/cbs_cares/menopause/menopause_interview_uzzi.shtml

~Gail

[mkc]

I just finished reading Suzanne Somers' "The Sexy Years" (I HIGHLY recommend it), and Dr. Uzzi Reiss is one of the doctors she interviews throughout the book. I'm actually going for my first bioidentical hormone consultation on Monday, to a NP who specializes in the field and comes very highly recommended by many women in my community. I'll try to glean what I can from that appointment with regards to ratios, levels, etc. Also, Dr. Reiss has a book "Natural Hormone Balance" on bioidentical hormones out which I just ordered from Amazon.

In Suzanne's book, she does mention that stress levels can cause changes in the hormone levels as well, and one doctor (it may be Reiss) discusses that there are several "types" of hormone women, your personal chemistry may be more dominant with estrogen or testosterone.

I have to say, it was an excellent read. All those things I had spoken with doctors about before and was "pooh poohed" at and here she was outlining some of my experiences exactly. Between that and a misdiagnosis by my now-previous GP (her office reported my hormones were normal, after I finally got them to give me a copy of the bloodwork, estrogen is low and FSH is through the roof, both in the "menopause" range), I am extremely excited about my Monday appointment!

Michelle