Transforming Patient Lives

When hormones are optimized, patients may experience profound improvements in their daily lives—like better energy, mental clarity, weight management, mobility, emotional well-being, and overall vitality. Addressing hormonal imbalances doesn’t just treat symptoms; it restores quality of life.

Beyond menopause, hormonal imbalances have been shown to contribute to insulin resistance, fatty liver, obesity, PCOS, depression, and infertility—conditions that may improve with optimized hormone therapy.

Life-Changing Benefits

Restoring hormones with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) at menopause (and andropause) may possibly reduce the risks for:

- Cardiovascular disease

- Cancer (e.g., breast, uterine)

- Dementia & cognitive decline

- Urogenital atrophy & infections

- Osteoporosis

- Diabetes

(2009 Review, Royal Osteoporosis Society, 2021 Review, 2023 paper)

Clearing the Confusion

As a patient or prescriber, you've likely encountered conflicting information about hormone therapy. Much of this stems from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, a large-scale NIH study launched in 1991 to assess hormone therapy, diet, and vitamin supplementation in postmenopausal women.

When the 2002 WHI results linked hormone therapy to increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, and blood clots, widespread panic led many providers to discontinue hormone prescriptions. However, a critical nuance was overlooked—the WHI only studied synthetic hormones, such as medroxyprogesterone and conjugated equine estrogens, derived from pregnant mares.

Truth About Bioidentical Hormones

Despite misleading claims, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that bioidentical hormones carry the same inherent risks as synthetic ones. In fact, hundreds of peer-reviewed studies suggest the opposite (2009 Review). So, what makes bioidentical hormones a potentially safer option? Unlike synthetic hormones, which have altered molecular structures that interact unpredictably with human receptors, bioidentical hormones are exact replicas of those naturally produced by the human body. They are synthesized from the plant-derived steroid diosgenin, extracted from soy and yams, and converted in a lab into estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and pregnenolone - hormones identical to those we already naturally produce. Hormones regulate essential bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, reproduction, and mood. When their production, secretion, or action is disrupted, it can lead to various health issues, such as:

- Excessive or insufficient hormone production

- Hormone resistance (receptor downregulation)

- Dysregulated hormonal feedback loops

Traditionally, we’ve associated hormone production with specific endocrine glands. However, research now shows that nearly every organ has some endocrine function. For instance, the stomach, pancreas, and intestines produce hormones like CCK, peptide YY, amylin, GLP-1, and GIP, which regulate appetite.

The Overlooked Role of Sex Hormones

Sex hormones—including testosterone, DHEA, estradiol, progesterone, and pregnenolone—are vital for both men and women, though levels differ between sexes. While their role in reproduction is well known, their influence extends far beyond fertility, impacting multiple chronic conditions. During menopause, women experience a sharp decline in sex hormones, leading to well-documented symptoms and health risks. In men, a more gradual decline (andropause) occurs with aging.

According to research, restoring these hormones to optimal levels in bioidentical form may potentially offer the following health benefits:

Key Benefits of Hormone Optimization

(1) Testosterone

- Reduced visceral fat and weight loss

- Lower C-reactive protein (inflammation marker)

- Increased energy and muscle mass

- Lower total cholesterol, higher HDL

- Reduced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk

- Enhanced sexual function and joint protection

- Lower risk of osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s

(7 Hormones Everyone Should Know, How Testosterone Benefits Your Body, 2024 study, 2009 study, Medical News Today)

(2) DHEA

- Enhanced immunity and insulin sensitivity

- Reduced Smoother, more youthful skin aging

- Improved memory and mood

- Lower LDL cholesterol

(7 Hormones Everyone Should Know, What Is DHEA?, 1997 clinical trial)

(3) Estradiol

- Reduced skin aging

- Lower risk of osteoporosis and falls

- Protection against cataracts, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer’s

- Improved sexual function and bladder control

- approximately 50% reduction in heart disease risk

(7 Hormones Everyone Should Know, Nurses' Health Study)

(4) Progesterone (Females Only)

- Lower blood pressure and stronger bones

- Reduced risk of colon, endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers

- Improved mood, PMS, PMDD, sleep, and postpartum depression relief

- Reduced miscarriage risk and improved lactation

(7 Hormones Everyone Should Know, 1990 Review, 2020 Paper, 2017 Review)

(5) Pregnenolone

- Enhanced memory, learning, and neuroplasticity

- Relief from neuropathic and chronic lower back pain

- Deeper, more restorative sleep

(7 Hormones Everyone Should Know, Pregnanolone and Sleep, 2020 Clinical Trial)