Every day that I practice medicine as a gynecologist, I have women who come into my office suffering from symptoms of hormone imbalance such as hot flashes, night sweats, irregular bleeding and depression. Often, these same women share with me that they "just don't feel like themselves anymore". They tell me they look in the mirror and see a "drying up old woman". Worst of all, they confide in me that they are afraid that their lives will be "down hill from here on out". These complaints that can too easily be written off as natural consequences of aging but actually premature or rapid aging can be a very real indication of an underlying hormonal imbalance.

As a physician, let me start by very plainly saying that there is no such thing as miracle-working fountain of youth. No pharmaceutical pill, cosmetic surgical procedure or natural remedy is going to turn back the clock to turn a forty-two year old mother or a fifty-seven year old grandmother into a twenty- three year old swinger. If it even could, would you really want that? Think of what you would give up. Think of the wisdom that you would lack. Most importantly, think of the perils of confidence that you would have to encounter as you traversed your life's path to figure out who you are and where you belong. Isn't it better to be the best "you" you can be at whatever age you happen to be right now?

I often ask my patients, "What is it that you really want?... better health?... fewer risks of life- threatening disease?... more energy?... higher sex drive?... better memory?... a more lithe and firm body?... more supple skin?... a more calm and peaceful attitude towards life's ups and downs?" Well, the reality is that human-identical hormone therapy may be able to support your goals in all those areas. Yes, really.

The fact is that there are volumes of clinical studies and medical information to support the premise that appropriate use of human-identical hormone replacement therapies can slow down or retard many of the signs and symptoms of aging.

In lay language, this how hormonal imbalance and the symptoms of aging are related:

- The human body produces three sex hormones: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. When the ratio of each is in balance, optimum health is supported.
- As the human body ages, its production of hormones begins to shift and decline. When the hormone receptor sites located throughout the body do not receive their adequate ratio of hormones the body suffers from hormonal imbalance; as a result, signs and symptoms begin to occur. These might be physical such as hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, fatigue, fibrocystic breasts, sagging and dry skin as well as vaginal dryness. They might also be mental concerns like short-term memory loss or emotional issues such as depression and mood swings.
- Progesterone is the first sex hormone whose levels begin to drop. Progesterone levels drop 120X faster than estrogen levels. This can occur as early as the twenties or thirties.
- When progesterone has dropped and estrogen levels are unopposed, the body suffers from a condition commonly referred to as "estrogen dominance". Hot flashes, night sweats, bone loss, fuzzy thinking, insomnia and weight gain are frequently the body's signals that it is suffering from estrogen dominance. Also, because unopposed estrogen fosters cell proliferation, this condition of estrogen dominance can be a precursor for breast and uterine cancer.
- Estrogen levels begin to drop when a woman as a woman becomes peri-menopausal, usually in her late forties to early fifties. Declining estrogen levels are one of the reasons for the thinning of the collagen layer. So, in addition to everything else that might be going on, the skin typically loses even more elasticity and firmness. Also, natural vaginal lubrication becomes more difficult.
- The testosterone levels are the last to decline; usually after menopause in women or in men this may occur anytime between the mid-forties to mid-fifties. With a drop in testosterone levels comes decreased sex drive, impaired sexual function and/or loss of hair.

Now, let's say that we are able to assess an individuals hormone levels- which we can through salivary testing- and determine and individual profile of hormone activity. Furthermore, let's say that - once we have that individualized profile of hormone activity- we replace any deficiencies with hormonal compounds that have exactly the same molecular structure as those produced by the human body. Finally, let's presume that we are successful in re- establishing the body's natural hormonal equilibrium. What would you expect to happen?

Well, here is what I observe happening every day in my medical practice with the thousands of women and men I have treated with human-identical hormone therapies:

- Cessation of hot flashes and night sweats
- Weight loss
- Improved sleeping patterns
- Increased energy
- Increased sex drive
- Less fibrocystic disease/improved breast health
- Increased bone density
- Improved memory and mental acuity
- Improvement in the elasticity and firmness of the skin
- Increased vaginal lubrication
- Improvement in hair quality and thickness

Human-identical hormone therapy: Just marketing hype? From a medical perspective I can say "Definitely not". A fountain of youth, you ask? I would have to say, "No, not really. We will all age and eventually we will all die". But, still, you tell me: if you knew that you could continue to age through the decades and remain vibrant, vital, supple, passionate, awake to life and aware of your blessings, wouldn't you choose that? If you answered "yes", I would encourage you to read and learn more about human-identical hormone therapies.

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Dr. Randolph's Natural Progesterone Cream

As a woman enters her mid-thirties and until she is in her late forties, she can be said to be pre-menopausal. A woman in this lifecycle is in her middle reproductive years. It is during these years that the balance of hormones produced by the endocrine system first begins to shift. Progesterone, the "feel good" hormone, is the first hormone to decline and drops 120 times more rapidly than estrogen.

As progesterone begins to decline and estrogen becomes the dominant hormone within a woman's body, symptoms such as PMS, breast swelling, irregular periods, fluid retention, uterine fibroids, reduced libido and migraine headaches can occur. From their mid-thirties on, almost all women are estrogen dominant. In many cases, this condition of estrogen dominance can be neutralized by administering transdermal human-identical progesterone cream. Once the body's optimum hormonal ratio of estrogen to progesterone is restored, most unpleasant symptoms will be eliminated.

Are you a physician who wants to learn more about human-identical hormone replacement therapy and/or natural / complimentary medical products?

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In a series of cutting edge presentations, Dr. Randolph along with co-author Genie James, share the latest research and practical findings in the areas of women's health and human-identical hormone therapy. From physician to consumer group, corporate health to private industry, Dr. Randolph and Ms. James provide medical information, clinical studies, and real-life case studies to bring insight into a healthier, happier, "Hormone Well" community.