From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well
by C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D.

Introduction
About the Authors
Table of Contents
Interview with the Author
Ordering Information

An Interview with the Author

C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D.

Dr. Randolph, how did you come up with the title, "From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well?"

"Actually, I didn't come up with the title, my patients did.  I can't tell you how often women come to me because they are suffering from the symptoms of hormone imbalance, tell me that they feel as if they are 'trapped in their own personal hell'.  The good news is that, after being treated with human-identical hormone replacement, they return to tell me how wonderful it is to feel good and to have their lives back."

Why did you decide to write this book?

"I decided to write this book because both patients and their physicians need to know that human-identical hormone therapy is a safe and effective option for anyone suffering from the symptoms of hormone imbalance. 

By now, most people have heard of the Women's Health Initiative study findings that synthetic hormone therapy replacement can have many harmful side effects including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and Alzheimer's.  Patients and physicians are confused as to what to do now to treat such symptoms as hot flashes, memory loss, night sweats or decreased libido.  The purpose of this book is to help them understand the benefits of another- and better- option, human-identical hormone therapy."

What is the approach you use in treating your patients?

"I look at my patient as a unique and original person; in my practice ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!  The human ovary produces three important sex hormones - estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  These hormones change as we age.  Usually, progesterone levels drop first, then estrogen, then testosterone; however, there is no set schedule as to when and how these ratios will change.  It is different with every individual.

Synthetic hormone therapy treats every woman the same and typically focuses primarily on estrogen replacement.  These drugs may provide some relief because they mask the symptoms of hormone imbalance but they do not treat the underlying health issue.

In contrast, with human identical hormone therapy the goal is to treat every woman as an individual and address her underlying hormonal imbalance as the real health concern.  By replacing what the body is missing with exactly the same hormones as the human ovaries produce, the body gets what it needs and the symptoms- such as hot flashes, night sweats, and memory loss, are eliminated as a result." 

What is the difference between human identical hormone therapy vs. synthetic hormone replacement therapy?

"The big difference is that synthetic hormones are pharmaceutically developed and patented drugs that have a different molecular structure than the hormones produced by the human ovaries.  Human-identical hormones have exactly the same molecular structure as those produced by the human ovaries.  The molecular structure is very important. 

Think of it this way.  In the human body, the hormone receptor is the lock and the hormone is a specific key that fits that lock.  Human-identical hormones are the exact fit for the lock.  Synthetic hormones almost fit, but not quite.  In the human body, "almost" is not a good thing and that is why synthetic hormones can trigger a host of negative side effects."

Did you ever prescribe synthetic hormone therapies?

"Yes I did.  Just like most of my physician peers, I was trained in medical school to prescribe synthetic hormones." 

Why did you stop?

"I stopped because, over time, I saw too many of my patients return with adverse side effects.  They gained weight, had fibrocystic breasts and seemed to evidence a higher incidence of breast and uterine cancer.  I knew something was not right.  I began to search for an answer and came across a book by Dr. John Lee's that opened my eyes to the benefits of human-identical hormone therapies and particularly human-identical progesterone therapy."

Why do you think other physicians haven't made the switch?

"Well, first, I think the fact that I am also trained as a pharmacist helped me to begin to research the biochemical reasons that synthetic hormone therapy was causing so many side effects and to look for other choices.  It is important to point out that, today, more and more physicians are choosing to prescribe human-identical hormone therapies.  Whereas in years past I was thought to be something of a maverick, today I am asked to speak on human-identical hormone therapy at national medical conferences and, every week, I get calls from other physicians across the country who have heard about my work or this book and want to know more."

A lack of understanding and awareness are the real reasons more doctors don't prescribe human-identical hormone therapies."

How can we be sure that natural hormones work and are safe?

"The reality is that there is a great deal of medical research and clinical evidence to support how safe and effective human-identical hormones are.  Much of this research comes from well-respected physician scientists and out of well respected academic medical centers- such as Dr. Joel Hargove at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 

The problem is that it has been hard to get the word out.  Think about it:  pharmaceutical companies have big budgets to support large sales forces to hit the streets to tell physicians about their patented synthetic hormone therapies.  Academic medical centers publish research on human-identical hormone therapy but they don't have sales forces out there to tell busy physicians who might not have time to review all the clinical literature for themselves."

What is the big deal about progesterone?

"That is a very good question. Remember how we talked about the three sex hormones produced by the ovaries- estrogen, progesterone and testosterone- and that progesterone levels are usually the first to decline within the body?  Well, when progesterone levels decline, the body's natural hormone balance is upset and the body is left with too much estrogen.  When estrogen levels are not balanced by progesterone, bad things can happen.  For instance, too much estrogen in the body causes cells to proliferate, or grow too rapidly.  Unchecked cell proliferation is often a precursor to cancer.  Progesterone plays a critical role in that it opposes estrogen and neutralizes its damaging and carcinogenic effects".

Breast Cancer is a health risk that worries most women in mid life.  How does human identical hormone therapy address that?

"As a woman moves into mid-life, it is very important to monitor the ratio of all her hormones and make sure they stay in a healthy balance.  If a woman becomes estrogen dominant, she will be at greater risk for developing breast or uterine cancer.  Human-identical progesterone replacement can help to counter the cancer-causing effects of too much estrogen."

How is a woman's sex drive related to her hormones?

"There are a lot of ways hormone imbalance can contribute to a woman's decreased sex drive.  Women who have hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia or endless feelings of fatigue report that they aren't as interested in having sex.  Sometimes a woman's testosterone levels may have dropped and this has a very real biochemical impact on sex drive.

Sex does not have to start going downhill when a woman becomes middle aged.  When their hormones are brought back in balance, women of all ages report an increase in their libido."

Is there such a thing as male menopause?

"Absolutely!  In fact, I have many men who come to see me as patients. As men age, the balance of their hormones also shift.  While some men do have hot flashes, more commonly men who are suffering from hormone imbalances complain of decreased sex drive, memory loss, mood swings and depression."

How do you diagnose a hormone imbalance?

"I use a salivary test to develop an individual's hormonal profile because clinical studies have shown that these are more accurate than serum blood tests."

What is the one thing that you would like readers of this book to come away with?

 "I'd like for both physicians and patients to realize that human identical hormones are THE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CHOICE.  Today, there is no reason to suffer unnecessarily from the symptoms of hormonal imbalance."