Byers Wellness Center
Natural Hormone Therapy - The HCG Diet - Body Sculpting
Estrogen
What are sex hormones and their functions?
The sex hormones are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone ( yes women we do produce and NEED testosterone! ).
Estrogen: the function of estrogen is to make everything grow. It makes the lining of the uterus grow, it makes the breast tissue grow, and it keeps the vagina moisturized. There are three main types of estrogen that a woman produces:
Estradiol (E1)-80% of a woman’s estrogen
Estriol (E2)
Estrone (E3)
Estradiol is produced directly in the ovaries, estrone is produced from estradiol, and estriol is produced in large amounts during pregnancy. Estradiol is the most potent of the three estrogens.
Other functions of Estrogen:
Alleviate symptoms caused by the natural decrease in hormone production in the body
Re-establish the individual's hormonal balance
Provide protective benefits that were originally provided by the body's naturally occurring hormones.
Prevents bone destruction thus prevents osteoporosis.
Protects the cardiovascular system reducing blood pressure by relaxing the lining of blood vessels, and preventing plaque build up.
Reduces incidence of diabetes and protects insulin sensitivity through lower insulin levels.
Protects nerve cells and brain function thus helping our memory, improving learning abilities and providing a better quality of sleep.
Works as an antidepressant by increasing serotonin levels.
Progesterone is made in the ovaries after ovulation. Progesterone keeps the estrogen in check by preventing the overgrowth of endometrium, protects against fibrocystic disease.
Symptoms of Estrogen deficiency
hot flashes
night sweats
vaginal dryness
sagging breasts and/or loss of breast fullness
mental fogginess
depression
changes in mood
decreased sense of sensuality and sexuality
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Progesterone
Progesterone: is made in the ovaries after ovulation. This hormone prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg. If there are no eggs to be implanted then the progesterone level drops causing a shedding of the lining of the uterus (menstrual period). Progesterone keeps the estrogen in check by preventing the overgrowth of endometrium and protects against fibrocystic disease.
Other functions of Progesterone:
Serves as a natural antidepressant and helps to restore the normal sleep pattern.
Play several roles in cardiovascular protection.
Prevents bone loss.
Increases the body’s use of fat.
Is a natural diuretic.
Symptoms of Progesterone deficiency:
hot flashes or night sweats
vaginal dryness
foggy thinking or memory loss
depression
insomnia
bone loss, aches, or pains
water retention
increased risk of breast or uterine cancer
yeast infections
hair loss especially on top of the head
Call Our Medical Office to schedule an appointment.
(770) 387-3450
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Metabolic Syndrome
What is Metabolic Syndrome?
This syndrome is one step away from Type II Diabetes. It also increases one's risk for a cardiovascular event. 20 million people in U.S. have diabetes, and 45 million are pre-diabetic
Symptoms include:
Fasting hyperglycemia —Insulin resistance and or Type II diabetes
High blood pressure
Central obesity (also known as visceral, male-pattern or apple-shaped adiposity)
Decreased HDL cholesterol
High LDL cholesterol
Elevated triglycerides
Prothrombotic state: meaning increase fibrinogen levels which can cause clotting
Pro-inflammatory state: often measure using a Cardiac C-Reactive Protein
This syndrome, which is characterized by high inflammatory states inside the body, leading to increase clotting potential, and/or arterial plaque formation.
What causes this syndrome?
Much debate centers around discussion about the factors that lead to Metabolic Syndrome. What is known, is that the central body fat accumulation is a sign of visceral fat deposition. This visceral fat is fat the lays as an apron on top of the organs inside the abdomen. This fat is different from that fat that we can pinch in the abdominal wall area. Visceral fat acts to promote inflammation, as well as to secrete leptin. Leptin is a hormone in the body that communicates with the hypothalamus in the brain. More on this latter.
What leads to Metabolic Syndrome is multi-factorial. Usually it starts with a diet that supports the development of insulin resistance. High glycemic carbohydrate diets promote insulin resistance. Insulin resistance alters the way a body metabolizes calories and the manner in which those calories are stored. Visceral fat develops and acts as a promoter of inflammation. Together with diets that are higher in trans-fats, the inflammatory environment is supercharged and goes into a viscous cycle. Combine all this with a declining hormone environment and the end result is disease states that lead to increase risk for stroke, heart attacks, and cancers.
Call Our Medical Office to schedule an appointment.
(770) 387-3450
Menopause
A natural part of aging? Yes. However, many people, including doctors would like you believe that you have to live with it. Then as symptoms get worse and your lack of sleep makes you even more of a basket-case, your doctor may write you a prescription for sleeping pills; sleeping pills leading to metabolites that create a "morning after hangover". Or even worse, you may be prescribed medications that further distort your remaining hormone levels. So after having the babies and ensuring the survival of the species you are just suppose to sit back and accept the inevitable.
Accept sagging skin
Sleepless nights
Fragile bones
Hot flashes
Headaches
A dry vagina
Loss of sex drive
Loss of mental focus and multitasking skills?
For those who decide that these symptoms are unbearable, they often resort to synthetic pharmaceutical hormone replacement products. These synthetic hormones are the one's that the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) utilized, and were found to lead to increased cardiovascular and cancer risk.
Fortunately, Bio-equivalent hormone therapy (BHRT) offers a more alternative solution. They not only offer potential relief from menopausal symptoms, but they can also offer increased quality of life in several areas.
Aging skin is often the result of declining estrogen levels. Collagen matrix formation is dependant on health estrogen levels. When estrogen levels decline, the collagen matrix suffers, and the result is seen in the face. The "falling face" or increased nasal-labial creases occur with age. Firm and supple skin is replaced with sagging dry skin, flattening of upper lips, loose sagging cheeks, and the infamous "turkey neck".
Why live with the changes while safe available therapies are available? *
Several methods of physiological BHRT exist. Creams, patches, drops, and gels are just some of the common ways to approach this therapy. I prescribe all the different forms, however, I prefer the SottoPelle® Method.
Hormones that are supplemented in women:
Estrogen, Testosterone, Progesterone
Please remember that the WHI Study determined that estrogen replacement therapy resulted in a slight increase in risk for breast and uterine cancer, as well as stroke.
This study utilized conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone. The hormones we utilize are bio equivalent estradiol and progesterone.
Call Our Medical Office to schedule an appointment.
(770) 387-3450
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Testosterone (Women)
Testosterone Replacement in Women:
Yes, in women. Women make testosterone also, albeit about 1/10th about as much as a man. But testosterone is important in women also, so correcting deficiency is important. During a woman's reproductive years, her ovaries not only make estrogen, but also testosterone. As she ages, or after she has had children, these levels decrease, even before menopause. Often the deficiency starts in their early thirties. Testosterone is important for sexual function, sexual response, and libido. Estrogen rules the brain, testosterone rules the body. A woman's body can't respond appropriately to sexual stimuli without testosterone. Additionally, testosterone helps maintain lean body mass, or muscle, as opposed to fat. It also has positive effects on those suffering from osteoporosis.
Other functions of Testosterone:
Prevents aches, pains and arthritis
Protects against cardiovascular disease
Protects against Alzheimer and dementia
Helps to stabilize blood sugar
Reduces breast cancer
Aids in the prevention of headaches/migraines
Call Our Medical Office to schedule an appointment.
(770) 387-3450
Women
770-387-3450
