Phuli Cohan, MD
Tired of hearing about how horrible it is to feel “hormonal?” That just means your hormones are out of whack. When it’s properly balanced, hormone support can help you feel and look great. Here are some of the good things our hormones are meant to do and how you can ask your doctor for them:
Estrogen gives women curves, energy, sex drives, and bone strength. It lifts the mood, preserves memories, and even gives us our sense of style. Did you know that studies have shown that women low in estrogen dress with less color?
Progesterone balances estrogen. Without enough progesterone women feel bloated and bitchy. Cycles are heavy and irregular. Women who don’t make enough progesterone suffer from insomnia, infertility, breast pain and swelling.
DHEA gives women their sex drive and sense of vitality. During menopause it makes estrogen and testosterone. Most women over the age of fifty need DHEA support. (It’s available over the counter–use the keto steroid form, as per my last article).
Melatonin helps us fall asleep and stay asleep. It is the most powerful antioxidant in our body and maintains a healthy brain as we age. Its available over the counter–just start low–most women don’t like it because they take too much. Start with 0.5mg/night- you can always go up on your dose.
How do you ask your doctor for Bioidentical hormones?
Your doctor can prescribe Natural Bioidentical Estrogen as Estradiol. This is available from any pharmacy as a skin patch or cream. It can also be compounded as a more concentrated skin lotion. The more concentrated the cream or lotion the easier and less messy it is to apply.
Bioidentical Progesterone is available in capsules known as Prometrium. Oral progesterone should be taken at bedtime because it causes drowsiness. The upside is that it improves sleep and lowers anxiety. Prometrium is made from peanut oil, so don’t use it if you are allergic to peanuts. Compounding pharmacists can make bioidentical progesterone in peanut-free capsules and skin creams. Skin creams will not cause drowsiness and can be used any time of day. Some women need skin creams in the daytime and capsules at bedtime.
Always balance Estradiol with Progesterone, at any age, even if you’ve had a hysterectomy.