Estrogen in Women

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Every day we hear from women who are frustrated. They’re frustrated with the inadequate treatment they’re receiving from their primary care physician or their gynecologist. Or they’re frustrated because they can’t find treatment at all. In particular women are frustrated by how difficult it is to get good information about treatment options.

Due to the abundance of misinformation available, this frustration is frequently focused on estrogen. Allow us to shed some light on this very misunderstood hormone.

A Brief History

Confusion about estrogen has abounded in recent years. And it’s no wonder. First women were told that replacing estrogen during menopause is healthy. And for decades, that’s what they did. To their collective relief, estrogen replacement reduced or eliminated unpleasant symptoms from menopause.

Then results were released from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002 that cited adverse health effects from replacing estrogen. The knee-jerk response by healthcare practitioners was to take most women off of estrogen. It has been the most controversial and misunderstood hormone ever since.

Today we know that the WHI study was poorly structured, the results were not interpreted correctly, and medical professionals were grossly misinformed. Nevertheless, estrogen continues to be lost in shuffle.

The Facts about Estrogen in Women

Synthetic hormones, not bioidentical ones, were behind the negative outcomes women and doctors heard about following the WHI study. Adverse health effects caused by synthetic hormones include breast cancer, heart attack, and even stroke. The results from more recent studies speak to the safety and benefits of bioidentical estrogen therapy, and to the weaknesses in the WHI study.
When replacing hormones, it’s critically important to use only bioidentical hormones. Bioidentical estrogen comes from plant sources, like soy and yams. When placed under a comparison microscope, bioidentical estrogen is identical in structure to the estrogen produced by a woman’s body.
Properly administered hormone therapy depends on balance. Effectiveness and safety involve more than just the right type and dose of estrogen. The balance of other hormones, particularly progesterone, is also important.
Estrogen is actually more than one hormone. It’s a class of hormones, with three estrogens being most active: estrone, estradiol, and estriol.
Estriol is the mildest of the three estrogens, and actually helps to prevent breast cancer.

Common Symptoms

Benefits of Estrogen

Let’s cut to the chase. Estrogen is the feel-good hormone for women. You simply won’t feel your best without an adequate supply in your system. Following, you will find a concise list of the many things estrogen does for your body:

Decreases “bad cholesterol” (LDL), and increases “good cholesterol” (HDL).
Protects your arteries by keeping them open and flexible.
Lowers your risk of heart attack.
Reduces homocysteine levels in your blood.
Protects your brain and your memory, and reduces the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Increases your ability to concentrate.
Promotes the production of collagen, which helps your skin to maintain its elasticity.
Helps your skin retain moisture, minimizing wrinkles.
Maintains the elasticity of your vaginal tissue.
Prevents osteoporosis.
Keeps your teeth healthy.
Increases your metabolism and reduces your appetite, which helps to prevent weight gain.
Protects the health of your eyes.
Prevents colon cancer.
Protects your lungs from cancer.
Keeps your voice strong and steady.
Reduces insulin sensitivity, and makes your blood sugar more stable.
Detoxifies the cells in your body.
Estriol in combination with bioidentical progesterone protects against breast cancer.
Estriol in combination with bioidentical progesterone protects against ovarian cancer.

Estrogen can be found everywhere in your body. It keeps everything moving and growing and functioning optimally. Take away estrogen, and things don’t work as well—they decline. Replace estrogen, and everything functions better. Estrogen is key to healthy aging for women.

The Right Amount and the Right Kind

While you need estrogen for healthy cell growth, you also want that growth to be curtailed when necessary. It’s a balance.

Specifically, it’s important to replace the right kinds of estrogen, in the right amounts, and estrogen has to be delivered the right way.

Estradiol And Estrone: The Growth Promoters

Estradiol is the strongest of the three estrogens. It sends a signal for growth that is loud and clear. Most healthcare practitioners prescribe 100% estradiol, if they prescribe estrogen at all.

Estrone is a little weaker than estradiol, but also sends out a pretty strong signal for growth. It’s also worth noting that estrone is produced by fat cells.

Combined, these two estrogens can promote a lot of cell growth. That’s good—but only to a point. If cell growth goes unchecked, cancer risk is increased.

Estriol: The Growth Stopper

This is where estriol comes in. Estriol is the weakest of the estrogens. It actually curtails cell growth by binding with the super-calming receptor site called ER Beta. So when estradiol and estrone get carried away, estriol steps in and settles things down.

Biest –The Best Of Both Worlds

For most women, Biest (short for bi-estrogen) is safer and healthier than taking estradiol alone. Comprised of bioidentical estradiol and bioidentical estriol, Biest promotes cell growth, but it does so at a healthy and safe rate.

How Method of Delivery Matters

Estrogen is best taken via topical cream. Pellets and patches don’t work, and taking estrogen orally has been shown to increase breast cancer risk.

ER Alpha and ER Beta

Estrogen can bind to two different kinds of receptor sites: ER Alpha, and ER Beta. Receptor sites are like locks, and hormone molecules are like keys. When a hormone molecule attaches to the right kind of receptor, the hormone is activated. There is a link between these two receptor sites and breast health.

When estrogen binds to ER Alpha, growth is stimulated. When estrogen binds to ER Beta, growth is blocked. These receptor sites are found throughout a woman’s body, but they’re particularly prevalent in breasts.

Remember that you want healthy cell growth in your body to age well. And ER Alpha promotes that growth. But without ER Beta receptors, that growth could continue unchecked, which increases cancer risk.

Let’s apply this to what goes on in the breasts. When breasts are healthy, they have both kinds of receptors; but there will be more ER Beta receptors present than ER Alpha receptors.

ER Beta receptors step in to stop growth when necessary. They protect breasts by maintaining peace and calm. This means that estrogen, when it binds to ER Beta receptors, actually protects breasts.

So healthy breasts need to have lots of ER Beta receptors. There are a number of factors that will promote the presence of ER Beta receptors, but one of the more important ones is progesterone.

This is why our doctors will never prescribe estrogen without also prescribing bioidentical progesterone.

Treatment for Low Estrogen

We have modern medical science to thank for the longevity we enjoy today. But without estrogen, a woman’s health and quality of life will suffer. Through our Renew Woman program, we’ve helped women to optimize their estrogen levels since 1999. And we make it easy. Aging better is possible, and Renew Youth is here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have done a lot of reading about hormone therapy, but does it work?: Yes—if it’s done correctly, and under the supervision of an experienced doctor.

Hormone therapy is not a fanciful search for the fountain of youth. It is medical science at its best. It is trained doctors using sophisticated lab tests and treatment protocols developed and used over many years to produce life-altering results.
When should I think about replacing hormones?: Historically, our answer to the “when should I start” question has been to begin once you have symptoms, regardless of age.

However, the idea that we can manage the aging process is gaining momentum. An outgrowth of that is that we have an increasing number of clients who contact us initially because they wish to take control of the aging process early, long before symptoms have emerged.

Whether you want to head off the aging process early, or you’re just beginning to experience symptoms, or your symptoms are severe and you’ve had them for a long time, we can design a treatment program to address your unique needs.
What does Bioidentical mean?: Bioidentical means that molecularly the hormone that you’re replacing is exactly the same as what your body produces naturally. The molecules of synthetic hormones are slightly different.

There are hormone receptors all over your body. Think of these receptors like they’re locks, and hormone molecules like they’re keys. The synthetic molecules don’t fit into those locks quite right, which means they don’t work the same way in your body—often with detrimental consequences. You may be wondering…why do pharmaceutical companies make synthetic hormones with molecules that are slightly different? Because it’s the only way they can patent them. Bioidentical hormones can’t be patented.
Do I have to treat all hormones?: Hormones can be treated separately or in combination. However, we do emphasize that hormone therapy is about having balanced hormones—better results are obtained by taking the proper amount of a combination of hormones, depending upon what your lab results show, and depending upon your symptoms. All of your hormones will function better if they’re all present at healthy levels.
How are hormones replaced?: The short answer is that it depends. For some hormones, there are one or two optimal and safe methods of delivery. In other instances, client preference may come into play. You will be informed as to what the pros and cons are of any particular method of delivery, so that you and our doctors can decide what makes the most sense for you. Regardless, our doctors will not allow you to do something that isn’t safe.
How much of any given hormone will I take?: Your Renew Youth doctor will prescribe the amount needed to optimize your levels. Our doctors use a combination of lab testing and feedback from you with regard to how you’re feeling to dial in just the right dosages.
Is hormone therapy safe?: Yes. There are countless studies that have shown not only the safety of hormone therapy, but also the long-term health benefits. This assumes that treatment is done properly, and monitored on a regular basis. Again, the only way we do things is safely, and correctly.
Are there any side effects associated with your therapies?: When hormones and other treatments are administered correctly—and correctly is the only way we do things—there should be no side effects.
How long must I commit to hormone therapy?: Your commitment to hormone therapy should last as long as you want the results. If this thought is daunting, consider that men and women of previous generations had the same age-related challenges that we face today. They could not, however, do anything about it. When you consider the improved quality of life that hormone therapy affords, not to mention a longer life, making the commitment becomes easier.
Where and how do I get my lab testing done?: Renew Youth has national accounts with two of the largest lab companies in the country. We will arrange your testing at a location that is convenient for you.
Where will I see my Renew Youth doctor?: Renew Youth has doctors located across the country, and we will determine which one is closest to you.
Are diet and exercise important?: Yes! Establishing and maintaining good lifestyle habits is critical to achieving optimal results from your treatment. This means eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and drinking lots of water.
Can you help me with sexual dysfunction?: Absolutely. We have many solutions available for both men and women.
Will injectable nutrients be a part of my program?: That’s largely up to you. Many of our clients augment their better aging efforts with injectable nutrients. Our doctors will discuss your goals with you, and will review the various options available to you.

Feel Like Yourself Again

Our inclusive plans provide:

Estrogen in Women