About Hormones & Testing

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands throughout your body. Besides reproduction, hormones are responsible for the growth and repair of tissues including skin, muscle, bone, and the heart. Hormones also determine your body's metabolism and energy level, and play a role in brain function and mental health.

Why are hormones important?

Hormones are involved in nearly all body processes.  Optimal hormone balance can help you prevent conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's and even some forms of cancer. 

"Aging isn't optional, but optimal aging is!"

As your body ages, hormone production declines. This is especially true for sex hormones – estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.

Poor diet and lifestyle habits can lead to excess stress and demand on the adrenal glands. When these vital glands are not working at their best, the production and function of other hormones are affected.

Why should you test for hormone imbalance?

Lab testing provides specific information on your hormone levels – this information is used to offer treatment guidelines. Repeat testing can show the effect of therapy on your hormone balance.

How can your hormone imbalance be adjusted?

The first approach is to give your body the elements it needs to make hormones on its own and keep them in balance:

• supplements that support normal hormone production
• specific diet and lifestyle interventions to enhance your body's natural ability to balance hormones.

The second, more direct, approach is Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), to replace deficient hormones.  Bio-identical hormones are a prescription alternative to conventional hormone replacement therapy (e.g. Prempro, Estratest, etc.).  

Bio-Identical hormones are plant-derived, and chemically changed in a laboratory until they are identical to what your body would naturally produce. BHRT dosages and delivery methods (e.g., patches, creams, pellets) are specific for each individual and their personal needs. BHRT can be adjusted to fit your needs, unlike conventional HRT, which has few standard dosage strengths.

Historically, hormone replacement has involved the use of synthetic hormones, especially synthetic estrogen, progestins (e.g., Premarin and Provera or PremPro) and testosterone (methyltestosterone in Estratest and Syntest). These synthetic hormones have been shown to increase the risk for health problems including breast cancer, heart disease, strokes, and liver problems. Bioidentical hormones are made from natural sources, such as plants, and are prescribed in individualized dosages (based on lab results).  Because bioidentical medications are the same molecules as hormones produced by the body, they are safer and more effective than synthetic hormones.

See Frequently Asked Questions for more information.