EVALUATING HORMONE TEST RESULTS

Please refer to your own saliva test values when reading these pages.  The interplay of hormones is a very complex "dance" and it is not always easy.  Many symptoms and chronic conditions can be associated with hormone imbalance and it is usually best to adjust hormone levels by using bio-identical hormone supplements.  The common commercial HRT products are synthetic or produced from non-human animal sources.  there are great numbers of side effects associated with those prescription HRT drugs.

To establish a good balance between hormones you need to be working closely with a dedicated doctor and a compounding pharmacist.

ESTROGEN:  Low Normal

We have found that this sometimes can happen when a person has used birth control pills or one of the synthetic types of HRT (Premarin, PremPro, etc.).

When these estrogen-like products are used there can be a long term negative effect on the ovaries. In basic terms, the ovaries get the message from the HRT drugs that they don't need to make as much estrogen as they had been making. Over time, this lowered amount becomes the norm and the ovaries just don't seem to get started again.
When this happens it is important to consider using a natural, or bio-identical, estrogen replacement.

ESTROGEN: Low Normal

We have found that this sometimes can happen when a person has used birth control pills or one of the synthetic types of HRT (Premarin, PremPro, etc.).

When these estrogen-like products are used there can be a long term negative effect on the ovaries. I basic terms, the ovaries get the message from the HRT drugs that they don't need to make as much estrogen as they had been making. Over time, this lowered amount becomes the norm and the ovaries just don't seem to get started again.

When this happens it is important to consider using a natural, or bio-identical, estrogen replacement. However, instead of beginning with an estrogen supplement, it might be better to consider using DHEA in a low dose. DHEA is often referred to as a "pro hormone", meaning that it is the precursor for the production of other hormones. In women, DHEA can convert to either estrogen or testosterone - depending on a woman's need at the time.

DHEA is available without a prescription. We have found that a good dose of DHEA is 5mg - taken daily usually at bedtime. Almost all of the over-the-counter forms of DHEA are significantly stronger than this. We've located a 5mg dose that seems to have been very helpful for many women.  It can be swallowed or allowed to dissolve under the tongue.

DHEA is commonly taken at bedtime. Some women produce a surge in estrogen a few hours after taking the dose and - estrogen being a stimulant - the woman awakens early in the morning and finds it difficult to get back to sleep. For those women we recommend taking the DHEA during the day. The goal is to generate sufficient estrogen without overdoing it.

We recommend giving the DHEA a good trial - 6 to 8 weeks. If there is no improvement it may be time to consider a full estrogen supplement - using NATURAL, bio-identical hormones, of course.

ESTROGEN: Normal

If your symptoms are consistent with low estrogen you may want to consider using a low dose of DHEA every day.

DHEA is a precursor to the hormones in your body. Women are able to convert DHEA to the appropriate hormones - when needed. DHEA can be converted to either estrogen or testosterone. It is important to not take too much.

The commercially available DHEA supplements are often 25mg or 50mg. That dose may be alright for a man, but women usually do best when they use 5 to 10 mg per day.

ESTROGEN: High Normal

If you are using any form of estrogen supplement you might want to consider reducing the dose - or stopping altogether. If the hormone has been prescribed by your doctor do not make changes without consulting him or her.

If your symptoms are consistent with this elevated level of estrogen you will want to consider ways to reduce these levels - particularly if you are experiencing discomfort.

If you are not using any form of hormone supplement you can still reduce the amount of estrogen by a combination of diet, exercise, and possible, some supplements.

It is important to make sure that whatever level of estrogen you have, you balance it with sufficient progesterone. See the progesterone section and notice that if your progesterone to estrogen ratio is under 200 you may want to consider adding progesterone. Women report they feel best when their ratio is around 500. Ratios below 200 indicate a deficiency. Ratios above 1000 are considered acceptable IF you are using a transdermal progesterone cream. If your levels are in the thousands - and you are not using a supplement - you may want to consider re-testing because your sample may have been contaminated.

A dietary approach to lowering estrogen would be to consume more brascia vegetables - things like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. These vegetables contain a chemical that is know to reduce excess estrogen. You would also want to avoid sugars, processed carbohydrates, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, and alcohol.

Modest exercise is important in maintaining hormone balance. We recommend a brisk walk of 30 minutes, 3 to 5 times a week.

PROGESTERONE: Below Normal

Progesterone is a key hormone and it must be present in sufficient quantity to balance efficiently with estrogen. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum monthly after ovulation. If a pregnancy occurs, the developing baby takes over the task of producing this hormone - and it does so in large quantities.

When progesterone levels fall rapidly - around the 26th day of a cycle - your period starts.

Progesterone impacts physical, mental and emotional health. When it is too low a person could suffer in one or more of those areas. Some of the symptoms often associated with low progesterone are anxiety, anger, nervousness, various pains, and mental "fogginess".

You may want to use a progesterone supplement to bring your levels up.

This may be accomplished by using an over-the-counter cream or a prescription product. The non-prescription product is identical in content to the one that your doctor may order. The only difference is the strength.

Our recommendation for progesterone supplements is the transdermal cream. They offer dosing flexibility and they are well absorbed - and there are almost no difficulties from applying the cream.

Pre-menopausal women who are still having cycles may want to use the progesterone once daily during the last half of their cycle - say from days 13 through 25.

If you are not having periods you should still consider dosing progesterone according to a cycle - somewhat copying your normal menstrual cycle. As above, we recommend a lower dose for the first half of the month, increasing for another couple of weeks, and then stopping altogether for a few days. It is important to give your body the time to allow the progesterone levels to fall. Constant exposure to progesterone can make cells unresponsive to progesterone - and that's like not having enough.

Women who are not having periods can follow a calendar for their cycle.

PROGESTERONE: Low Normal

Progesterone is a key hormone and it must be present in sufficient quantity to balance efficiently with estrogen. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum monthly after ovulation. If a pregnancy occurs, the developing baby takes over the task of producing this hormone - and it does so in large quantities.

When progesterone levels fall rapidly - around the 26th day of a cycle - the period starts.

Progesterone impacts physical, mental and emotional health. When it is too low a person could suffer in one or more of those areas. Some of the symptoms often associated with low progesterone are anxiety, anger, nervousness, various pains, and mental "fogginess".

It is important to use a progesterone supplement to bring your levels up. This may be accomplished by using an over-the-counter cream or a prescription product. The non-prescription product is identical in content to the one that your doctor may order. The only difference is the strength.

Our recommendation for progesterone supplements is the transdermal cream. They offer dosing flexibility and they are well absorbed - and there are almost no difficulties from applying the cream.

Pre-menopausal women who are still having cycles may want to use the progesterone once daily during the last half of their cycle - say from days 13 through 25.

If you are not having periods you should still consider dosing progesterone according to a cycle - somewhat copying your normal menstrual cycle. As above, we recommend a lower dose for the first half of the month, increasing for another couple of weeks, and then stopping altogether. It is important to give your body the time to allow the progesterone levels to fall. Constant exposure to progesterone can make cells unresponsive to progesterone - and that's like not having enough. Women who are not having periods can follow a calendar for their cycle.

PROGESTERONE: Normal

Progesterone is a key hormone and it must be present in sufficient quantity to balance efficiently with estrogen. Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum monthly after ovulation. If a pregnancy occurs, the developing baby takes over the task of producing this hormone - and it does so in large quantities.

When progesterone levels fall rapidly - around the 26th day of a cycle - the period starts. While your level is in the normal range it may still be responsible for the symptoms you describe. The absolute level is less important that the ratio between progesterone and your estrogen.
When that ration is around 500, most women report that they feel the best. Levels below 200 usually indicate an imbalance that is called "Estrogen Dominance."

PROGESTERONE/ESTROGEN Ratio

The ratio between progesterone and estradiol is important. The normal is above 200, yet most women report they feel best when the ratio is closer to 500. If your ratio is below normal - by a significant amount. This suggests that you may be experiencing symptoms that Dr. John Lee called "estrogen dominance."

Your estrogen levels may be in the normal range, but if your progesterone is too low you can experience all of the symptoms associated with too much estrogen - that's "estrogen dominance."

PROGESTERONE/ESTROGEN Ratio: High

If your progesterone to estrogen ratio is a little high is probably nothing to worry about - unless you are experiencing symptoms that you don't want. When a woman uses transdermal progesterone the saliva values can be 200 or 3000 - or more. That elevates the ratio and is expected when using a progesterone supplement.

Some practitioners get alarmed when they see high numbers, but the shouldn't. It is expected that transdermal progesterone will elevate both the progesterone level and the ratio. Once you begin to use the cream the symptoms control is far more important than the actual values.

If you are feeling a little sluggish, you might want to cut back just a little on the cream. Our usual suggestion is 20mg daily on days 1 through 12, twice daily on days 13 through 25 then stopping.

If you're using one of our pumpers you can reduce the dose by just not pressing down all the way on the pump unit. A "half pump" delivers about 10mg.

It would be nice if this was all a precise science - you know, "exactly 16mg on this day and 27mg on that." But, the fact remains that people are different - and circumstances change form day to day. A dose schedule that was fine during one season may be too much or too little during another. Stress increases demand for progesterone (and other hormones), so stressful times may demand a larger dose. Vacations may reduce the need.

TESTOSTERONE: Low

Testosterone is important for libido (sexual interest) muscle and skin tone. Too little can result in thinning skin, loss of hair, dryness and loss of libido. Too much testosterone is associated with coarse hair, oily skin, and a deepened voice.

Clearly, a low testosterone level can be responsible for some of the symptoms you are concerned about.

Testosterone levels can be impacted by progesterone. There is what we refer to as a "hormone cascade". This is depiction of how one hormone generates others - in a sort of cascading effect. For example, the chief hormone - cholesterol - reacts to form pregnenolone - and that becomes progesterone. From this small group can come all of the other hormones - estrogens, DHEA, testosterone, insulin, cortisol, thyroid, and so on.

Many people find that when they get their progesterone levels up and their progesterone to estrogen ration closer to 500, their testosterone levels also rise - because testosterone is farther "down the path" in the hormone cascade.

Our usual recommendation is to start using a progesterone supplement to see if testosterone levels rise naturally. This does not require a prescription because progesterone can be purchased over the counter (without a prescription).

If this isn't sufficient to bring testosterone levels up, you may need to supplement of testosterone - usually as a transdermal cream. This requires a prescription from a doctor. It consists of a cream that contains testosterone in a low dose. Women begin by using 0.25mg daily. This dose is increased every 7 to 10 days until the proper results are achieved.

Sometimes using testosterone can stimulate the normal production and the woman can stop using the testosterone cream. Other women find they need a continuous supplement - so they get their testosterone refilled regularly.

TESTOSTERONE: Low Normal

Testosterone is important for libido (sexual interest) muscle and skin tone. Too little can result in thinning skin, loss of hair, dryness and loss of libido. Too much testosterone is associated with coarse hair, oily skin, and a deepened voice.

Clearly, a low testosterone level can be responsible for some uncomfortable symptoms. Keep in mind, that this level may be "normal" for you. Before moving to a testosterone replacement it may be a good plan to use other supplements that have been shown to improve balance and raise testosterone levels.

TESTOSTERONE: High

Testosterone is important for libido (sexual interest) muscle and skin tone. Too little can result in thinning skin, loss of hair, dryness and loss of libido. Too much testosterone is associated with coarse hair, oily skin, and a deepened voice.

Elevated testosterone is a problem we don't have an answer for.

Please evaluate your situation and talk to your doctor about your needs.