In this episode, we're picking back up where we left off last, exploring the different options for hormone replacement therapy. One method not covered yet is injectable therapies, which really do not exist for estrogen. However, injectable testosterone is available for women. But remember: Testosterone given via injection is not bioidentical, and there is no established approved dose for women.

Injectable testosterone has high bioavailability, but it's only in your system for a few days. Furthermore, typically with this type of administration you're hit with a "hormone bomb"—a dose that floods your system with a high amount of hormones right away. An alternative yet similar solution to traditional injectables is pellet hormone therapy.

Pellet hormone therapy comes in the form of small, compounded beads. These are inserted into the body through injection using a large needle, but local anesthesia ensures you don't feel anything. It's not a widely available option, but they usually last between two and a half to four months.

The unique benefit of this option is an internal regulatory mechanism: Your heart rate. Of all the methods you can choose from, pellet therapy is the most reliable. For a few weeks, you can expect steady hormone levels, and nothing else on the market for hormone replacement therapy can match that. Pellet hormone therapy also offers convenience and guaranteed compliance.

There are some concerns regarding accumulation of estradiol with long-term pellet implantation, which is something that should be monitored by your health care professionals. Typically, this is seen in women who have been estrogen dominant (and therefore prone to high estrogen) throughout their life. While not approved by the FDA as a medication, pellets can be sourced from compounding pharmacies offering custom products.

What are the safest and most effective solutions for menopause? That's exactly what we're covering in this episode of Wellness Optimizing Warrior MD. When it comes to exploring your options for hormone replacement therapy, transdermal options tend to be the most bioavailable and safe to detoxify, which means you can avoid secondary risks.

One therapy to consider is the estradiol patch, which delivers estrogen. It's an acrylic adhesive that's applied directly to the skin, and you change it weekly or bi-weekly. You receive a gradual release, and it's much more bioavailable than oral alternatives because it's not subject to the first pass liver effect.

On the flipside, it's not super reliable. The delivery can be impacted by your hydration, and other factors as well. It has a slightly different chemical structure than non-synthetic estrogen. Plus, the highest levels you can attain are not full replacement levels, which means you may not get the results you're aiming for.

While you can replace estrogen with a patch, it's also important to keep in mind that other replacement therapies provide options to include the other crucial hormones as well, which are progesterone and testosterone. It's less convenient to get all three in different forms because you have to take them separately.

Another option for hormone replacement is in a cream, which is usually applied daily. But like the patch, it only applies bioavailable levels for a few hours. In many ways like the patch, this method has pros and cons. Ideally, the hormone replacement therapy you choose will fit your personality and lifestyle. It will fit your goals, budget, and medical needs.

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Let's talk about oral estrogen, which is a form of hormone replacement therapy many doctors still recommend—even though sometimes perhaps they shouldn't. In addition to that, many women use synthetic oral estrogens, like birth control pills, for decades.

The more information you have regarding your choices for estrogen replacement, the better decision you can make for yourself. Whatever form you choose, it should be able to enter your body, circulate, reach the proper receptors, and be eliminated effectively. Essentially, it needs to be bioavailable and activate receptors on the target cells to achieve desired results.

Oral estrogens have minimal systemic bioavailability—between 2% and 10%. This is due to the first pass effect and demonstrates how a huge amount of this dose does not make it into the circulatory system. Despite this, they are still often prescribed by doctors who are making recommendations based on outdated or biased information.

There is no established ideal hormone level at menopause, which can make it more difficult for women on hormone replacement therapy to figure out their most effective dose. It really comes down to weighing the benefits being experienced against the potential side effects or risks. Often, these risks are there regardless due to age, so many women feel the positive effects are worth it.

Synthetic hormone use comes with its share of things to consider. To keep this in perspective, we have to remember that many women are exposed to synthetic hormones via birth control measures. That means we have to account for this too when looking at the data. If you're taking or considering taking oral estrogen, it's best to understand the upsides along with the dangers that could be lurking.

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Are you interested in hormone replacement therapy? We're shedding light on hormone replacement in this episode, and exploring how you should go about it. Here's the thing: There is no general "best" way to approach hormone replacement therapy—only the way that works best for you.

So where should you start? Begin by connecting with a doctor who is well-versed in all the methods of hormone replacement therapy. They should be able to explain the pros, cons, and differences between them to guide you as you choose the most ideal method for you. It's even better if they can provide you with additional resources and educational material.

One thing you'll want to be aware of when making a decision is the difference between bioidentical and non-bioidentical hormones. Keep in mind this isn't the same as synthetic versus non-synthetic, which is another aspect to take into consideration. Lastly, the method by which you receive replacement therapy matters too. Typical options include gels, creams, and injectables.

Synthetic estrogens, like ethinyl estradiol, are commonly used in birth control. However, this is one type of estrogen you want to stay away from, especially in menopause. Premarin is another estrogen derived from horse urine, which you may want to stay away from. That said, whether you feel more comfortable with big pharma produced, FDA-approved drugs or natural, more "non-GMO" type products, you have options.

Transdermal use of estrogen has been proved safer for long-term use than oral alternatives. If you're considering being on hormone replacement therapy for more than a few years, stay away from oral options. Compounded estrogens are a great option because they are customizable based on your unique needs, whereas gels come in predetermined doses. Understanding the options available to you is crucial for making an informed decision.

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Testosterone has different functions in male and female bodies. In this episode, we're focusing on the role testosterone plays for women specifically and why this hormone is so important. Estrogen and testosterone are usually seen as opposites, but the truth is they actually work together to maintain an equilibrium in the woman's body.

Though present in much lower quantities in women than in men, it contributes to a woman's bone strength, mood, mental clarity, and ambition. Testosterone influences physical features and aspects of personality like muscle mass, motivation, and the desire to succeed. In women, it subtly compliments estrogen to create a complete portrait of a woman's health.

Testosterone is an androgenic hormone—the king of all androgens. It's produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands, and some tissues. Testosterone is important for sexual desire in women. Various methods of birth control can impact the product of testosterone, thereby lowering your sex drive.

If you feel tired, depressed, and seem to be gaining weight, low testosterone could be the underlying cause. Testosterone declines with age in women, and this is because the ovaries and adrenal glands naturally lower their production over time. In an ideal world, women would have their testosterone levels tested early to establish a baseline to distinguish if their levels have dropped later on.

Overall, there is more to be uncovered and understood about testosterone in women. For example, we have defined an optimal level for women, but there is no "normal" amount defined. The level target for replacing your testosterone, if you go this route, will likely be more than your natural baseline. Your health professional will likely recommend 10% of what's healthy in a male, and some will aim for more.

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Are you having trouble losing weight? This is one of the most bothersome and common health issues patients have. During this episode, we explore various possible reasons why this could be happening to you. The valuable insights shared here will, at the very least, help point you in the right direction.

First and foremost, there is no such thing as a "perfect" diet. That said, people tend to eat the same foods with consistency—something that can actually contribute to food sensitivities. If you're stuck and you can't lose weight, you might consider changing your diet and exercise routine.

When it comes to exercise, there is such a thing as too much—even if your goal is weight loss. Not only that, but the type of exercise you're doing matters too. A functional doctor can help provide you with feedback on your specific routine. Don't get trapped trying the same thing over and over again if it's not working.

If you suffer from inflammation and it's not being addressed, this could be the culprit to your struggle with weight loss. The solution is figuring out the cause of inflammation in your body, fixing it, and promoting the body's natural healing processes. Getting to the bottom of your issue may involve measuring levels of insulin and cortisol, which are two hormones that play major roles in weight loss.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is another reason some people have difficulty losing weight. When mitochondrial damage occurs, it can trigger an inflammatory response. This leads to stress on various body systems and tissues which disrupts receptor function that is essential for your body's ability to lose weight. If you want to achieve meaningful weight loss, you have to be willing to dive deep.

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In this episode, we're moving into part two in a series all about progesterone. This episode will cover the role progesterone plays in menstruation, when to test for sex hormones like progesterone, and what happens to a woman's cycle as we age. You'll also discover the difference between progesterone and progestyn, along with why it matters.

Imagine the uterine lining as a brick wall. In this example, estrogen would be the bricks or building blocks of the wall. Progesterone's role would be the mortar—fortifying the brick wall. If you don't have enough progesterone, your wall, or uterine lining, could be weak or unstable.

The role progesterone plays in balance with estrogen cannot be understated. When these hormones are not in balance, various issues can arise including reproductive conditions and irregularities. Estrogen, without progesterone, can even lead to an increase in cancer. For this reason, cycle abnormalities should be taken seriously by your doctor.

As a woman approaches menopause, the quality of her eggs naturally declines. As a result, the progesterone produced is much lower. At the same time, estrogen naturally declines as the body naturally works to keep a balance. Women in perimenopause may still notice symptoms like painful periods, gastrointestinal issues, and more.

Many OBGYNs who put their patients on estrogen replacement therapy don't bother with progesterone. This is a mistake. If you have a uterus and are on ERT, you will need to take progesterone too. Women in perimenopause and menopause deserve to have the full picture of the role these hormones play in their health so they can make educated decisions.

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Did you know progesterone is the second most important sex hormone if you're a woman? That's just one reason it's so important to acknowledge and understand progesterone for women's health. In this episode, we're diving into part one of all things progesterone including how it's produced and what happens when it's out of balance with other hormones.

Women's bodies create progesterone alongside estrogen, and it's truly the balance between these two major hormones that promotes healthy balance. During a regular menstrual cycle, after ovulation, progesterone is generated at higher levels in the body. In fact, there is no progesterone without ovulation. This means ovulation is really crucial to balancing these hormones.

Low progesterone levels can lead to estrogen dominance—a hormone state in which symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, and more can arise. Identifying estrogen dominance and its possible cause (whether in relation to progesterone levels or not) can help you figure out the best next step towards a solution.

High cortisol can impact progesterone levels. It's been postulated that the production of cortisol may actually steal progesterone from the ovaries. Whether this is true or not, stress has been shown to inhibit ovulation by directly impacting the brain, thereby promoting an overall hormone imbalance.

Intense and strenuous exercise or competitive athletes may also notice low progesterone levels. Their bodies are under a different kind of stress, but a stress nonetheless, so the body shuts down pituitary hormones, meaning the ovaries won't make any estrogen. Without estrogen, the body won't produce any progesterone, leading to further health symptoms.

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Last time, we covered how low estrogen can impact women's health. Today, our focus is on excess estrogen, and how this can affect both women's and men's health. Having too much estrogen in the body is also referred to as estrogen dominance. Because this hormone plays such a significant role in the body, outcomes of estrogen dominance can have a serious impact on our health.

An excess of estrogen in women can lead to weight gain around the midsection, breast enlargement, period and cycle changes, severe PMS, sleeping difficulties, and more. In men, high estrogen can lead to low sex drive, gynecomastia, decrease in muscle tone (in spite of exercise), and depression.

Our bodies, when stressed, release cortisol. When cortisol release is irregularly high, the body's ability to produce progesterone, which balances estrogen, is compromised. Drinking alcohol daily can also increase estrogen levels because it directly impacts the liver, where estrogen is metabolized.

There are also chemicals in plastic products like pesticides, skincare, fragrances, food storage, and more which can influence estrogen production negatively. These substances are called estrogen disruptors (or EEDCs), and they alter the function of the hormonal system. Keeping your hands clean throughout the day, avoiding plastic, and choosing organic foods can limit your exposure to these toxic chemicals.

Poor diet and increased carbohydrate intake are linked to increased estrogen in men. High stress, poor sleep, and lack of exercise can also lead to increased estrogen levels in men. Avoiding alcohol, smoked meat, and fish, while enjoying more cruciferous vegetables, fermented foods, and flavones (found in chamomile) can help keep estrogen balanced in men.

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Estrogen influences so many diverse aspects of a woman's existence. In the last episode, we explored two of the main reasons why estrogen is awesome: first for sexuality, and second for brain health. In this episode, we continue empowering you with knowledge on this amazing hormone and discuss all the other ways estrogen is beneficial for a woman's body.

Estrogen is awesome for the role it plays in supporting heart health. Interestingly, the risk for heart disease increases after menopause. This decrease in estrogen coincides with potential issues in cardiovascular health. This may be related to its ability to decrease plaque, or its promotion of healthy cholesterol.

This hormone also plays a role in supporting a woman's musculoskeletal health. Estrogen receptors are found inside your two main bone cells, which highlights its importance in bone formation and integrity. As such, estrogen deficiency can lead to bone mineral decline. It also plays an important role in supporting a woman's joint health.

In a healthy body, the balance between anabolic hormones (like estrogen) and catabolic hormones (like cortisol) is maintained and creates homeostasis. So, when we lose estrogen as an anabolic hormone, your metabolism will slow down to a crawl. You might find you need to eat less and workout more to maintain the same weight.

Estrogen is also vision supportive and helps maintain hydration of the eyes. It even works wonders in promoting healthy skin by promoting sebum and collagen production. Estrogen has antioxidant properties and protects the skin against UV damage. By nourishing our bodies with the appropriate amount of estrogen, women can ensure robust, resilient health for years to come.

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