Women’s Hormone Therapy | Austin, TX
Estrogen & Progesterone Replacement

Hormones play a critical role in women’s health and wellbeing. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, mood, and reproduction. In women, hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone play a vital role in regulating the menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause. Hormonal imbalances can cause disruptive symptoms in women that can impact every aspect of their lives.

Estrogen dominance is a common issue in the latter half of the menstrual cycle, where estrogen levels should be low, and progesterone levels should be at their highest. Common symptoms of estrogen dominance in women include irregular periods, mood swings, breast tenderness, fatigue, weight gain, headaches, and decreased sex drive. On the other hand, symptoms of progesterone deficiency may include irregular periods, heavy or painful periods, mood swings, breast tenderness, insomnia, low libido, and fatigue. Testosterone, often thought of as a male hormone, is equally important for women. Testosterone deficiency can lead to a range of symptoms, including low sex drive, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, decreased muscle mass and strength, increased body fat, mood changes, reduced bone density, decreased cognitive function, and decreased hair growth.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects 8-12% of women and is caused by insulin resistance due to a sugar or carbohydrate-rich diet in women who are sensitive to carbohydrate intake. PCOS can lead to elevated levels of testosterone and its associated symptoms include hair loss, acne and dark pigmentation of the skin. Often, women with PCOS are prescribed birth control pills to regulate their cycles. However, it’s important to address the underlying metabolic disturbance of PCOS with dietary changes to reestablish metabolic health and normal hormonal balance. Hormone levels should be drawn to assess the adequacy of each hormone responsible for creating balance, and these levels should be drawn at specific times of the month for proper evaluation of balance.

Dr. Harper’s innovative and comprehensive solutions to health and hormones will allow you to experience renewed energy, restored youthfulness and a longer, healthier life – just as nature intended. She is one of the most experienced physicians in the United States having utilized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in her personalized integrative health practice with over 10,000 patients. She specializes in treating perimenopause, menopause, and other causes of women’s hormone deficiency or imbalance.

Women’s Hormone Therapy
Austin, TX
Estrogen & Progesterone
Replacement

Hormones play a critical role in women’s health and wellbeing. Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, mood, and reproduction. In women, hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone play a vital role in regulating the menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause. Hormonal imbalances can cause disruptive symptoms in women that can impact every aspect of their lives.

Estrogen dominance is a common issue in the latter half of the menstrual cycle, where estrogen levels should be low, and progesterone levels should be at their highest. Common symptoms of estrogen dominance in women include irregular periods, mood swings, breast tenderness, fatigue, weight gain, headaches, and decreased sex drive. On the other hand, symptoms of progesterone deficiency may include irregular periods, heavy or painful periods, mood swings, breast tenderness, insomnia, low libido, and fatigue. Testosterone, often thought of as a male hormone, is equally important for women. Testosterone deficiency can lead to a range of symptoms, including low sex drive, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, decreased muscle mass and strength, increased body fat, mood changes, reduced bone density, decreased cognitive function, and decreased hair growth.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects 8-12% of women and is caused by insulin resistance due to a sugar or carbohydrate-rich diet in women who are sensitive to carbohydrate intake. PCOS can lead to elevated levels of testosterone and its associated symptoms include hair loss, acne and dark pigmentation of the skin. Often, women with PCOS are prescribed birth control pills to regulate their cycles. However, it’s important to address the underlying metabolic disturbance of PCOS with dietary changes to reestablish metabolic health and normal hormonal balance. Hormone levels should be drawn to assess the adequacy of each hormone responsible for creating balance, and these levels should be drawn at specific times of the month for proper evaluation of balance.

Dr. Harper’s innovative and comprehensive solutions to health and hormones will allow you to experience renewed energy, restored youthfulness and a longer, healthier life – just as nature intended. She is one of the most experienced physicians in the United States having utilized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in her personalized integrative health practice with over 10,000 patients. She specializes in treating perimenopause, menopause, and other causes of women’s hormone deficiency or imbalance.

Women’s Hormone Replacement Therapy

Why Bioidentical Hormones are
Safer than Synthetic Hormones

As women and men approach mid-life, many wonder whether hormone therapy is right for them. Countless studies, including the large Women’s Health Initiative Study in July 2002, have shown that traditional (synthetic) prescription hormone replacement therapy can increase the likelihood of various types of cancer and heart disease.

Many patients are now taking a natural, more balanced approach to hormonal replacement with customized bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. Bio-identical hormones are more appealing when dealing with menopause or andropause because they are derived naturally and our bodies can recognize and metabolize them properly. In addition, bio-identical hormones are specifically designed to match your individual hormonal needs – unlike synthetic pharmaceutical hormones, which use a one-size-fits-all approach to symptom relief.

There is an overwhelmingly large body of evidence that supports the claim that bio-identical hormone therapy is safer and more effective than synthetic hormone replacement and can help to resolve or prevent disease. However, it’s important to remember that no drug, supplement or herb is 100% safe unless provided by an experienced medical doctor. That’s why it’s critical for women to work with an experienced physician before beginning any hormone therapy regimen.

Dr. Harper’s innovative and comprehensive solutions to health and hormones will allow you to experience renewed energy, restored youthfulness and a longer, healthier life – just as nature intended. She is one of the most experienced physicians in the United States having utilized bioidentical hormone replacement therapy in her personalized integrative health practice with over 10,000 patients. She specializes in treating perimenopause, menopause, and other causes of women’s hormone imbalance.

Women’s Hormone Testing

Progesterone: Progesterone is a female hormone that reduces anxiety and prepares the uterus for pregnancy. Some women have normal progesterone levels, but have too little progesterone when compared to the amount of estrogen they produce. This is why we also look at the ratio of estrogen to progesterone.

Estrogen (estradiol): Estrogen is a hormone responsible for female sex characteristics, memory, and heart health. While it is essential, women can have too much estrogen due to sub-optimal clearing of estrogen from the body.
FSH: FSH is responsible for developing the follicles in the ovaries of women. In polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), FSH can be so low that ovulation & conception can’t occur, causing infertility.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH): LH causes the production of testosterone in men and stimulates the release of an egg in women.

DHEA: DHEA is the precursor to testosterone. We need this hormone for optimal energy levels. If DHEA is low it can indicate that your adrenal glands, which are responsible for responding to stressors, may not be functioning optimally.

Testosterone: Testosterone is also essential in women’s health. Testosterone ensures that women have optimal energy levels, motivation, and a healthy sex drive.

Free testosterone: The majority of testosterone is bound to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG).Free testosterone is the amount of testosterone that is actually able to produce its effect on the body because it is not bound to a protein carrier called Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG): This is the protein that binds testosterone (making it unavailable to cells).

Cortisol Test (Adrenal Stress Index): Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands. It is responsible for waking you up in the morning and responding to stressful situations. Low cortisol symptoms include: feeling tired, wired, palpitations, anxiousness, having trouble sleeping, salt or sugar cravings, dizziness when you stand up, and low blood pressure.

Thyroid Hormone Testing

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): This is the most commonly run test to check for thyroid disease. 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men have low thyroid function.

Common signs of hypothyroidism are cold hands and feet, trouble losing weight or weight gain, brittle hair and nails, dry skin, constipation, being tired all of the time, having trouble getting up in the morning, brain fog, memory issues, and depression.

Free T3 (fT3): This is the active thyroid hormone that actually exerts its effect on the cells. It is responsible for energy production, hormone production, regulating bowel movements, in addition to other symptoms.

Free T4 (fT4): T4 is the majority of the thyroid hormone that is produced by the thyroid. It must be converted to its active form of thyroid hormone (FT3) in order to have any effect in our body. If FT4 is normal but FT3 is low, then you are not converting properly and might require supplementation with nutrients to support this process or may need prescription T3 (called Liothyronine).

Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO Antibodies): 90% of the individuals who have hypothyroidism have autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease). TPO Antibodies are one of the markers for Hashimoto’s.

It is important to know the cause of hypothyroidism because you treat it differently from non-autoimmune hypothyroidism.
Anti-thyroglobulin Antibodies: Another marker for autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Reverse T3: Reverse T3 is the form of thyroid hormone that stops your thyroid gland from working. Sometimes there are good reasons for higher levels of Reverse T3 but often it’s because something is out of balance in the body or the body is in a stressed stated.

Unfortunately, toxins, stress, and inflammation all increase levels of reverse T3, which block the active form of thyroid hormone FT3 from working. Even if the regular thyroid tests appear normal, high levels of reverse T3 mean your thyroid is not working efficiently.

Symptoms of Menopause

Estrogen Deficiency:

1. Hot flashes
2. Night sweats
3. Foggy thinking
4. Memory loss
5. Tearful
6. Depressed
7. Sleep disturbances
8. Heart Palpitations
9. Head aches
10. Minor Anxiety
11. Temperature swings
12. Decreased sense of sexuality & sensuality
13. Reduced stamina
14. Dry eyes, skin, & vagina
15. Loss of skin radiance
16. Sagging breasts & loss of fullness
17. Pain with sexual activity
18. Weight gain
19. Increased back & joint pain
20. Gastrointestinal discomfort

Estrogen Dominance:
(more estrogen than progesterone,
however still estrogen deficient)

1. Tender breasts
2. Breast swelling
3. Water retention
4. Nervous
5. Irritable
6. Anxious
7. Weight Gain (Hips or Waist)
8. Headaches
9. Heavy periods
10. Low Libido
11. Fatigue
12. Sugar cravings
13. Sleep Disturbances
14. Pelvic cramps
15. Nausea- (“Start to feel like I did when I was pregnant”)

Progesterone Deficiency:

1. Headaches
2. Low Libido
3. Anxiety
4. Swollen breasts
5. Irritability
6. Insomnia
7. Cramps
8. Inability to concentrate
9. Lack of menstruation
10. Fuzzy thinking

Progesterone Excess:

1. Mild Reaction:
– Drowsiness
– Slight dizziness
– A sense of physical instability
2. Severe Reaction:
– A feeling of being drunk or spinning
– Heaviness of the extremities

Women’s Hormone Therapy | Austin, TX Estrogen & Progesterone Replacement

Women’s Hormone Therapy Austin, TX Estrogen & Progesterone Replacement