In the past 10 years or so, Bioidentical Hormones have garnered a lot of press both in print media as well as TV coverage. Oprah has devoted many of her shows to this subject. Suzanne Somers, a two-time cancer survivor, has written many best-selling books on her exhaustive research and personal experience using Bioidentical Hormones.

In 1991, the well- known Women’s Health Initiative Study was begun to test the safety and efficacy of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). By 2001, the researchers concluded that there was much greater incidence of Coronary Heart Disease, breast cancer, cerebrovascular accidents (stroke), and pulmonary embolism in the HRT test subjects compared to those on placebo. The study was stopped early due to the dangerous risks to the test subjects.

With all the conclusive evidence that exists against HRT, it is very disturbing that many doctors still continue to prescribe HRT and subject their patients to such a high risk.

The push towards Bioidentical Hormones, being natural plant-based, is a result of efforts to find a safe alternative to HRT. But are they really that effective? Most women who start taking Bioidentical Hormones do report feeling better for about 6 to 12 months and then start to notice that their initial improvement often starts to deteriorate. “Why is this?” many women ask.

The big missing piece of the puzzle is usually Adrenal Stress. Stress-induced illness is at the top of the list for causative factors for most of the common health issues of today. The Adrenal glands, which sit on top of each kidney, are major players in the whole sex hormone system. These important glands and the hormones they produce, Cortisol and DHEA, are the master precursor hormone producers that control the production of Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone.

Not until the Adrenal glands are tested (saliva testing) and then regenerated through a specific nutritional regeneration protocol will the sex hormones be able to function at healthy and sustainable levels. Women who are treated with hormone therapy (synthetic or natural) often have hormones that are all over the map (too high or too low) due to the Adrenals being ignored. Unfortunately very few practitioners are addressing the Adrenal Stress epidemic and thus the challenge of balancing hormones to healthy levels remains.

At Functional Medicine Center, we always begin the diagnostic process for uncovering the factors leading to illness and hormone imbalance with Adrenal Stress Testing. Free consultations by appointment!