Women's Health
Our office provides a variety of health services to support the needs of women. When necessary, and at your request, we are happy to work with either your gynecologist or endocrinologist.
Bio-identical Hormones
Our office provides a comprehensive and individualized approach using bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are identical to those made by the body and are synthetic (made in a laboratory). It is a misconception that plants contain “natural” hormones; plants DO contain hormone-like chemicals that are often used as “starting chemicals” when bio-identical hormones are produced in the laboratory. The human body is unable to convert hormone-like chemicals in plants such as soy and wild yams to active hormones. Hormones used by conventional OBs, internist and endocrinologists are also synthetic, but are very different structurally from those made endogenously (in the body). Bio-identical hormones are easily recognized by the body and are thought to carry far less risk of hormone related cancers compared to synthetic, non-bio-identical hormones.
Our office utilizes several important tests for determining the best balance of bio-identical hormones required. These important tests include:
- Certain blood hormone levels
- Specific saliva hormone measurements
- Urine measurements of estrogen metabolites
- Non-hormone nutritional and other laboratory tests that evaluate various body processes that determine directly or indirectly hormone need, use and overall balance.
It is the combination of these tests that give the most comprehensive assessment of hormone levels, relative use by body tissues in need and potential cancer risk (Yes! Even natural hormones may increase cancer risk in a given individual)
Our approach to women's health issues that are hormonally related is to consider these conditions in the context of the entire body. Said another way, the traditional medical approach generally involves prescriptions of synthetic hormones. Hormonally-focused doctors often may not consider non-hormonal causes of hormonal problems. Sounds complicated? It's really not that complicated when a woman's health issues are considered holistically. We work with women with all varieties of hormone and other health problems including, but not limited to:
- Breast Issues
- Overall Fitness
- Fatigue
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Heart Conditions
- Pregnancy/Pre-Pregnancy
- Infertility/Fertility Nutrition
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Natural (bio-identical) Hormones
- Pre- and Post-menopausal Therapy
- Weight Loss (PDF download)
For more information on women's health, visit : Breast Thermography - Breast Cancer Screening without Radiation
