The Truth is, We’ve been Trained to be Afraid of Estrogen
For years, we have been conditioned to fear estrogen, largely due to the flawed Women’s Health Initiative study conducted two decades ago that reported a slight increase in breast cancer risk. Subsequent research published in reputable peer-reviewed journals, however, has since highlighted the study’s flaws, from poorly executed statistics to the use of synthetic, non-bioidentical hormones. The publication of these fatal flaws, however, has done little to aleviate our panic. Sadly, the anxieties stemming from the WHI has affected the collective mindset so much so, that it remains in the back of our minds when we consider hormone replacement therapy.
To add fuel to the fire, the anxieties of estrogen in the medical community has led to a generation of practitioners not being adequately trained in the complexities of hormone replacement therapy. Consequently, we have failed to appreciate the numerous benefits and vital roles hormones play in maintaining a woman’s overall health, such as preventing osteoporosis, dementia, heart disease, and enhancing libido.
If we allow our unwarranted fears to persist, we will deprive women of the opportunity to live healthier and longer lives, as numerous studies have shown a link between the lack of estrogen and chronic diseases and premature death.
Fear Still Lingers Within Us…
Congratulations to those who have had the courage to use estrogen! Even a small amount of hormone is better than none, and transitioning from synthetic hormones to bioidentical ones is a significant win!
However, popular belief aside, there is still space for improvement.
It’s important to recognize that deep down, we still harbor a fear that estrogen may lead to cancer. This fear drives us to only use low doses of estrogen or weaker estrogen mixtures, under the false belief that this is the best way to optimize its benefits for women’s health. But we need to ask ourselves: is this really the optimal dose when we compare it to what a woman’s body naturally produces? Have our bodies evolved to no longer need higher doses to support our bones, brains, hearts, and skin? This doesn’t make sense when you consider that other HRT strategies, such as insulin, thyroid, and testosterone in men, are dosed to achieve optimal physiological response. We must challenge this false belief and consider the potential benefits of utilizing more natural doses of estrogen.
The Non-Traditional HRT Model falls short in acknowledging the significance of hormone relationships, specifically the interplay between estrogen and progesterone. The current approach only considers progesterone as a means to counteract estrogen’s impact on the endometrium, leading to the daily co-administration of both hormones. The body, however, never produced it in this manner. Why then, have we implemented this as an effective dosing strategy for the rest of the body? Research indicates that the concurrent use of estrogen and progesterone every day can heighten cardiovascular risk in women. Despite this evidence, why do we disregard it? Additionally, have we considered how other organ systems are affected by the uncoordinated dosing of these hormones?
Changing the Paradigm…Again
To fully harness the potential of hormones, a more comprehensive understanding of molecular biology and genetics is necessary. This includes knowledge of the natural levels and timing of estrogen and progesterone release in the body. Analogous to Morse code, where a single tone can convey an entire language through its frequency and pattern, our hormones can relay thousands of messages to every cell in the body. Maximizing the effects of hormones requires dosing them in a pulsatile and rhythmic manner, akin to their natural release. Estradiol, for instance, is known to control over 4000 genes and 350 gene products via its fluctuations. Such complex effects cannot be achieved with the Non-Traditional HRT model that employs low doses of hormones daily.
Have we ever considered that the menstrual cycle, which serves as the master template for the symphony of how all our sex hormones are released, is the best indicator for optimal hormone balance and overall health? When our hormones are released in the rhythm that they are naturally built for, those 4000 genes stand to continue to be turned on and off as nature intended, resulting in a multitude of positive effects on the body.
A new era of hormone restoration therapy (HRT) is emerging with the advent of rhythmic HRT, such as the Physiologic HRT protocol. This program is based on the principle that mimicking the 28-day hormone cycle, in terms of both rhythmicity and pulsatility, similar to how healthy women produced hormones during their reproductive years, can optimize the body’s health well into menopause. By utilizing the positive effects of estradiol and progesterone on the heart, bones, brain, and skin, the Physiologic HRT protocol is designed to help prevent chronic diseases and harnesses the true power of our hormones.
Discover the scientific principles behind the 28-day hormone cycle by clicking on the link provided below.
Interested in learning more about the Physiologic Hormone Restoration Program? Get started by enrolling in WHN’s FREE Physiologic HRT Training and Coaching Program.
Every person’s body is different. There are many genetic, health and lifestyle factors to consider for hormone restoration. It’s important to work with a practitioner you can trust.
The Mission of WHN is to expand the Standard of Care by promoting, advocating, and advancing women’s wellbeing and longevity through clinical research and education about the benefits of Physiologic Restoration™ to reduce the symptoms of hormone imbalance, chronic disease and degenerative decline.
WHN is a registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation