Comments on: Bioidentical Hormones – A Doctor Answers Basic Questions

By: Helene Leonetti MD

Helene Leonetti MD — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:00:46 +0000

Dear Zoe,
With John Lee, MD as my beloved teacher and mentor, I can remind you that he never really put much stock in pregnenolone, because truly, there is not much scienctific data to back up its claim as the ‘mother’ hormone. My years of experience and research gives much more credibility to the use of transdermal progesterone cream. Every symptom you mention gets addressed with its use, within 4-8wks, and it is, has been, and remains a safe balancing hormone that addresses our symptoms, and more importantly, heart, breast, and bone health. Start with 20mg twice daily, using it 28 days each month. We are never too old to start it. Hugs, HBL

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 03:00:52 +0000

I think I sent this last month but received no comments from you. I mentioned I am taking 20mg/day of pregnenolone in order to make all the hormones I need NOW, in the quantities I need NOW. I am 70, find it impossible to fall asleep naturally and still have hot flashes.

By: Michele Oder

Michele Oder — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:48:41 +0000

I have been trying to find information on what is the proper ratio of bio-identical estrogen to progesterone? How much progesterone is needed to protect the uterus when using estrogen?

By: brena

brena — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:38:09 +0000

hi,
I recently had a saliva test performed as a tool to determine my need for bhrt, due to menopause symptoms which started 12/07. I spent all of 08 suffering with symptoms due to breast cancer dx & treatment in 12/07. Tumor was 3cm and Triple negative for estrogen/progesterone & her2. I have been fatigue since 12/07 regardless of my diet change and excercise regime. Started progesterone 20mg/ml per day 07/14/09 in hope it will help, i am desperate.
My morning cortisol level was 2.1, well below what should be the highest part of the day. My WBC has also been below 3.4 for last several months.
Question to you, should i be concerned wiith the low cortisol? should i follow up with more testing? I have not discussed this with my pcp.

thank you,

By: Helene Leonetti MD

Helene Leonetti MD — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:14:52 +0000

Dear Carol,

It would be helpful if your man could find a holistic doctor who practices nutritional and herbal as well as hormonal medicine as I do, but of course not a gynecologist. Where are you? If local to me, I could refer you to some lovely docs who could assess his adrenals, his thyroid, his sex steroids, and his diet, all of which must be addressed together.

Often times, naturopathic doctors (AANP) have a wonderful approach to this. Go also to http://www.holisticmedicine.org, which is my organization: American Holistic Medical Assoc. There is a place to locate doctors near you. You can also post questions such as this, letting them know where you are (although many doctors are beginning to do telephone consults) so they can refer him to someone able to help him.
Hugs,
Dr. Leonetti

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 02:27:37 +0000

Dr. John R Lee, M.D. wrote an excellent book ("What your doctor may not tell you about menopause") on the hormone cascade that will answer your questions. He explains what bio-identical hormones are. He explains that estrogen levels fall off AND progesterone levels fall even faster. You want to create a balance between estrogen (a class of hormones) and progesterone. He explains what synthetic hormones are. He talks about his experiences with patients before and after he learned about the use of natural protesterone. I highly recommend the book. Knowledge is power. I have used natural progesterone cream for ten glorious years. Also, I recommend that you search the LEF.ORG website for the latest research on hormone therapy because I recently read an article on PET (progesterone, estrogen and testosterone). Hormones drive the body 24 hours a day. They are responsible for our thoughts, actions, feelings and life.

By: Carol

Carol — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:19:03 +0000

My husband has extremely low testosterone and has had for years. He tried a gel and a patch, but neither increased his testosterone enough to improve his symptoms of enlarged breasts, major belly fat, zero libido … He literally said, “Sex drive? Horny? Lust? I have never felt those feelings.” I would like someone to find some way to increase his hormone levels to benefit his health. What can he do? (I use a compounded bioidentical estrogen / progesterone / testosterone cream and am very happy with the results.)

By: admin

admin — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 17:14:20 +0000

Bonnie – Estradiol acetate is not a bioidentical hormone. The word “acetate” gives it away — that means there’s an acetate group attached to the estradiol molecule, which automatically makes it behave differently in the body than bioidentical estrogen. – Virginia Hopkins

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:58:11 +0000

A friend of mine is using FEMRING which is ESTRADIOL ACETATE in the form of a vaginal ring. She was told that this was bio-identical. I was wondering if it is.
Thanks for your information

By: Lynn

Lynn — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:37:18 +0000

Progesterone in itself does not build up on the skin. The components that are mixed with it to make a cream can make the area where it is used less absorbent–that is why a rotation of different areas of skin is advised.