This is the story of my patient Katrina. When she first came to see me she was 61 years old and had been experiencing “Menopause” symptoms for almost 10 years. She was suffering from hot flashes, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, low libido, fatigue, weight gain and arthritis. She felt and looked 10 years older than she really was.
These symptoms are more than mere nuisances; they are indicators of low Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone and low Growth Hormone that put her at increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer. 
Because Katrina’s symptoms had been going on so long, her Gynecologist had prescribed a synthetic Estrogen (Estradiol) and Progestin (Norgestrel) patch. The patch did reduce her hot flashes, but made her more anxious and gain more weight in the tummy. That’s because Estradiol stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and synthetic Progesterone inhibits Growth Hormone.
What bothered Katrina most was the fact that she was suddenly looking and feeling so old. Everything was “going south” as she put it. Everything was sagging. She said, “my eye lids are drooping, my neck looks like an old chicken, my breast are sagging and my tummy and even my knees are fat.” ”What’s worse,” she said, “I feel like a rusty old gate. My joints are so stiff and sore, I can hardly get up and around.”
The sagging, stiffening and fatty replacement of muscle mas is caused by a deficiency of Growth Hormone.
GH supplementation has been found to reverse age-related symptoms including increased body fat, decreased muscle mass, increased cholesterol, decreased stamina and energy, decreased mental function, decreased collagen production, wrinkling of the skin and loss of libido.
Our bodies naturally produce GH in abundance when we are young, but its production gradually slows over time. Production of GH peaks during adolescence and falls after the age of 21 by about 14% per decade. By age 60 GH production is reduced by one-half. Healthy humans produce 500 micrograms per day at age 20, 200 micrograms per day at age 35. Between the ages of 70 and 80, the GH production can drop as low as 25 mcg per day. Individuals with higher levels of GH appear more youthful and report greater vitality and stamina.
Katrina was low in all her hormones except for Estradiol (E2) and Progesterone, because she had taking those two hormones in a synthetic hormone patch. Too much Estradiol increases a woman’s risk of cancer. Too much Progesterone inhibits Growth Hormone. Hence Katrina’s signs of aging had been greatly increased.
Everyone is different but Katrina reported the following results after I prescribed Bio-identical Hormone therapy for her, including Estriol(E3) instead of Estradiol (E2), a lower dose of natural Progesterone instead of the drug Norgestrel, Pregnenolone, DHEA and Testosterone. I have found that when all of the deficient hormones are brought up to the optimal range of a 30-35 year old, all of the symptoms of aging decline or slow down significantly.
Katrina’s Rejuvenation Process
1st Month: Increased in mental sharpness, more interest and enthusiasm for life and less depression. More energy, better results from exercise and better sleep.
2nd Month: Improved muscle tone, enhanced sexual desire, improved nail growth, improved skin tone, better digestion and increased strength.
3rd Month: Mental function improved, including a sharper memory and easier time completing projects, and noticeable weight loss. “Everyone was saying, ‘you look great, what have you done.?’ Finally the weight was coming off and I could tell I was getting stronger and less stiff and sore.”
Many patients ask me “how long can I take these hormones?” They have heard that hormones are dangerous and should be taken for the shortest time possible. That is true for the synthetic hormones that include Estrone (E1) and Estradiol (E2), which cause a significantly increased risk of cancer, but the Bio-Identical Hormones Estriol (E3) and Progesterone have been shown to prevent the risk of cancer and osteoporosis. Natural Supplements of DHEA, Testosterone and Growth Hormone, likewise, have been shown to reduce cancer when administered in the optimal range. They can be taken for as long as you want to feel good. It is the optimization of all of the hormones that rejuvenates the body, reverses the signs of aging and reduces the risks of disease.
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