Related Article:Bio-Identical Hormones: Are They Right for You?

The word hormone comes from Greek, meaning “to set in motion.” Hormones are made by your endocrine glands, including the adrenals, thyroid, liver, pancreas, pituitary, pineal gland and genitals. Hormones direct and coordinate many of the most import functions of the body.

As we age the ability of our bodies to produce adequate amounts of hormones diminishes rapidly. Deficiencies of any one of the hormones can lead to significant symptoms of ill health that are often thought of as normal signs of aging. However, mounting research is showing that restoring hormone levels to more youthful levels can reverse many of the signs of aging and restore the strength, energy, flexibility, vitality, mood, immunity and cognitive function of your prime.

The Hormone Solution

In his landmark book, The Hormone Solution, which I recommend you purchase and read from cover to cover, Dr. Thierry Hertoghe, M.D., a fourth generation endocrinologist from Belgium, writes,

“Your body contains more than one hundred different types of hormones, and they pour into your bloodstream at the rate of thousands of billions of units per day. Hormones regulate your heartbeat and your breathing. Hormones make men men and women women. Hormones put you to sleep at night and wake you up in the morning. They control your blood pressure. They build bone, maintain muscle tone, and lubricate joints. Hormones govern growth. They make the body produce energy and heat. Hormones burn fat. Hormones govern the menstrual cycle and allow pregnancy (and birth) to occur. They fight stress, prevent fatigue, calm anxiety, and relieve depression. Hormones make and keep memories. Hormones control your sex drive, virility, and fertility. They stimulate your brain and your immune system. It is by no means an exaggeration to say that hormones are crucial to very single function of the human body.

You can’ live without them

“But in the environment we live in at the opening of this new millennium—and particularly as we ourselves age—rarely do our bodies have the optimum levels of hormones. So we don’t enjoy optimum health, whether that means arthritis or heart disease or flagging sex drive or gray hair and wrinkles or out-of-control weight gain. The program in this book, a combination of nutrition and hormone balance, can bring anyone into optimal health. The Hormone Solution is not a miracle cure or an empty promise. It is a reality. It is for anyone who feels tired all the time. Or forgets things. Or isn’t sleeping well. Or feels more depressed and anxious than he used to. Or who is at risk for osteoporosis or cancer—among many, many other things. We’ve accepted these things as inevitable, especially as we age. We didn’t like it, but we thought we had to live with it. But we’ve been wrong.

“You probably know that some hormone levels decline with age. What’s less well known is that almost all hormone levels drop, across the board, in men as well as women. Your endocrine glands cannot maintain the same production of hormones they did in your younger days. And that loss is the most crucial—and eminently correctable—underlying process that causes the signs and symptoms of aging as well as a host of other health concerns. With the proper physiological doses of natural hormones in combination with a hormonally supportive diet and vitamin and mineral supplements, you can retain your health—and your youth—more fully and for a longer time. I am not recommending the massive pharmaceutical quantities of the standard hormone prescriptions, like menopausal replace therapy (HRT), but rather the finely tuned individualized substances that are identical in structure and quantity to what young, healthy body’s produce.

“When all our hormones are at optimal levels, our bodies are healthy, efficient, resilient, flexible, and strong.”

Restore Your Hormones: Restore Your Strength, Vitality and Longevity

Optimal levels of hormones provide a veritable fountain of youth. Nature designed hormones to work synergisticly to keep your body strong, active and beautiful. The major cause of deficient hormone levels is the aging of the endocrine glands that occurs due to the increasing stress and toxic load of our modern lifestyle. Without help your glands will simply wear out and wither away. They will become overwhelmed with toxic waste and oxidative damage and no longer be able to keep up with the stress of life. The cells of the glands will die faster than they can be repaired. The good news is that you can change the course of your own aging process. You can test your hormones, find out which hormones are deficient and replenish or replace them. You can take natural supplements to repair and rebuild your glands and restore the hormone levels back to level of a health 30-35 year old. The fountain of youth is within you.

Testing Your Hormones

Where do you start to figure out what’s causing what? Here’s what I recommend. Start by examining your symptoms. By taking a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms you can narrow in on the cause of your problems.

Once you know which hormones are most likely to be causing your symptoms, then you can test them specifically to determine where you stand compared to the optimal range. Some hormones can only be tested through a blood test, some can be tested by blood or by a saliva sample.

Saliva hormone testing has the advantage of being less invasive (no blood draw required), less expensive and sometimes more accurate because hormones in the saliva are often found in their free, unbound state, which gives a truer picture of their functional status.

What Hormones Should Be Tested

Adrenal Cortisol

DHEA

Estrogens

Estrone (E1)

Estradiol (E2)

Estriol (E3)

Growth Hormone (IGF-1)

Insulin

Pregnenolone

Progesterone

Total Testosterone

SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globlin)

Thyroid

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

T3, free

T4, free

Vitamin D3 (25-Hydroxy-D3)

Adrenal Cortisol

Cortisol (also known as Hydrocortisone) is produced by the adrenal glands. It is released with adrenaline during times of stress. Cortisol raises blood sugar levels, promotes the metabolism of proteins and the breakdown of fats to provide strength and energy, makes your heart beat faster and increases your blood pressure. A deficiency will cause you to feel unable to cope with stress, wiped out and lightheaded, mentally dull and depressed, anxious, pessimistic and defeated, confused and distracted, or paralyzed by stress.

Deficiency of Cortisol

Excess of Cortisol

Unrefreshing sleep fatigued easily, feeling drained anxiety at the end of the day feel paralyzed by stress taking days to recover from stress irritable, angry, or easily upset low blood pressure lightheadedness or dizziness easily distracted or confused low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) shakiness if miss a meal faint or weak if miss a meal allergies, asthma frequent infections arthritis, inflammation

Increased blood pressure rapid heart rate abdominal fat puffy or fatty face fat pad or hump on upper back/neck excess stomach acid, heartburn osteoporosis loss of collagen from the skin thinning of the skin wrinkling of the skin

DHEA (De-hydro-epi-androsterone)
DHEA is the most abundant steroid in the body. It is produced by the adrenal glands and is converted by the body into Progesterone, Testosterone, and the Estrogens, Estradiol and Estrone. Adequate DHEA levels give the body the building blocks necessary to produce all of these hormones. It strengthens muscles, keeps mucous membranes soft and moist, stimulates immunity, boosts energy levels, reduces anxiety and depression, improves mood, increases libido in women, enhances memory, and helps the body fight cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. A deficiency causes tiredness, decreased libido and an increased risk of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Deficiency of DHEA	Excess DHEA
Fat Abdomen Constant tiredness Memory weakness Lack of calmness Low resistance to noise Nervousness, anxiety, worries Irritability Decreased sex drive Difficulty feeling aroused Decreased sexual sensations Loss of body hair Impotence	Facial hair Acne Menstrual irregularities Irritability/Restlessness Irregular heart beats

Estrogen
Estrogen makes a woman feminine. It creates the soft contours of a woman’s breasts, hips and pelvis that prepare her for childbirth. Estrogen keeps the skin smooth and free of wrinkles. It prevents excess hair growth, and keeps the vaginal membranes moist. It enhances sexual desire, increases physical endurance, prevents osteoporosis and promotes a happy enthusiastic mood.

As a woman ages, however, her ovarian function begins to decline, leading to a decline in the production of the estrogens. A deficiency of estrogen will cause the thinning of your skin due to a decreased production of collagen, which will lead to wrinkles around the eyes and mouth. With decreased estrogen your breasts will shrink and sag, you’ll lose some of your feminine shape and your vaginal mucous membranes will become thin and dry. A deficiency of estrogen can also cause you to lose muscle and make you feel tired, irritable and depressed all day long. And last but not least, the declining hormones lead to vasomotor instability that cause the hot flashes, disrupted sleep, irritability and depression associated with menopause.

Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Drug manufacturers have been making synthetic estrogen drugs for more than 50 years to combat these changes. However, in July 2002, researchers at the National Institutes of Health abruptly halted the nation’s largest study on HRT, because the study found that the long-term use of synthetic estrogen and synthetic progesterone drugs increase a women’s risk of breast cancer by 26%, her risk of a heart attack by 29%, her risk of stroke by 41% and her risk of blood clots by 113%. (Source: JAMA. 2002;288:321-333).

“Bio-Identical” Hormone Replacement Therapy

The ovaries produce three different Estrogens: Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2) and Estriol (E3). The two most concentrated and most potent estrogens are Estrone (E1) and Estradiol (E2). They are the hormones that stimulate cell growth of the uterine lining and breast tissue associated with preparation for pregnancy. Because they stimulate cell growth they can also stimulate cancer cell growth. Both Estrone and Estradiol are now classified as carcinogens. You should test your estrogen levels to make certain these two are not too high. Even “Bio-Identical” Hormone Replacement Therapy that uses Estradiol or Estrone can and does cause cancer if it gets to high, or if it is not balanced correctly with the appropriate amount of Estriol (E3) and Progesterone. I recommend that you avoid Estrone and Estradiol completely and make certain you have enough Progesterone, which protects against cancer and builds healthy bones.

Dr. Hansen’s Rx: Use Estriol Only NOT Estradiol or Estrone!

To protect against cancer nature designed the body to produce the third estrogen, known as Estriol (E3), which has been shown to be protective against cancer. A woman’s Estriol level goes way up when she gets pregnant and stays up while she is breast feeding. High levels of this estrogen protect a woman from the harmful effects of the other two estrogens during these periods. This is the reason women who have more children and who breast feed longer have a lower incidence of breast cancer. Estriol has also been shown to not cause the excessive build up of uterine lining that is associated with uterine cancer. In fact, research indicates that low levels of Estriol place you at an increased risk for developing cancer. You should check all of your Estrogen levels periodically to make sure that they are in a healthy balance approximately equal to a ratio of 8:1:1, Estriol to Estrone to Estradiol, respectively.

Deficiency of Estrogen	Excess Estrone & Estradiol
Thinning of the skin, decreased collagen Osteoporosis Wrinkles around the eyes and mouth Hot flashes, vaginal dryness, droopy breasts Disturbed/Unrefreshing sleep Depression, irritability Constant tiredness Lack of sexual desire / arousal Loss of feeling attracted to partner	PMS Breast tenderness Acne Migraines Endometriosis Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Breast Cancer Uterine Cancer Ovarian Cancer

Growth Hormone

Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by the pituitary gland. It is a very small protein substance that is chemically similar to insulin. It is secreted in short pulses during the first few hours of sleep and after exercise. GH promotes growth of bones, muscles, organs and all other cells throughout life.

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. Individuals with higher levels of GH appear more youthful and report greater vitality and stamina.

Growth Hormone is necessary throughout your life to keep your muscles toned and firm, your bone density high and your joints flexible and strong. It protects your kidneys, heart and other organs, as well as your digestive system. It keeps your arteries clear and your mind sharp and calm. It supports the immune system and helps to prevent weight gain in your hip and thighs. As GH decreases your hair becomes thin and limp, your muscles disappear, your skin begins to sag, your lips become thin and your gums recede.

Deficiency of Growth Hormone	Excess of Growth Hormome
Bloated face sagging skin sagging breasts fat hips and thighs love handles cellulite high blood pressure poor kidney function weak heart beat thinning of the skin osteoporosis arthritis in the hips lots of wrinkles around mouth and eyes double chin gray thinning hair anxiety social withdrawal lack of self-confidence depression stressed-out easily	Elevated blood sugar polyps in the large intestines skin tags

Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone is known as the “Mother Hormone” because it is manufactured in the brain and the adrenal glands from cholesterol and then converted in the liver to DHEA and Progesterone (and ultimately other hormones such as Cortisol, Estrogen, and Testosterone). Pregnenolone enhances memory by stimulating concentration and clarifying thinking. It reduces fatigue, fights depression and protects the joints from inflammation and arthritis.

As we age, the body’s natural Pregnenolone levels decrease. A deficiency of Pregnenolone leads to poor memory, depression, and cognitive decline as well as decreasing bone density, lean body mass and muscle strength.

Deficiency of Pregnenolone	Excess of Pregnenolone
Poor memory poor concentration vulnerability to stress depression fatigue arthritis	Anxiousness agitation

Progesterone
Progesterone is also produced by the ovaries. It has its own unique hormonal functions, but a certain amount is also converted into Testosterone, then into Estrogen. Progesterone increases uterine secretions and stimulates building of new bone. It also helps regulate salt, control blood sugar, modulates nerve function, has a calming effect and promotes a healthy thymus gland, which is part of the immune system. Supplementing natural Progesterone extracted from the wild yam can help maintain these healthful benefits. Provera (the synthetic version of natural progesterone) has some progesterone-like effects, but causes an additional 30 negative side effects that are listed in the Physician’s Desk Reference.

Taking natural Progesterone can increase Bone Mineral Density (BMD) by 10-15% within 6 months and 20-25% in 3 years. Additionally, natural Progesterone protects and preserves the brain and calms nervous system, activates Tumor Suppressor Protein, which suppresses cancer growth, activates DNA repair and initiates programmed cell death of cells overcome by cancer.

Deficiency of Progesterone	Excess of Progesterone
PMS Breast Tenderness large swollen breasts nervousness, anxiousness restless sleep irritability, aggressiveness heavy menses menstrual cramps bloating	Moodiness swollen breasts

Melatonin

Melatonin is produced primarily at night after sunset and facilitates the onset and continuation of normal sleep patterns. Working late in front of a computer, watching television late at night, working night shifts, travel across multiple time zones, stress and aging all cause changes in sleeping patterns that are likely to have adverse effects on Melatonin secretion patterns. Altered patterns or reduced levels of Melatonin secretion cause sleep disturbances, insomnia and fatigue. A deficiency of Melatonin can be found in depression, schizophrenia, amenorrhea, anorexia, and breast cancer.

Sufficient amounts of Melatonin can relax your muscles, relieve tension, reduce stress and anxiety (especially at night), and lower your blood pressure. It calms you and provides a sense of serenity. Supplementing Melatonin can effectively synchronize the sleep-wake cycle. Physiological doses of Melatonin show little or no carry-over sleepiness. Melatonin is also a powerful anti-oxidant and at normal levels provide protection from the oxidative damage of free radicals that may cause cancer.

Deficiency of Melatonin	Excess of Melatonin
Insomnia Superficial sleep deprived of dreams Muscle tension Elevated blood pressure Depression Prematurely gray	Suppression of menses vivid dreams that make you feel like you haven’t slept

Testosterone
Testosterone is not just for men. Women have it and need it as well. A deficiency of Testosterone in a woman leads to fatigue, muscle wasting, low sex drive, decreased sexual stimulation, and diminished sense of well-being. Testosterone protects the heart and reduces plaque build up in the arteries. It prevents joint pain and osteoporosis. It builds muscle and reduces fat and cellulite. Testosterone tightens the skin and prevents wrinkles. When a woman’s ovarian function declines in the years before and during natural menopause, so does the amount of Testosterone she produces. Between a woman’s 20s and 40s the amount of Testosterone circulating in her blood declines about 50%. If a woman starts Estrogen Replacement Therapy at menopause, her blood levels of Testosterone drop even further due to a biochemical reaction.

Deficiency of Testosterone

Excess of Testosterone

sexual desire difficulty attaining and maintaining erections lack of orgasm, problem feeling aroused lack of sexual sensitivity lack of feeling attracted to partner depression nervousness, anxiousness gray hair wrinkles and fine lines tired all the time poor sleep memory problems high blood pressure, angina, high cholesterol fat abdomen, love handles fat hips and thighs lack of muscles joint pains, arthritis

male pattern baldness aggressiveness irritability acne

Thyroid

The types and severity of symptoms of hypothyroidism vary between individuals. At the onset of the disease, the symptoms can be vague and develop slowly. They may include weakness, weight gain, cold sensitivity, cold hands and feet, fatigue, dry skin, brittle nails, and thinning, brittle hair. Other early symptoms include muscle achiness, joint pain, and heavy menstrual periods.

If undiagnosed and untreated, later symptoms can include confusion, thick skin, swelling of the arms or legs, slowing of speech, and depression.

Typical hyperthyroid symptoms include anxiety, shaky hands, sweating, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, increased appetite, tremors, and weight loss. Many symptoms of hyperthyroidism affect the eyes leading to bulging eyes, eye puffiness, light sensitivity, and an intense stare.

Deficiency of Thyroid Hormone (Hypothyroidism)

Excess of Thyroid Hormone (Hyperthyroidism)

Fatigue/Tiredness Sluggishness Low body temperature Cold sensitivity – especially hands & feet Constipation Hard stools No eyebrows or thinning outer eyebrows Hair loss Dry cracking skin Brittle or peeling fingernails Inability to lose weight Gain weight easily Heavy, frequent or painful periods Forgetfulness Foggy thinking Puffy face Swelling of arms or legs Depression Handwriting nearly illegible Heartbeat almost inaudible

Anxiousness Restlessness Insomnia Short, infrequent or light periods Low Cholesterol Warm skin Sweating Shaky hand or tremors Weight loss Palpitations Bulging eyes

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone that is made from sunlight by the skin, liver and kidneys. Vitamin D3, known as Cholecalciferol, is the form of Vitamin D that is generated in the skin of animals when light is absorbed. Additionally, we get some Vitamin D, known as Ergocalciferol, or Vitamn D2, from egg yolk, fish oil and a number of plants.

The major biologic function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. It aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. It promotes bone mineralization in concert with a number of other vitamins, minerals, and hormones.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increased susceptibility to colds and flus, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, cancer of the breast, prostate, colon and skin, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, depression, peripheral artery disease, Parkinson’s and several autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes.

Deficiency of Vitamin D	Excess of Vitamin D
Frequent colds & flus Gingivitis or Periodontal disease Fatigue Depression Infertility Osteopenia (mild thinning of bones) Osteoporosis (major bone loss) High blood pressure Chronic pain Arthritis	Muscle weakness Headaches Apathy Nausea & vomiting Bone pain

Quoted from http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Low-folate-levels-in-early-pregnancy-may-lead-to-hyperactive-kids

By Stephen Daniells, 30-Apr-2010

The development of a child’s brain in early pregnancy may be impaired by low levels of the B-Vitamin folic acid, or folate, in the mother, which can lead to behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and inattention, according to a new study.

Scientists from the University of Southampton and University College London’s Institute of Child Health propose that the low folate levels impair the development of the brain in the fetus, and early pregnancy is a critical time for brain development.

[click here to continue reading the original article]

Folic acid is a B-Vitamin that is essential for the development of the nervous system. It is also an essential co-factor necessary for the production of the brain’s neurotransmitters that are required for concentration and focus.

Source: Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
May 2010, Volume 51, Issue 5, Pages: 594-602
“Lower maternal folate status in early pregnancy is associated with childhood hyperactivity and peer problems in offspring”
Authors: W. Schlotz, A. Jones, D.I.W. Phillips, C.R. Gale, S.M. Robinson, K.M. Godfrey

Women who take daily multivitamins in and around the time of conception give birth to babies who weigh one pound more on average than women not taking the supplements, report researchers from Harvard and Boston University in the Annals of Epidemiology.

“African American women in the United States deliver preterm and low birth weight infants two to three times more frequently than their white counterparts,” explained the Boston-based researchers.

Low birth weight has been linked to higher risks of negative health outcomes, including neonatal and infant mortality, poor growth and cognitive development, and higher risks of chronic diseases later in life, like diabetes and heart disease.

“If our findings were confirmed and subsequently shown to be causal, then increasing peri-conceptional multivitamin use among African American women in the United States could help to eliminate longstanding disparities in birth weight, gestational age, and foetal growth,” they added.

Study details

Burris and her co-workers analysed data from 2,331 non-Hispanic white and 133 non-Hispanic black mothers and their infnats participating in the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study.

While no link was association between multivitamin use in white women and the birth weight or gestational age of their infants, a significant increase in birth weight was observed in babies from African American women. Indeed, multivitamin use in African Amercian women was associated with an increase in birth weight of their infants of about 540 grams. Furthermore, there was a trend toward increased gestation periods in these women, added the researchers.

Being an epidemioligical study, the resutls do not prove causality and the researchers note that it is possible that multivitamin use is merely indicative of a healthy lifestyle, which would produce healthier pregnancies.

Despite this limitation, Burris and her co-workers note that the findings are “consistent with a plausible role played by micronutrients in fetal growth.

“It is not known which nutrient or combination of nutrients in multivitamins might affect foetal growth, and our data do not contribute to this question,” they added.

Building the science

An earlier clinical study, also from Harvard and published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007 (Vol. 356, pp. 1423-1431), reported that Supplementation with multivitamins during pregnancy may boost the birth weight of newborns, and should be considered for all expectant mothers in developing countries.

Source: Annals of Epidemiology
March 2010, Volume 20, Issue 3, Pages 233-240
“Periconceptional Multivitamin Use and Infant Birth Weight Disparities”
Authors: H.H. Burris, A.A. Mitchell, M.M. Werler

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HPV Testing

The best way to test for HPV is the Digene® HPV Test. This test is the only test approved by the FDA to test for HPV. It uses advanced molecular technology to detect the DNA (genetic material) of 13 high-risk types of HPV, the virus types shown to actually cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer. There are over 100 different types of HPV. About 30 are sexually transmitted and cause genital HPV.

The HPV test is done at the same time as the Pap Smear, so women don’t need to do anything more than ask for it. By combining the HPV Test and Pap Smear, the ability to identify women at risk for cervical cancer is increased to virtually 100 percent. In one study, Digene’s HPV test identified 100% of the women with advanced cervical disease (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] grades 2 and 3), compared to only 58 percent identified by the conventional Pap Smear and 84 percent by the newer, “liquid-based” Pap Test.

Most women who become infected with HPV are able to eradicate the virus and suffer no apparent long-term consequences to their health. But a many women develop a persistent infection that can eventually lead to pre-cancerous changes in the cervix.

Women who have normal Pap test results and no HPV infection are at very low risk (0.2%) for developing cervical cancer. Women who have an abnormal Pap test and a positive HPV test are at higher risk (6%-7% or greater) of developing cervical cancer if not treated.

Regarding the role of HPV testing, randomized controlled trials have compared HPV to colposcopy. HPV testing appears as sensitive as doing a colposcopy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003 Jun;188(6):1383-92)

A study published in April 2007 suggested that the act of performing a Pap smear produces an inflammatory cytokine response, which may initiate immunologic clearance of HPV, therefore reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Women that had even a single Pap smear in their past had a lower incidence of cancer. “A statistically significant decline in the HPV positivity rate correlated with the lifetime number of Pap smears received.” (J Inflamm 2007;4)

Many doctors do not test for HPV as part of their routine PAP Smear or Pelvic Exam. You should make sure you ask your doctor to do this test at least every two or three years.

PAP Smear Testing

The Pap test, also called a Pap smear, checks for changes in the cells of your cervix. The cervix is the lower part of the uterus (womb) that opens into the vagina (birth canal). The Pap test can tell if you have an infection, abnormal (unhealthy) cervical cells, or cervical cancer.

Why do I need a Pap test?

A Pap test can save your life. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer. If caught early, the chance of curing cervical cancer is very high. Pap tests also can find infections and abnormal cervical cells that can turn into cancer cells. Treatment can prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing.

Getting regular Pap tests is the best thing you can do to prevent cervical cancer. In fact, regular Pap tests have led to a major decline in the number of cervical cancer cases and deaths.

Do all women need Pap tests?

It is important for all women to have Pap tests, along with pelvic exams, as part of their routine health care. You need a Pap test if you are 21 years or older.

Women who have gone through menopause (when a woman’s periods stop) still need regular Pap tests. Women ages 65 and older can talk to their doctor about stopping after at least 3 normal Pap tests and no abnormal results in the last 10 years.

How often do I need to get a Pap test?

It depends on your age and health history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you. Most women can follow these guidelines:

• Starting at age 21, have a Pap test every 2 years.
• If you are 30 years old and older and have had 3 normal Pap tests for 3 years in a row, talk to your doctor about spacing out Pap tests to every 3 years.
• If you are over 65 years old, ask your doctor if you can stop having Pap tests.

Ask your doctor about more frequent testing if:

• You have a weakened immune system because of organ transplant, chemotherapy, or steroid use
• Your mother was exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) while pregnant
• You are HIV-positive

Women who are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, are at a higher risk of cervical cancer and other cervical diseases. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all HIV-positive women get an initial Pap test, and get re-tested 6 months later. If both Pap tests are normal, then these women can get yearly Pap tests in the future.

Who does not need regular Pap tests?

The only women who do not need regular Pap tests are:

• Women over age 65 who have had 3 normal Pap tests and in a row and no abnormal test results in the last 10 years, and have been told by their doctors that they don’t need to be tested anymore.
• Women who do not have a cervix and are at low risk for cervical cancer. These women should speak to their doctor before stopping regular Pap tests.

I had a hysterectomy. Do I still need Pap tests?

It depends on the type of hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) you had and your health history. Women who have had a hysterectomy should talk with their doctor about whether they need routine Pap tests.

Usually during a hysterectomy, the cervix is removed with the uterus. This is called a total hysterectomy. Women who have had a total hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer may not need regular Pap tests. Women who have had a total hysterectomy because of abnormal cells or cancer should be tested yearly for vaginal cancer until they have three normal test results. Women who have had only their uterus removed but still have a cervix need regular Pap tests. Even women who have had hysterectomies should see their doctors yearly for pelvic exams.

How can I reduce my chances of getting cervical cancer?

Aside from getting Pap tests, the best way to avoid cervical cancer is by steering clear of the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a major cause of cervical cancer. HPV infection is also one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI). So, a woman boosts her chances of getting cervical cancer if she:

• Starts having sex before age 18
• Has many sex partners
• Has sex partners who have other sex partners
• Has or has had a STI

What should I know about human papillomaviruses (HPV)?

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are a group of more than 100 different viruses.

• About 40 types of HPV are spread during sex.
• Some types of HPVs can cause cervical cancer when not treated.
• HPV infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI).
• About 75 percent of sexually active people will get HPV sometime in their life.
• Most women with untreated HPV do not get cervical cancer.
• Some HPVs cause genital warts but these HPVs do not cause cervical cancer.
• Since HPV rarely causes symptoms, most people don’t know they have the infection.

How would I know if I had human papillomavirus (HPV)?

Most women never know they have HPV. It usually stays hidden and doesn’t cause symptoms like warts. When HPV doesn’t go away on its own, it can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. Pap tests usually find these changes.

How do I prepare for a Pap test?

Many things can cause wrong test results by washing away or hiding abnormal cells of the cervix. So, doctors suggest that for 2 days before the test you avoid:

• Douching
• Using tampons
• Using vaginal creams, suppositories, and medicines
• Using vaginal deodorant sprays or powders
• Having sex

Should I get a Pap test when I have my period?

No. Doctors suggest you schedule a Pap test when you do not have your period. The best time to be tested is 10 to 20 days after the first day of your last period.

How is a Pap test done?

Your doctor can do a Pap test during a pelvic exam. It is a simple and quick test. While you lie on an exam table, the doctor puts an instrument called a speculum into your vagina, opening it to see the cervix. She will then use a special stick or brush to take a few cells from inside and around the cervix. The cells are placed on a glass slide and sent to a lab for examination. While usually painless, a Pap test is uncomfortable for some women.

When will I get the results of my Pap test?

Usually it takes 3 weeks to get Pap test results. Most of the time, test results are normal. If the test shows that something might be wrong, your doctor will contact you to schedule more tests. There are many reasons for abnormal Pap test results. It usually does not mean you have cancer.

What do abnormal Pap test results mean?

It is scary to hear that your Pap test results are “abnormal.” But abnormal Pap test results usually do not mean you have cancer. Most often there is a small problem with the cervix.

Some abnormal cells will turn into cancer. But most of the time, these unhealthy cells will go away on their own. By treating these unhealthy cells, almost all cases of cervical cancer can be prevented. If you have abnormal results, to talk with your doctor about what they mean.

(PAP Testing Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/pap-test.cfm#pap01)

The official position of the CDC is, “There is no treatment for the virus itself, but there are treatments for the diseases that HPV can cause.”

However, Dr. Hansen says that there is a natural, non-surgical treatment for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that totally erradicates the virus and the precancerous cervical cells it causes in 95 percent of the patients he has treated over the past 20+ years.

The usual treatments offered to a woman today include freezing, burning or cutting off the end of a woman’s cervix to get rid of precancerous cells on the cervix.

These surgical treatments include Cryotherapy, Laser Surgery, or LEEP procedures. Each procedure cuts off approximately 1/4 inch of the neck of the uterus.

These are all amputations of the end of a woman’s cervix.

Most doctors do not know of any other way to treat the virus and can only hope that he or she cuts off enough of the cervix to get all of the virus, but leave enough so that if the woman wants later to have a baby, there will be enough cervix left to hold the baby in for entire pregnancy.

Unfortunately, all of these procedures frequently fail and the virus often comes back within six months prompting more surgery or eventually a total hysterectomy.

Dr. Hansen’s patients who have gone to him for HPV treatments at the Hansen Clinic of Natural Medicine, in Scottsdale, Arizona, will tell you that they are totally thrilled with the natural, non-surgical treatment that he uses because it works and it’s gentle. HPV DNA tests show that Dr. Hansen’s natural, non-surgical HPV treatment completely eliminates all traces of the Human Papilloma Virus and repeat PAP Smears show that it turns precancerous cervical cells back to normal within three months.

Dr. Hansen says, “Women deserve to know that there is a safe and effective natural alternative to surgery for HPV.”

Dr. Hansen’s Rx for Cervical Dysplasia and HPV
Dr. Hansen recommends that all women over the age of 21 get an annual HPV Test along with a Pap Smear. If you are younger than 21, but have been sexually active for 3 or more years, you should also get an HPV Test along with a Pap Smear annually.

If either of these tests are positive you can be treated naturally with nutritional and herbal supplements that stimulate the body to eradicate the HPV Virus and restore the cervical cells back to normal within 3 months.

The Naturopathic treatment for Cervical Dysplasia and HPV involves testing and balancing Progesterone, which activates Tumor Suppressor Protein, supplementation of nutritional immune support and twice weekly in office treatments for 6 weeks, which includes the use of a liquid extract of Sanguinaria root and zinc chloride applied directly to the cervix for 1 minute via a speculum. This topical combination causes a sloughing off of the abnormal cells and the killing of the virus without shortening or harming the cervix. Sanguinaria root extract is one of a very few herbs that can be toxic if swallowed. It is used by naturopathic physicians topically with prudence and care to avoid excessive destruction of the surrounding cells. It is not relied upon to treat pre-cancerous cells or tumors elsewhere in the body.                                         Sanguinaria flowers

In addition to the topical in office application, the patient also takes a combination of nutritional, herbal and homeopathic supplements that enhance the immune system and give the body the essential building blocks that it needs to kill the virus and heal the abnormal cells.

The Healing Power of Nature – Vis medicatrix naturae
Naturopathic physicians understand that it is nature that is the real healer – not doctors, drugs or surgery. Nature cures through the body’s inherent healing mechanisms. When supported it can maintain and restore phenomenal health. Naturopathic physicians seek to support and enhance these natural healing systems by using medicines and techniques that work in harmony with body and are free of harmful side-effects.

You do NOT need Surgery to get rid of HPV
For more information about testing and treating HPV or Cervical Dysplasia, or other medical conditions, please call the Hansen Clinic of Natural Medicine at 480-991-5092, or visit us at the Hansen Clinic, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Related HPV articles

HPV Patient Files – Natural Success
> HPV vaccine
>HPV Testing
> HPV Key Facts

Schedule a New Patient Visit during the month of March and receive a FREE PAP Smear and HPV DNA Test with your visit ($107 Value!)

As of January 31, 2010, there have been 15,829 reports of adverse events, including 49 deaths, from 28 million doses of Merck’s Gardasil Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administered in the United States to girls ages 9 to 26. (see CDC: Reports of Health Concerns Following HPV Vaccination)

The adverse events reports following Gardasil vaccinations have included fainting, pain, and swelling at the injection site (the arm), headache, nausea, fever, neurological disorders, paralysis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and 49 deaths in the United States.

Although the cause of the adverse events is not known, the HPV Vaccine contains 225mcg of Aluminum, a known neurotoxin, and 50mcg of Polysorbate 80, which has been shown to cause severe anaphylactic reactions, in every vaccine dose.

Why shouldn’t Merck Pharmaceutics, the manufacturer of the Garasil vaccine, be forced to recall this vaccine? It should be taken off of the market until it can be fixed and proven safe.

Toyota’s Adverse Event numbers pale in comparison to those of Merck. According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, no more than a few thousand complaints have been filed against Toyota vehicles possibly linked to unintended acceleration, which have caused 43 fatal crashes with 52 deaths and 38 injuries in a ten year period from 2000 to 2010.

Merck advertising campaign deceptive – pressuring – scary

Moms and their young daughters are feeling pressured into getting the Gardasil vaccine. Young girls get the message that it’s the hip – adult thing to do and that they are somehow a heroine if they get the vaccine.

Moms get the message that they are being irresponsible if they don’t get their daughters vaccinated before they hit puberty. They both are deceived into believing that the Gardasil vaccine is completely free of side-effects and totally prevents cervical cancer.

The truth is the Gardasil vaccine does not prevent cancer at all. It is licensed only to prevent 2 of the 30 sexually transmitted types of HPV virus that may cause cervical cancer.

The massive advertising campaign for Gardasil by Merck claims that it is “the only vaccine that may help protect you from the four types of Human Papilloma virus that may cause 70% of cervical cancer.”

Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA, Feb 28, 2007), revealed that only 2.3% of young girls and women that get HPV are infected with one of the two HPV types, which can cause cervical cancer that are included in the Gardasil vaccine.

The CDC reports that approximately 6.2 million women are diagnosed with HPV every year and 12,000 get invasive cervical cancer and 3900 die. Although that is too many deaths, 12,000 cases of cervical cancer out of 6.2 million cases of HPV means that only 0.2% of women go on to develop cervical cancer from HPV. That means that 99.8% of women with HPV do not get cervical cancer.

The truth is as the CDC’s website also states, “HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now.”

According to the American Cancer Society’s website “In 90% of cases, the body’s immune system clears the HPV infection within 2 years. This is true of both high-risk and low-risk HPV types.”

So why does anyone need this vaccine? Is it worth the risks?

If you are considering getting the Gardasil vaccine for yourself our your daughter please read the following story.

MY GIRL DIED AS ‘GUINEA PIG’ FOR GARDASIL

New York Post Article: July 20, 2008

On the advice of her family doctor, Jessie Ericzon, 17, had taken a series of three Gardasil shots to prevent cervical cancer caused by the sexually transmitted virus known as HPV - the Human Papilloma Virus.

The vaccine is marketed by Merck Pharmaceuticals & Co. as the hip thing to do for girls age 9-26 to prevent cervical cancer. Jessie got her first injection in July 2007.

After her second shot in September, she complained to her mom of a pain in the back of her head, fatigue and soreness in some joints.

The day following her 3rd and final shot, she again complained of the nagging pain in the back of her head.

The next day she didn’t show up at school and her mother found her dead on the bathroom floor at home.

Jessica’s mom, Lisa Ericzon, believes the vaccine killed her daughter and that she was “a guinea pig” for Merck & Co. She is urging parents to research the vaccine before letting their daughters get it.

To learn about the natural non-vaccine approach to prevention and treatment of HPV and Abnormal Pap Smears, click here.

Pap smears cause cytokine response that may help clear HPV

Quoted from Reuters News: The Abramson Cancer Center, and the OncoLi nk Weekly Cancer Newsletter

Last Updated: 2007-05-14 12:55:06 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The act of performing a Papanicolaou smear produces an inflammatory cytokine response, which may initiate immunologic clearance of human papillomavirus (HPV) and reduce the risk of cervical cancer, South African investigators propose in the April 24th online issue of the Journal of Inflammation.

In a previous study, Dr. Jo-Ann S. Passmore and colleagues at the University of Cape Town conducted a case-control study of 2,064 South African women to investigate the incidence of invasive cervical cancer.

Women who had even a single Pap smear in their history had a lower incidence of cancer. Dr. Passmore’s team also observed that “a statistically significant decline in the HPV positivity rate correlated with the lifetime number of Pap smears received.”

[Article continues at the original source]

[To learn more about Why and When to get a PAP Smear and HPV Testing click here]

Both men and women produce progesterone throughout their lives. As we age, progesterone levels decrease significantly in both sexes.

A woman’s progesterone begins declining at age 35 and a man’s progesterone begins falling at age 45. The decline of progesterone is associated with mood disorders, anxiety and depression, poor sleep, osteoporosis, breast and uterine cancer, prostate cancer, as well as aging of the brain and nervous system.

To slow the aging process both men and women should test their progesterone levels regularly and take a natural progesterone supplement if their levels get too low. Progesterone is the natural counter balance to the harmful Estrogen known as Estradiol.

Excess Estradiol / Deficient Progesterone

Estradiol is the principal estrogen found in both men and women. A small amount is necessary for optimal function. However, too much Estradiol is associated with causing cancer of the breast, uterus and prostate.

Estradiol is fed to beef cows in the U.S. to make them put on more weight so that they can get them to market sooner and sell for more money. Estradiol is also concentrated in milk due to modern dairy farming techniques designed to boost milk production, including feeding cows hormones and milking pregnant cows until very late in their pregnancy.

Unfortunately, the trade-off we suffer is a higher rate of Estrogen induced disease, including cancer, which is not recognized or at least not admitted by the Dairy and Beef Industry.

Estrogenic Compounds in Plastics Linked to PMS and Cancer

Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), the main ingredient in the plastic bottles most widely used for water, sodas, fruit juices, sports drinks, ketchup, mayonaise, peanut butter, vinegar and just about every other food you can think of, has been found to leach harmful estrogenic chemicals into the bottles’ contents. Known as phthalates, these chemicals have now been linked to the disruption of both male and female hormones and may be a significant reason for the dramatic increase in PMS, uterine fibroids, endometriosis and cancer.

To learn more about how PETE plastics may affect your health, click here.

Progesterone Deficiency in Women

In women, a deficiency of Progesterone and/or an excess of Estradiol is associated with PMS, uterine fibroids, endometriosis and Osteoporosis, as well as Breast, Ovarian and Uterine Cancer. Progesterone is the natural counter-balance to Estradiol. Progesterone activates Tumor Suppressor Protein (p53) to suppress excessive cell growth that can lead to cancer.

Progesterone and PMS

A deficiency of Progesterone and/or too much Estradiol causes excessive menstrual bleeding and cramping. It also causes PMS moodiness, bloating, acne, and breast tenderness. By raising your progesterone levels you can totally eliminate the symptoms PMS. Here’s how it works.

Progesterone and Mood/Sleep

Progesterone has a calming effect on the nervous system through its action on GABA, the calming neurohormone. Progesterone produces a valium-like effect on the stressed nervous system and creates a healthy EEG sleep pattern in the brain similar to that produced by valium.

Progesterone and Cancer

Progesterone increases the Tumor Suppressor Protein known as p53, the “guardian of the cell” and decreases the cancer activating protein known as bcl-2.

The Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 guards against cellular mutations that can cause cancer in the following ways:

• Activation of DNA repair
• Stops Cell growth when necessary to allow DNA time to repair
• Initiates programmed cell death (apoptosis) when DNA damage is irreparable

Estradiol, on the other hand, does the opposite of progesterone. It causes a decrease in p53 and activates bcl-2, the opposite acting protein that promotes cancer cell growth.

Here’s the take home message: Breast cancer cells do not multiply when women have a sufficient supply of progesterone. Progesterone likewise also prevents cancer of the ovaries and uterus as well as the lungs.

Progesterone in Men

Men make about half as much progesterone as women. However, it is extremely important for men as well as it is for women. Progesterone gets converted into Testosterone. Most men know that the loss of Testosterone is associated with aging and causes decreased libido and erectile dysfunction. It is also associated with prostate cancer.

Progesterone preserves natural stores of Testosterone by preventing it from being converted into Di-Hydro-Testosterone (DHT), which blocks the prostate and causes Benign Prostate Enlargement and it’s bothersome symptoms including frequent urination, hesitancy, feeble urine stream and night-time urination. Too much DHT also blocks the hair follicles and is the principal cause of male pattern baldness.

A deficiency of Testosterone, in men or women, is associated with a loss of muscle mass, joint pains, heart disease and the tendency to put on excess abdominal fat. Taking supplemental natural progesterone can boost your Testosterone level.

Progesterone and Prostate Cancer

Men typically make a very small amount of Estrogen: about 1/10^th the amount of a woman. If however, the ratio of Estrogen to Progesterone gets out of balance, prostate cancer develops for the same reason breast or uterine cancer develops in a woman. Progesterone protects against cancer growth and Estradiol activates cancer cell growth.

Progesterone Protects the Brain and Nervous System

Progesterone also protects and preserves the nervous system. Progesterone and Testosterone work together to prevent neurodegeneration of the central nervous system. Therefore, any age-related decline in progesterone may have a negative impact on brain, memory and nerve function. Additionally, progesterone and the natural, bio-identical estrogen known as Estriol, help reduce age-associated abnormalities of the myelin sheath that covers the nerves. New research indicates that supplementing these natural hormones could help prevent Multiple Sclerosis.

What is the best form and dose of Progesterone?

The most effective form of progesterone is the oral, sub-lingual form. Transdermal progesterone creams are less effective long term. The skin is designed to be a barrier, not to absorb hormones. It works well for a short while, but eventually progesterone applied to the skin gets shunted into fat cells and begins to build up. Eventually this excess progesterone can cause side-effects including moodiness and irritability.

The mucous membranes of the mouth however, were designed for absorption. When progesterone is absorbed in the mouth, it is absorbed and transported through the blood stream directly to the ovaries, uterus and receptors on the pituitary gland, before it is broken down in the stomach or the liver and excreted from the body. I have found this method to be very effective without any excess buildup over time.

The sublingual form is safe to take for extended periods. The usual sublingual dose is 50 to 100 mg of natural progesterone daily depending on the individual. To determine the correct amount that is right for you, I recommend saliva or blood testing before and after one to three months of natural progesterone therapy. Once the correct dose is found, you should make sure you get your progesterone level tested every twelve months to make sure your levels remain in the optimum range.