Female hormone therapy isn’t just for hot flashes. Just like oxygen, water and blood sugar, hormones have an important role in every part of your body.
We experience a broad array of mental & emotional changes as our hormones change. Is it any surprise, then, that balancing or replacing those hormones can help your mood?
If you are like most women, you’ll experienced a few of these before or after menopause:
- Irritability
- Weepiness
- Depression & fatigue
- Anxiety
- Joint pain and stiffness
Tired and feeling blue ever since your periods ended? You are not alone. Don’t worry, science is catching up!
This month, JAMA Psychiatry published results from a randomized clinical trial showing that perimenopausal and post-menopausal women were significantly less likely to develop depression if taking bio-identical hormones.
January 10, 2018
“Conclusions: Twelve months of [transdermal estradiol and oral micronized progesterone] were more effective than placebo in preventing the development of clinically significant depressive symptoms…”
Clinically, I see my patients prove this to be true. And it’s not only true for women in menopause. I’ve observed:
- Men with depression able to stop antidepressants once on testosterone
- Younger women with less depression & anxiety once on progesterone
When I recommend hormone support, I rarely just prescribe a standard estrogen patch. Individuals deserve to have a complete picture of their hormone health to ensure safer prescription therapies and better symptom relief. This means quality labs and individualized hormone prescriptions.
LABS – GET THE WHOLE PICTURE:
- Estradiol, Progesterone & FSH
- DHEA-s & Pregnenolone
- Thyroid and cortisol when appropriate
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS:
Like any medication, there are risks and concerns that come with taking bio-identical hormones. These vary depending on age, health and the type of hormones taken. There can also be many benefits, in addition to mood support:
- Osteoporosis prevention
- Weight management
- Cardiovascular health
- Strength & agility
- Energy & vitality
CAN BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES HELP YOU?
Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor if you are a candidate for bio-identical hormones. This should include a conversation regarding potential benefits and side effects. If you have access to a licensed Naturopathic Physician or other doctor practicing Functional Medicine, make an appointment today!
Wishing you health,
Dr. Kaley Bourgeois
Reference:
GORDON, J. L., RUBINOW, D. R., EISENLOHR-MOUL, T. A., XIA, K., SCHMIDT, P. J. AND GIRDLER, S. S.
Efficacy of Transdermal Estradiol and Micronized Progesterone in the Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Menopause Transition
Gordon, J., Rubinow, D., Eisenlohr-Moul, T., Xia, K., Schmidt, P. and Girdler, S. (2018). Efficacy of Transdermal Estradiol and Micronized Progesterone in the Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in the Menopause Transition.
