What Is The Best Method of Hormone Replacement?
Judi Nicely, RNP
In the previous issue I discussed the sex hormones: estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.  I told you how important it is that you have the optimal levels and balance of these hormones.  I cannot stress how essential this is to your overall health and preventing disease in your body.  In this issue I will discuss the various routes of administering hormones and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each.
What properties would the ultimate hormone replacement possess?

• Biologically identical
• Effective and hassle-free
• Has no side effects
• Availability whenever needed
• Safety: No liver involvement and no negative effects on other organs
• Lasts up to 6 months
• Causes no increase in breast cancer rates

Let’s take a look at the following types of hormone replacement and see if they meet those criteria.
I’m sure that most of you with some knowledge about natural hormones are familiar with topical creams or gels.  You can purchase low-dose progesterone at health food stores. Progesterone may help with some PMS symptoms, but is usually not sufficient to treat moderate to severe PMS or menopause symptoms.
Higher-dose progesterone along with estradiol, estriol and testosterone must be ordered by a medical practitioner at a compounding pharmacy, where the prescribed dose is blended. The hormones are absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to the cells where they can be used by the body.  Compounded hormones are excellent for reducing PMS symptoms. They become more of a challenge for treating menopause and andropause (known as male menopause).
The primary drawback of topicals is compliance.  Patients must be disciplined in applying the cream or gel once or twice daily on a regular basis to deliver the hormones consistently. If you skip a dose, you will get a roller-coaster effect and a probable return of symptoms.
Oral hormone pills must also be remembered daily.  Estrogen pills must be processed by the liver to be activated.  This can ultimately cause liver damage.  The oral hormone has to be given in such high doses to compensate for the predictable loss of hormone in the liver, and the loss of usable hormone in the intestinal tract from lack of absorption. These high doses can cause multiple health problems. Hormone pills, natural or synthetic, produce a roller-coaster effect.  They give high levels of hormones two to four hours after ingestion and the levels decrease steadily after that. Daily pills are the furthest thing from the natural rhythm of hormone secretion; the ovaries and testes are designed to produce hormones 24 hours a day.
Hormone patches are not identical to their biological counterparts; they are synthetic.  Pharmaceutical companies label anything made from plants as “natural.”  Bioidentical hormones are only made by compounding pharmacies that specialize in their production.   
The primary problem with patches is their adhesive. It can be irritating to the skin and can fail to stick, eliminating the effectiveness of the hormone.  Most of the hormone is released in the first 24 hours of use.  This can lead to the roller-coaster effect, as symptoms may return before it’s time to apply the next patch.
Hormone injections of estrogen and testosterone are synthetic, not bioidentical.  These injections are absorbed in a very irregular fashion, thus causing the roller-coaster effect again. These injections are painful and will cause scarring in the muscle over time.
Sublingual hormones are administered under the tongue. Like in other forms of delivery, this method creates peaks and valleys of the hormone’s presence in the blood.
The method of delivery profoundly influences the effect of the hormones, yet none of these delivery systems meet the criteria for the properties of the ideal hormone replacement.  We are looking for a bioidentical hormone absorbed directly into the bloodstream and providing a steady supply of hormones over time, just as the ovaries and testes produce. 
With more than 26 years of experience, SottoPelle therapy is far superior to any other form of bioidentical HRT available.  SottoPelle therapy consists of placing tiny, bioidentical estradiol and/or testosterone pellets painlessly under the skin in the fatty tissue.  These pellets are about the size of a grain of rice. Each implant can last four to six months or longer. Hormone levels produced by SottoPelle therapy are the closest thing to natural hormone levels produced by the ovaries and testes.  Because SottoPelle is regulated by the heart rate and muscle activity, it is always available for the body to access what it wants when it wants it, no matter what amount is needed. This property alone puts SottoPelle therapy far ahead of a pill, patch or cream, recreating a balanced hormone environment.
Our goal is to bring our bodies back to the physiological state of our youth – to restore our energy and stamina, improve our mental clarity, enjoy restful sleep, build muscle and bone, increase our sex drive and bring moisture back to our skin. 
If you are a peri- or post-menopausal woman or a man of any age, you owe it to yourself to give us a call and regain your life!
Judi Nicely, RNP has been specializing in hormones for over a decade. You can reach her at Inside-Out Natural Healing Center in Oceanside at (760) 721-4000.