I see this quoted almost every day on social media (especially in certain Facebook groups that are supposedly led by experts in hormone therapy) and every time, it makes me want to scream.
No, hot flashes do not automatically mean that you need more estrogen and here’s why:
✔ Some women with high estrogen levels have hot flashes, most likely because they have down-regulated (decreased) their estrogen receptors because they are making or using too much estrogen. (This is especially common in women who are using blood testing to follow hormone levels.)
✔ Some women with estrogen dominance (low progesterone in relationship to estrogen) will have hot flashes, even if estrogen levels are within normal range.
✔ Up to 50% of hot flashes in menopausal women may be caused by high cortisol levels from too much stress.
✔ Certain foods (especially sugary foods) and alcohol intake can cause hot flashes.
✔ Vitamin D deficiency may cause hot flashes, especially a hot, sweaty head.
✔ Infections and inflammation can cause hot flashes.
✔ Lymphomas, leukemia and other types of cancer can cause hot flashes
✔ Many medications can cause hot flashes- including prednisone, ovulation inducers (Clomid), estrogen receptor modulators (tamoxifen), SSRIs and several other anti-depressants, and some blood pressure meds.
✔ Hyperthyroidism can cause hot flashes, whether it’s from someone making too much thyroid hormone, or from using too much or unnecessary thyroid replacement, frequently on the recommendations of “thyroid experts” who have little to no actual medical training.
✔ Niacin supplements frequently cause hot flashes.
So jumping to conclusions that all hot flashes are caused by low estrogen levels can be extremely dangerous. Firstly, by giving women estrogen they don’t need, which could be a risk factor for migraines, gallbladder problems, and breast issues, including cancer. Secondly, by potentially missing other diagnoses that could cause damage if they are not identified. Thirdly, by not getting relief of symptoms and continuing to suffer. Especially if those hot flashes are causing poor sleep-which is another factor contributing to disease in the future.
And very importantly, the above facts show that the only way to know if your estrogen level is high, low, or normal and in balance with everything else is to test and find out what your levels really are. Going strictly by symptoms just is not enough.
If you would like to order a saliva test to figure out what your levels are, you can use this link to order one.
ZRT Female Profile #3
This link will allow you to order a saliva test and receive results, but it does not include interpretation. If you would like information on how to work with me to explain your results or if you would like to work with me so that I can teach you how to interpret your own results, send me an email.
“Statue of Liberty Centennial Fireworks Spectacular” July 4th, 1986
This photo was taken from the 4th of July celebration of the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. At the time, this was the largest fireworks show ever conducted on earth. It was so huge, that it required the cooperation of several firework families, all worked together. The spectacle occurred over New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty, with a dazzling fireworks display destined to surpass any others held in this country, or the world.
And I was lucky enough to be there to witness history, along with my good friend Dee, several coworkers, and millions of other spectators.
As you read this, I am hoping that you have a blessed and wonderful Fourth of July. Together, let’s take a minute to reflect on the hopes and dreams that our nation's founders aspired to when they signed the Declaration of Independence back on July 4, 1776.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."
I wonder what the Founding Fathers would think if they were able to see the state of our country now? Instead of being ruled over by the British monarchy, we now seem to be controlled by corrupt, cowardly politicians and a permanent government bureaucracy that answers to massive multinational companies instead of American citizens.
Many of these huge companies are those of big agriculture/food, big pharma, and health insurance. The purpose of these businesses is to amass money and power for themselves and their investors. These companies do not exist to help normal people have happier, healthier lives, despite the singing and dancing done by actors peddling new drugs on TV. As these industries have become richer and more powerful, the health of the American people has taken a nosedive. And the American people have been nearly crushed financially also.
Please join me in praying for a return of freedom to the American people. Freedom from crushing taxes. Freedom from bureaucratic overreach. Freedom from sociopaths polluting our air, water, and land in the fight against "climate change". Freedom to invest in their own health as they see fit. Freedom to pursue alternatives to Western medicine. Freedom to not consent to untested, tyrannical therapies.
And if you are so led, please consider praying for freedom for medical doctors and other healthcare personnel. Freedom to practice the way they see fit to help patients without the fear of losing their license. And freedom to talk about the potential harms of Western medicine and benefits of scientific alternatives without being silenced or brought in front of medical boards.
May God bless America, and may we be thankful for those who have dedicated their lives in service to others.
Testosterone molecule model via Wikipedia.
If you've seen me in the office or followed my page on Facebook, then you probably already know that women need a little bit of testosterone. Although considered a male hormone, testosterone is necessary in women too. Testosterone is important for improving energy levels, and improving mood, memory, and overall brain health. It helps with muscle size and strength. It helps build healthy, strong bones. It helps create a healthy pelvic floor by improving muscle strength and decreasing incontinence. It helps with libido and overall enjoyment of life. One thing I have noticed after doing hormone consulting for so long that low testosterone in women is associated with premature aging.
But like so many other things in life, too much of a good thing can be a very bad thing.
On almost daily basis, I am seeing social media posts of women who are being given extremely high doses of testosterone. Some women are being given doses of testosterone that are 10 times more than a normal healthy woman would produce, and even more than a normal man would make!
And these women are having unintended problems from too much testosterone, whether they are using pellets, injections, or topical testosterone creams or gels. Too much testosterone causes masculinization. Women with too much T can develop severe acne, an enlarged clitoris, increased facial and body hair, and scalp hair loss-even male pattern baldness. Recently, a woman commented on a post on my Facebook page after she was horribly overdosed on testosterone. She developed deepening of her voice, losing her ability to sing high notes. But more devastating was having severe scalp hair loss. She now is seeing a doctor specializing in hair regrowth. She is using a prescription topical medication, that has some pretty scary side effects. She will be getting hair extensions.
And she will end up spending a couple thousand dollars because she was overdosed by a provider who doesn't really have a deep understanding of hormones and used way more testosterone than was needed.
The reason that so many women are being overdosed on testosterone (and estrogen & progesterone) is because the providers they see use blood tests to measure levels. And it takes massive amounts of fat soluble hormones to get blood levels to increase. I have been preaching against the use of blood tests for years now. And yet it is still sadly the "standard of care" for most hormone providers, and it leads to horrible problems.
But there is a better way.
Just this week, I saw a woman who was able to increase her testosterone levels from an extremely low level (even lower than most 80 year old women) all the way up to the levels of a healthy 30 year old. This client saw me initially a few years ago when she was low on all hormones. She met with me for a consultation where we reviewed her saliva test results and I recommended some inexpensive, over-the-counter supplements. Her hormone levels are all in ideal range now, and more importantly, she feels better and has had improvement in a lot of symptoms. Her friends are even telling her that her skin looks better!
She has had no adverse effects. And she wasn't overdosed with testosterone or other hormones.
This is a safer, more sensible, and reasonable way to balance a woman’s hormones. My client should continue to thrive during menopause, and having balanced hormones should help her slow down the aging process.
This is why I went into medicine. To help women live their healthiest and happiest lives possible. Sadly, in traditional medicine, I didn't have the tools to help women achieve better health. Now, the saddest part of my day is watching women suffer needlessly because they choose to see the wrong hormone provider.
To prevent falling prey to bad hormone advice, you need to at least learn the basics about hormones. Unfortunately, it can be very difficult to get accurate advice. To be totally bulletproof from bad hormone advice (whether it's from your own doctor or some social media guru) I'd highly recommend that you sign up for my Hormonal Harmony Course. You will learn why hormones are important, all of the testing options available and why saliva is usually superior, how to interpret your results and which over the counter products are safe and how much to use, and how and when to retest. The goal is so you can get your hormones balanced for a lifetime.
You just might save yourself from a lot of suffering. And you'll be more likely to keep your hair.
Or if you are a returning client, would like to take the Hormonal Harmony Course, and need a saliva test and follow up visit, use this link to sign up. have seen me in the past, click here for a very special offer (you're basically getting a saliva test and follow up visit for free. Only available for the next 4 people)
When it comes to balancing hormones, women often turn to various treatments, including hormone pellets. However, while some women will get good results, especially in the short term, using hormone pellets poses substantial risks that can severely affect a woman's overall well-being. Here’s why hormone pellets may not be the best solution for the majority of women attempting to achieve hormonal balance:
1. Elevated Hormone Levels After Insertion/Low Levels as Pellets "Wear Out"- Pellets typically contain testosterone with or without estrogen, achieving levels at first that are significantly higher than what a normal woman would produce. These hormones spikes can be dangerous, especially right after a fresh pellet is inserted, Then, after the pellet has been in place for a few months and before the next one is placed, hormone levels can be lower than normal.
2. Ignoring Progesterone- Many hormone pellet clinics ignore or minimize the importance of progesterone, and some clinics don’t even recommend the use of progesterone in women using pellets. This is problematic because progesterone plays a crucial role in improving the efficiency of estrogen and potentially lowering the risk of breast cancer. (Which may especially be important because women with high testosterone levels seem to have a higher risk of breast cancer.) Progesterone also has significant calming effects on the brain, improving sleep and mood and making it essential for overall health. I have personally seen many women who have had pellets placed without having progesterone replaced or even measured.
3. Interruptions in Natural Hormone Cycling- Normal estrogen (and progesterone) levels in women naturally drop every month, which is crucial for resetting hormone receptors. These receptors need this natural cycling to maintain sensitivity to hormones. Constant exposure to hormones via pellets may lead to a decreased number of receptors, thus reducing hormone effectiveness over time.
4. Irremovability of Pellets- Once inserted, hormone pellets cannot be removed, which poses a significant risk for women who experience a bad reaction. Unlike topical or oral hormone treatments, the irreversible nature of pellets makes it impossible to correct any adverse effects immediately.
5. Lack of Expertise Among Providers- Some providers at hormone clinics are not true hormone experts. Some have only completed a basic course on pellet insertion (often sponsored by the pellet manufacturer) and may not have had extensive experience treating women prior to working at these clinics. This limited training can be dangerous if an adverse reaction occurs and the provider lacks the necessary knowledge to address it comprehensively.
6. Severe Adverse Effects of Testosterone Pellets/Elevated Testosterone Levels- Testosterone pellets can cause severe adverse effects, including masculinization. This may result in troubling symptoms such as loss of scalp hair, acne, facial hair growth, deepening of the voice, and more—with some effects possibly being irreversible. Shockingly, some women using testosterone pellets may develop testosterone levels higher than those typically seen in men!
7. Risks from Pellet Insertion- Pellet insertion is a minor surgical procedure that comes with its own set of risks, including mild discomfort or pain at the insertion site, infections, scarring-especially after several insertions, and the potential for the pellet to fall out.
8. High Expense- While one's health is certainly worth the investment, at some pellet clinics the monthly cost may end up being $300 or more monthly (or over $3000 per year) with lab testing, provider visits, and the cost of the pellets themselves. That may not be sustainable for the long term for many women.
9. Difficulty getting back in balance after using pellets- It is much easier to get into hormonal balance when starting from scratch than after one has been overdosed with hormones. Coming off of high dose hormones is extremely uncomfortable and can take a very long time. It is better to start with small doses of hormones and go up if needed than starting with large doses and then trying to come off.
In conclusion, while hormone pellets may seem like a convenient solution for balancing hormones and some women do have good results for a while, the associated risks make it an unreliable and potentially dangerous option for many. For a safer and more effective balancing of hormones, women should consider alternative treatments that allow for regular monitoring and adjustments without the irreversible risks presented by hormone pellets.
By now everybody’s heard of the hype surrounding a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. Some of the brand names are Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Trulicity. These medication’s were initially developed for patients with type 2 diabetics, as they lower blood sugar levels by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. Unlike most other meds that increase insulin levels, GLP-1 inhibitors were soon found to have the unusual side effect of causing weight loss, sometimes extremely rapid weight loss, with adults, losing an average of 15% of their body weight within 15 months.
Sounds perfect, right? What could possibly go wrong?
For one thing, these meds can be associated with a lot of gut issues including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The weight loss from GLP-1 agonists. seems to be caused by these medication increasing fullness by slowing down emptying of the stomach, sometimes even paralyzing the stomach for long periods-which can cause the stomach to be filled with rotten, partially digested food. (Which can be very dangerous if someone undergoes elective or emergency surgery.) These meds are also associated with an increase risk of pancreatitis and certain cancers, such as thyroid cancer.
Another big problem is that between 20 and 40% of the weight loss with GLP-1 agonists is through the loss of muscle mass. The loss of muscle mass is a big reason why people who have rapid weight frequently regain all the weight plus more. Muscle burns more calories than fat cells, so losing muscle causes a decrease in overall metabolic rate. This means that patients who use these meds may need to stay on reduced calorie diet indefinitely. Losing muscle mass is not ideal for women, especially after menopause, as low muscle is associated with frailty.
Another issue with these meds is the extreme expense. Many of these meds cost over $1000 monthly and require long term use.
Some experts worry that if all of the millions of people who qualify for these meds were actually using them, it could bankrupt the entire US healthcare system.
But you wanna hear some good news?
There might be a much safer therapy at a fraction of the cost.
For a long time, it has been known that a person’s gut Microbiome is a huge factor in their overall health. And now research is beginning to show that certain gut bacteria can actually increase GLP-1 production! And healthy gut bacteria can improve overall gut health, strengthening the lining of the gut, even reducing leaky gut syndrome.
And even better, you can order Pendulum products from my Fullscript account at lower price than you can find online.
