Female hormonal disorders

Over the last few decades, Western societies have witnessed an epidemic of hormonal disturbances in women. There is increasing evidence of early puberty, hormonal dysfunction, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), endometriosis, uterine fibroids, menstrual abnormalities (irregular periods, pain, heavy or scanty bleeding), infertility, a difficult transition to menopause, and breast cancer. Our industrialized environment is filled with genotoxic (originating outside of organism) estrogens, harmful foods high in sugar and fat, unsafe additives and impurities in the form of hormones, antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, food dyes, food preservatives, heavy metals, etc. These substances contribute to a disturbance in normal hormonal cycles.

Conventional medicine recommends oral contraceptives to "regulate" patients' menstrual cycles, rather than addressing the lifestyle and environmental causes of hormonal disturbances. PMS is being treated with antidepressants. Infertility is managed by invasive procedures without looking for or trying to correct its causes, which may include autoimmunity, gut dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, or environmental toxins. Hormonal shifts to perimenopause are treated with oral contraceptives, despite mounting evidence of increased health risks of doing so. These are just a few of many such examples.

Functional medicine, on the other hand, promotes normalization of hormonal metabolism by a variety of mechanisms, such as dietary and lifestyle modifications, use of supplements, herbs, homeopathy, and correction of the gut dysfunction. Hormonal dysfunction shouldn't be accepted as an inevitable part of being a woman. Women shouldn't be left with the only option to use synthetic pharmaceuticals in an attempt to combat the symptoms when natural alternatives are available to address the underlying problems.

If you want to discuss how we can help you restore hormonal balance in your body, please contact us.