ADRENAL FATIGUE: This occurs when the adrenals no longer produce enough hormones to meet bodily demand and is a result of prolonged stress (emotional, viral, physical). Adrenal support includes adequate rest, exercise, nutrition and supplementation with physician guidance.
ANDROGENS (testosterone, DHEA): Anabolic hormones that build and maintain skin, bone, and muscle. DHEA, the principal androgen in both men and women, is linked to energy, immune function, mood and mental function. Testosterone is necessary to maintain muscle mass, bone density, skin elasticity, sex drive and cardiovascular health in both sexes.
ANDROGEN DOMINANCE: Excessive androgens produced endogenously (within the body) or with supplementation can lead to symptoms of acne, increased facial / body hair, and loss of scalp hair.
ANDROPAUSE: (Male Menopause): are symptoms caused by declining hormones in men. Like the menopause in women, it is caused by a decline in hormones primarily testosterone, growth hormone and DHEA.
ANOVULATION / ANOVULATORY: Suspension or cessation of ovulation.
AROMATASE: An enzyme found predominately in fat tissue that converts androgens to estrogens.
BIOAVAILABLE: The unbound (free) fraction of a hormone that has left the bloodstream to enter target tissues in the body such as the salivary glands; this unbound fraction is present and measurable in saliva.
BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES: Hormones that have the exact structure and function of hormones produced naturally within the body.
CORPUS LUTEUM: Formed from the ruptured ovarian follicle that released the egg; it produces progesterone.
CORTISOL: Produced by the adrenal glands; it regulates the stress response, glucose metabolism and immune function. Cortisol has a catabolic (breaking down) action on tissue when levels are too high or out of balance.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): Produced primarily by the adrenal glands, it converts to androgens, like testosterone, and estrogens. Its actions influence energy, stamina, mental outlook and immune function.
DOWNREGULATION OF RECEPTOR SITES: A negative feedback cycle that results in loss of cellular receptor sites (e.g., sites where hormones bind to the cell) and tissue desensitization due to excess hormone levels.
ENDOGENOUS: Naturally-occurring or originating within the body.
ESTROGEN: A family of hormones (Estradiol, Estrone, and Estriol) that is necessary for maintaining the health of the reproductive tissues, breasts, bones, skin, and the brain.
ESTROGEN DOMINANCE: An excess of estrogen in the absence of adequate levels of progesterone. It can result from hysterectomy, birth control pills and / or a decline in ovarian progesterone production. The constellation of symptoms ranges from breast tenderness and bloating, to mood swings and depression.
FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS: Tender, painful, swollen breasts; a sign of estrogen dominance.
FOLLICULAR PHASE: The first half of the menstrual cycle when estrogens build up to trigger ovulation.
FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE (FSH): Pituitary hormone involved in triggering ovulation; elevated levels may mark the onset of menopause or andropause.
FREE TESTOSTERONE INDEX: Ratio between SHBG / Testosterone: indicates bio-available, free testosterone.
FREE TRIIODOTHYRONINE (fT3): The active form of thyroid hormone. Normal levels keep the body functioning properly and are crucial for maintenance of physical and mental health.
FREE THYROXINE (fT4): The main (inactive) thyroid hormone. A well-regulated process causes thyroxine to generate the much more potent thyroid hormone T3 (Triiodothyronine).
GOITER: Enlargement of the thyroid gland; often visible as a swelling in the neck.
HGH (Human Growth Hormone): HGH is one of several endocrine hormones that decline in production as we age. HGH is critical for tissue repair, healing, muscle growth, bone strength, brain function, physical and mental health, energy, and metabolism.
HYPOADRENIA: Low adrenal function.
HYPOTHYROIDISM: Low thyroid function, associated with cold body temperature (feeling cold all the time), weight gain, inability to lose weight, thinning hair, low libido and depression. Women are at greatest risk, developing thyroid problems seven times more often than men, particularly during years prior to menopause.
HYSTERECTOMY: Surgical removal of the uterus which often includes the ovaries (oophorectomy). The resulting depletion of hormones propels women into “surgical menopause” overnight.
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR (IGF-1 or Somatomedin C): The most reliable indicator of human growth hormone levels. Low levels indicate Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency associated with premature aging, decreased muscle and bone mass, slowing cognitive ability, low libido and overall reduced quality of life.
INSULIN RESISTANCE: A term used to describe the failure of the tissues to respond (resistance) to insulin and absorb glucose for energy production. Associated with high triglycerides, polycystic ovaries and excess androgens. Insulin resistance leads to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
LUTEINIZING HORMONE (LH): Pituitary hormone that signals the ovaries to release an egg and to make progesterone; in men it signals the testes to produce testosterone.
LUTEAL PHASE: The latter half of the menstrual cycle when progesterone production is at its peak.
LUTEAL INSUFFICIENCY: Failure of the corpus luteum to produce adequate amounts of progesterone; often caused by anovulation.
MENOPAUSE: The end of menstrual cycles; cessation of menses for 12 consecutive months. When women no longer have periods, their ovaries no longer produce Estrogen and Progesterone. These women have lost the hormones that emotional and physical experience of womanhood. With the loss of their hormones, many women start to experience mood swings, hot flashes, loss of libido, that “all dried up” feeling, hair loss, insomnia, depression, memory loss, bloating, irritability and an inability to lose weight.
OSTEOPOROSIS: Bone loss influenced by low estrogen, progesterone, androgens, and / or high cortisol.
OSTEOBLASTS: Bone building cells.
OSTEOCLASTS: Bone destroying / resorbing cells.
OVARIAN STROMA: The inner ovarian layer that can manufacture excess testosterone.
PERI-MENOPAUSE: The name for the transitional phase as a woman in her 40s and sometimes in her mid to late 30s, approaches menopause. This transitional phase can last up to six years or longer and ends when a woman’s period stops for at least 12 months. During this phase they may have started to experience some of the normal and natural changes that signal perimenopause as well as experience similar symptoms of those of a menopausal woman.
PHYTOESTROGENS: Plant compounds (e.g. soy, black cohosh) with mild estrogen-like activity; are used as natural alternatives to relieve menopausal symptoms.
POLYCYSTIC OVARIES: Undeveloped follicles within the ovary; seen in women with high estrogen and low progesterone levels, and / or high androgen levels. The presence of cysts on the ovary is not uncommon and occurs in 10-20% of women.
PROGESTERONE / ESTRADIOL (pg/e2) RATIO: Indicates fundamental balance or imbalance between these two hormones.
PROGESTINS: Synthetic hormones that act partially like progesterone in some ways but are structurally different; suppress normal ovarian production of progesterone and may have negative side effects.
PROGESTERONE: A hormone produced by the ovaries after ovulation and in lesser amounts by the adrenal glands. It has many vital functions, from maintaining pregnancy to regulating menstrual cycles; has calming and diuretic properties, and enhances the beneficial effects of estrogens while preventing problems linked to estrogen excess. Progesterone facilitates balance of other steroid hormones.
PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA): A protein produced by the prostate gland; high PSA is an important indicator of prostate enlargement. A normal PSA reading is prerequisite for initiating testosterone therapy in men.
RECEPTOR SITES: Molecules on the surface of the cell which allow specific hormones to pass into the cell (via a lock and key effect) to perform their function.
SEX HORMONE BINDING GLOBULIN (SHBG): A protein that binds to testosterone in the bloodstream, limiting the amount of free testosterone available to the tissues of the body. It is increased with age and excess estrogens.
SOMATOMEDIN C: (see Insulin-Like Growth Factor)
TESTOSTERONE: An anabolic hormone that builds and maintains bone and muscle mass, skin elasticity, sex drive and cardiovascular health in both sexes.
THYROID: A gland that produces hormones that regulate metabolism; imbalances leading to weight gain, cold body temperature, depression, hair loss, etc.
THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES (TPO): Elevated with Hashimoto’s (autoimmune) thyroiditis.
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE (TSH): Pituitary hormone; signals the thyroid to produce T4 (Thyroxine) which converts to active T3 (Triiodothyronine).
TISSUE DESENSITIZATION: The inability of cells to utilize take up hormones.
VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS: Hot flashes / night sweats commonly begin in perimenopause; stem from hormone fluctuations which impact centers in the brain that regulate capillary dilation and perspiration.