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Hysterectomy
and Hormone Balance
What
you will learn in this section:
STEP #1
For the woman that has had a hysterectomy it is imperative to normalize
adrenal function.
This can be accomplished with looking at lifestyle, diet, and adding supplements
with natural hormones, if necessary.
Understand your levels of adrenal hormones, Cortisol/DHEA, over a 24 hour
period. Exhausting these hormones by excessive mental/emotional stressors
and internal glandular stressors will decrease levels of Estrogens and
Testosterone. High Cortisol levels will store fat and accelerate bone
loss.
STEP
#2
Understand the levels of female hormones that your body is producing,
regardless of the type of hysterectomy that you had.
Based on multiple saliva data Natural Hormone Replacement levels can then safely be determined.
STEP
#1: NORMALIZE FUNCTION OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS
Dr. Bivins, How do stressed adrenals (Cortisol
& DHEA) alter female hormone levels?
Every woman has her own accumulation of a lifetime of stress. A representation
of this lifetime of stress is summed up into data of the Adrenal Stress
Profile. Four saliva samples at 4 different times in the day reveal the
daily rhythm of Cortisol and DHEA(S) levels. The Adrenal Stress Profile
tells us how well your body is handling stress. The hysterectomy itself
is a major stressor to the body, which stresses the adrenal glands, which
affect female hormone levels. External, mental/emotional stressors, and
internal, physiological stressors, stress the adrenals (Cortisol and DHEA).
These two master hormones direct the female hormones. Exhausting
the adrenals will eventually exhaust Estrogens, Progesterone, and Testosterone
levels. I've reviewed 1000's of lab tests and have often seen this occur.
Normalizing adrenal function for the woman that has had a hysterectomy
becomes imperative.
How do I figure out if my adrenal glands are
stressed?
1.) Order saliva test #202: Adrenal Stress Profile Plus II, (4-Cortisols,
2 DHEA(S), 1- Estradiol, and 1-Testosterone). The Estradiol and Testosterone
levels are ordered at this time to see if it is safe for you to take DHEA,
if it is indicated. DHEA turns into Estrogens and Testosterone. Giving
DHEA, when saliva tests indicate normal or higher levels, could increase
the levels of Estrogens and Testosterone to above normal. Much has been
written about the dangers and symptoms of Estrogen Dominance. DHEA and
Testosterone levels will be confirmed approximately 6 weeks later if the
woman with hysterectomy also chooses to do the Premenopause Hormone Profile
11, Test #207. This 11-sample saliva test includes 11 Estradiols, 11 Progesterones,
1 DHEA and 1 Testosterone.
2.) Consult goals:
A. Determine need for natural hormones/supplements
to support adrenals based on data
B. Discuss lifestyle issues which stress
adrenals
C. Discuss diet (food intolerances, blood
sugar control) issues which may stress adrenals
D. Review history for other internal physiological
stressors to adrenals
STEP
#2: UNDERSTAND THE LEVELS OF FEMALE HORMONES THAT YOUR BODY IS PRODUCING
– REGARDLESS OF THE TYPE OF HYSTERECTOMY THAT YOU HAD.
Multiple saliva testing defines the Hysterectomy-Dynamic
Certainly, the challenge of the woman who has had a hysterectomy is to
try to compensate for the lack of endogenous (your body's own) hormone
production which may have been altered with a hysterectomy. A woman that
has had a hysterectomy* and still has her ovaries may or may not be producing
adequate levels of hormones**. Endogenous hormone levels can fluctuate
if hormones are coming from the ovaries (Hysterectomy-Dynamic as coined
here by Dr. Bivins). Each woman must define her own Hysterectomy-Dynamic
to direct levels of natural hormone replacement. And certainly, with
or without ovaries, hormone levels over one month's time may basically
be flat and insufficient. Multiple saliva samples (One sample very other
day, for 22 days, providing 11 samples) can reveal if this Hysterectomy-Dynamic
exists or if levels are continuously low throughout the month. By having
this data natural hormone replacement can be adjusted so as not to create
an Estrogen Dominate situation. So what can be done to balance the hormones
of a woman that has had a hysterectomy? Why do I not like the word hysterectomized?
How can we begin to get a handle on all of these variables?
Dr.
Bivins, I've had a hysterectomy, what do I do to figure out my female
hormone levels?
Order Test #207 (11 Estradiols, 11 Progesterones, 1 DHEA(S), 1 Testosterone)
Every other day, for 22 days, the woman provides a saliva sample. These
11 samples give us a graph over 22 days of what your hormone levels are.
One, two or three samples are not enough to identify possible Estradiol
and Progesterone peaks. This test provides the necessary data to determine
accurate and safe natural hormone replacement.
The
11 samples came back and the chart shows mostly flat and insufficient
levels of Estradiol and Progesterone. What do I do?
Based on your data, Dr. Bivins will suggest a physiological level of natural
hormones to take. The natural hormones are from vegetable sources and
molecularly identical to what your body manufactures. Physiological levels
are similar to what your body produces. Dr. Bivins will also retest levels
periodically to monitor levels and to make sure that you are absorbing
the natural hormones. If you have a gut problem, i.e., food sensitives
or parasites, absorption could be limited and the gut problem should be
pursued through further testing.
The
11 samples came back and the chart shows mostly fluctuating but higher
levels (Hysterectomy-Dynamic) of Estradiol and Progesterone. What do I
do?
Based on your data Dr. Bivins would suggest conservative levels of natural
hormones or possibly non at all. These more normal levels suggest endogenous
(your body's own) production. If no female hormones are suggested then
other natural hormones/supplements may be suggested, if necessary, to
support the adrenals, based on your Adrenal Stress Profile data. In women
with active functioning ovaries, it is not uncommon to have symptoms decrease
by just working with the adrenals, thus avoiding the risk of Estrogen
Dominance.
Dr.
Bivins, why do you want me to take my oral, digital temperature every
morning for 2 or 3 months when I begin the 11 sample test?
If you still have your ovaries I will correlate the temperature data with
the data from your 11 saliva samples.
Do
I have to be on these natural hormones and supplements forever?
If your ovaries have been removed or their function has been diminished,
due to the hysterectomy, continued natural hormone replacement would be
appropriate with periodic monitoring. If you can minimize adrenal stress,
external and internal stressors, do lifestyle and diet management well,
your Cortisol and DHEA levels could return to normal within 3 months,
at which time, adrenal support would be discontinued or minimized. The
goal is to restore normal adrenal function thereby helping to balance
your female hormones.
*
Hysterectomy: Surgical removal of the uterus
Confusion about hysterectomies begins with the definition. However, unfortunately,
in America, hysterectomy usually means removal of both the uterus and
cervix. We then refer to this as a total or complete hysterectomy, removal
of both the uterus and cervix, leaving the ovaries. Some health professionals
define a total hysterectomy as removal of the uterus, cervix and ovaries.
A partial, or supravaginal, or subtotal hysterectomy then becomes the
removal of only the uterus. The removal of the ovaries is defined as oophorectomy
or ovariectomy. **Elizabeth Plourde, in her book, The Ultimate Rape, tells
us, "Removal of just the uterus, alone, can result in ovarian failure.
Research reveals as many as 20 to 44% of hysterectomized women may experience
decreased ovarian function, or ovarian failure, as compared to 13% in
women who have not had surgery."
References:
1.) Timmins, William. BioHealth Diagnostics Inc., San Diego, CA
2.) Plourde, Elizabeth, The Ultimate Rape – What Every Woman Should Know
about Hysterectomies
and Ovarian Removal, New Voice Publications, P.O. Box 14133, Irvine, CA
92623-4133, www.newvoice.net
3.) Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary. F.A. Davis Company, Philadelphia.
2000.
Laboratory-guided Nutrition/Hormones
offers data for the individual woman
The data can be evaluated with lifestyle and diet to offer the woman a
specific program allowing the body to work at optimum function and physiology.
Based on saliva hormone levels a program of natural hormone replacement/supplements
is created, with diet and lifestyle evaluation, to assist adrenal function
and female hormone levels. Retesting is done to monitor levels, identifying
when hormones/supplements can be reduced. Further testing may be required
to determine the integrity of the gut/digestive system and the detoxification/liver
systems.
To order tests, set up a consultation or speaking engagement call (619)
223-7379 or e-mail: Drbivins@hormonetesting.net
