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Publications On Natural Health

17/12/2019

Hyperandrogenism: High Testosterone and DHEA in PCOS

High Testosterone issue women
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the leading medical conditions now impacting women of reproductive age, and can also have substantial impacts on a woman’s physical and emotional well-being. We’ve already covered symptoms and diagnostic testing of PCOS here, but let's dive deeper into one key hormonal disruption that seems to be particularly troublesome for my patient population – hyperandrogenism.

​Hyperandrogenism is common in PCOS, often seen as elevated testosterone and DHEA levels on blood work. And while these two hormones are often seen as synonymous when evaluating total androgenic burden, there is a significant difference between the two. Testosterone and DHEA are both classified as androgenic hormones, however some women with PCOS may have elevated testosterone, with normal DHEA levels, and vice versa. You also don't have to have cysts on your ovaries to present with hyperandrogenism (in fact, only about 20% of women with high androgens have cystic ovaries), and cysts on your ovaries don't always mean you’ll have high androgens. Have I lost you yet?


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28/5/2018

PCOS uncovered: How to Recognize, Test, and Treat PCOS Naturally

PCOS
     Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common hormonal health issues in women, affecting an estimated 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Many women are first diagnosed when they are having difficulty trying to conceive, but PCOS presents with many other symptoms, like hair loss, acne, hirsutism, and weight gain. These symptoms can affect a woman's health even beyond trying to get pregnant. 

What Causes PCOS?
​

     The exact cause of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is unknown, though it is thought that genetics play a major role. PCOS is a complex disorder that presents itself as a group of symptoms resulting from hormonal imbalances -- usually an excess of androgens like testosterone and high levels of insulin. These symptoms include:


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19/7/2017

Post-Birth Control Syndrome: What is it + How to Heal

Birth control syndrome
​If you’ve ever taken birth control pills and discontinued, you may have experiencedsomething known as post-birth control syndrome. It generally arises within the first 6 months of discontinuing, affects women of all ages, and has a wide array of symptoms. The severity is based on several factors, including how long you took the pill, the type of pill (dosage and hormone combination), your age, liver health, bowel regularity, and overall wellbeing.

Some of the more common symptoms one might experience after stopping the pill include acne and losing hair, and for some women it results in an absence of menses returning, known as amenorrhea. Other less common symptoms women may experience include:


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27/2/2017

Is Stress Keeping Us From Getting Pregnant?

Picture
If you and your loved one have been trying to conceive a child, but have unfortunately had little success, stress levels are often on the rise for both of you. But for some couples, the stress resulting from the inability to conceive may actually be part of the reason they’re having difficulty getting pregnant. Anew condition called “Pregnancy Stress Syndrome”not only can prevent you from getting pregnant, but also can create problems and complications during the pregnancy, most notably, miscarriages.
What Is Going on Inside My Body When I’m Under Stress?
When faced with excessive stress levels, the brain signals the adrenal glands to start producing and releasing more stress hormones, especially adrenalin and cortisol. In other words, your body is initiating your “fight or flight” response in the sympathetic nervous system. Since all hormones talk to each other (that is their job, after all), increased levels of stress hormones within your body often cause an imbalance to other hormone systems.
Together, the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus of the brain, evaluate the level of stress and perceived stressors on your present state, and increase the production of stress hormones to enhance our “survival instincts” during heightened levels of stress. While this can be beneficial occasionally in certain situations, it is when we are in a constant state of “fight or flight,” it is counterproductive to the reproductive system and being able to conceive a child.

How Does Stress Prevent Pregnancy?
Increased, prolonged levels of stress results in the body’s continual release adrenalin and cortisol, and elevated levels affect the body as follows:
  • Progesterone secretions from the corpus luteum (which are responsive for maintaining your uterine lining and sustaining a pregnancy) are reduced.
  • The release of estrogen is reduced and impedes follicle development and health.
  • With reduced estrogen levels, it also reduces the thickness of the fertile mucous and endometrium.
  • The secretion of prolactin is increased and inhibits ovarian functions, like ovulation.
  • Reduces immune responses, like the part of the immune system responsible for preventing miscarriages.
  • Reduces secretion of LH (luteinizing hormone), which is responsible for ovulation.
  • Reduced conversion of active thyroid hormones, leading to elevated TSH levels, and subclinical signs of hypothyroidism (one of the primary factors in infertility)
In addition, since increased stress levels reduce immune responses, other health issues can arise, which can further impede the ability to conceive.

What Can I Do?
The first thing you need to do is address and deal with your stress in a healthy manner.

Diet
First and foremost, a change in dietary eating patterns and developing a daily exercise routine helps immensely. Far too often, our “go-to” foods when overly stressed are those we consider “comfort” foods, which are full of unhealthy fats and contain large amounts of sugar and sodium. Eliminating refined sugar and a processed food reduces the insulin burden on the hormone system, and the livers need to detoxify chemicals. Instead, reach for whole foods, healthy fats like avocado and nuts, and be sure to reach your required daily caloric intake healty fat making up at least 40% of it.

Stress Management
Others benefit from learning new techniques and methods to reduce stress and relax, like getting regular message therapy, joining a yoga class, or trying acupuncture. I’ve personally seen acupuncture lower FSH levels (a sign of ovarian failure) from 19 down to 9 in a the course of a month.

Seek Help
Lastly, DON”TGoogle things! The Internet is a never-ending black hole of information, some good, some bad, and some terrible. You’re wasting precious energy adding potentially incorrect information to your already stressed state. This is what your Naturopath is for. Unsure to build a well rounded health team to not only help you manage stressors, but to look at every factor involved that may be reducing your chances of conception, all the while optimizing your chances of success (there’s a LOT you can do to improve sperm & egg quality, ovulation patterns, etc.)

As an additional resource, consider a well-rounded book that will provide insight and empowerment, like Taking Charge of Your Fertility, by Toni Weschler MPH.

To determine whether your inability to conceive is due to heightened stress levels, I encourage you to consult with a qualified and experienced Naturopathic Doctor who has a focus in hormones and infertility for a detailed and comprehensive examination.

To schedule a consultation appointment today, please feel free to contact Dr. Courtney Holmberg at 647-351-7282, or visit www.courtneyholmbergnd.ca for more information. 

29/12/2016

Signs Which Could Indicate You Have PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Picture
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a condition that causes significant imbalances to the hormonal system in many women today. One of the biggest concerns with PCOS is that it is widely under-diagnosed. Just in the United States alone, there are approximately 7 million women experiencing symptoms of this condition, yet around half of these women have no idea they have PCOS!

For a long time, the root cause to PCOS was believed to be a result of an overproduction of male hormones, called androgens. In more recent years, research has confirmed PCOS is in fact a condition resulting from desensitization to insulin production within the body, which in turn leads to increased production of these androgenic hormones.

In addition, studies on PCOS have revealed those with the condition are at a greater risk for heart disease and diabetes (type 2). Heart disease is the leading killer in women. Even in cases where women were young and fit, yet had PCOS, it was five times more likely they would still develop these risks if they did not seek treatment for their conditions.


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30/11/2016

Birth Control and Depression: Are They Related?

medicine
There have been several studies and research conducted over the years on the topic of whether depression and taking a birth control pill is related. A very recent study was published this year on the topic, and is making headlines, as some of you may already know. But before discussing some of its findings, it is important to first understand how the pill works, and discuss its efficacy, side effects, and potential risks on your mental and physical wellbeing.

Birth control pills are the most commonly prescribed form of contraception to young females in North America. They contain a variety of different active and inactive ingredients. Among the more common ones are progestin, synthetic progesterone, and estrogen. The pills can contain a combination of these hormones in various dosages, or just consist of a single hormone. Ingesting synthetic hormones alters your body’s natural hormonal balance, levels, and production, ultimately preventing ovulation and subsequent ability to conceive.

The estimated probability of pregnancy during the first year of perfect use of the pill is 0.3% if taken at the exact same time every day, and a dose is never missed. However, actual rates of pregnancy with oral contraceptive are more like 9-11% in their first year of use [1]. Furthermore, an estimate 51% of unintended pregnancies happen while using a birth control pill [3], suggesting failure rate is high.
Furthermore, as a result of this natural hormone imbalance, it also affects responses within the brain, which causes altered psychological and physical responses. For instance, some of the more common side effects that have been reported from women taking oral contraceptives include:

  • Water Retention
  • Weight Gain
  • Yeast Infections
  • Overeating
  • Weight Loss
  • No Appetite
  • Erratic Changes in Emotions
  • Sense of Helplessness/Sadness
  • Reduced Sex Drive
  • Lack of Energy
  • Problems Concentrating
  • Increased Risks for Cervical and Breast Cancers

The University of Copenhagen Study on Depression and Birth Control

This recent study contained a large sample population, consisting of 1,061,997 female subjects, who were aged 15 to 34. In addition, none of these women had experienced any form of depression or other psychiatric/psychological problems prior to starting birth control. To help determine the effects of taking oral contraceptives, the researchers monitored whether subjects were diagnoses with depression or started a new antidepressant prescription throughout the study.

The study sample was also divided into two groups, where one set of women would take some form of birth control including:

  • Transdermal Patches
  • Progestin-Only Pills
  • Vaginal Rings
  • Combination Pills
  • Levonorgestrel IUD

The other group of women would not use female birth control during the study. At the conclusion of the study, researchers compared the number of women who developed depression during the study period in both groups. The findings were as follows [3]:

  • 131,178 women had obtained a prescription for antidepressant medications at some point during the study period.
  • 23,077 women were newly diagnosed with depression.
  • Subjects, aged 15 – 19 had the highest ratio of antidepressant medications and depression diagnoses.

Relative risks for first time use of antidepressants were as follows:

  • Combined oral contraceptives: 23% increased risk
  • Progesterone-only pill: 35% increased risk
  • Contraceptive Patch: 100% increased risk
  • Vaginal Ring: 60% increased risk
  • Progesterone IUD: 40% increased risk

Based upon these findings, the study concluded there was evidence that birth control use and depression were related. However, future studies conducted at other research facilities have resulted varying findings. For instance, a 2007 study also found an increase in depression from subjects taking birth control, while another one in 2012 did not find a correlation between the two.

Natural Alternatives for Birth Control

If you are worried about potential risks and side effects of oral contraceptives, there are several natural alternatives available. Forms of hormone free birth control method include:

  • Male Condoms
  • Female Condoms
  • Diaphragms
  • Cervical Caps

A conversation I often have with my patients is the use of a hormone free intrauterine device made from copper. While the study did not assess the use of a hormone free intrauterine device, if you have a history of depression, or have previously experienced low moods on a birth control pill, this may be an effective alternative for you. Of course, it comes with its own risks and side effects, so always have a full discussion with your Medical Doctor or Naturopath to find an option that is right for you.
For more information about these and other natural alternatives, please feel free to contact Dr. Courtney Holmberg ND at 647.351.7282 or access the online schedule HERE today to arrange a consultation appointment at her naturopathic clinic in Toronto.
​
References:
  1. Trussell, James (2011). "Contraceptive efficacy". In Hatcher, Robert A.; Trussell, James; Nelson, Anita L.; Cates, Willard Jr.; Kowal, Deborah; Policar, Michael S. (eds.). Contraceptive technology (20th revised ed.). New York: Ardent Media. pp. 779–863
  2. Unintended pregnancy in the United States. Sept 2016. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/unintended-pregnancy-united-states
  3. Charlotte Wessel Skovlund, MSc; Lina Steinrud Mørch, PhD; Lars Vedel Kessing, MD, DMSc, Øjvind Lidegaard, MD, DMSc, et al. Association of Hormonal Contraception With Depression. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1154-1162.

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DR. COURTNEY HOLMBERG, ND

Platinum Health and Wellness
​​955 Queen St W, Unit 111
Toronto, ON
M6J 3X5

​647-351-7282
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​© 2018 Courtney Holmberg ND. All rights reserved. Dr. Courtney Holmberg, ND does not endorse or have professional affiliation with any discussed supplement or lab companies. All material provided is for general education and may not be construed as medical advice. The information is not intended to assist in diagnosing to treating a medical condition. Legal & Medical Disclaimer, sitemap

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