Can Natural Bioidentical Hormone Therapy Be Dangerous? Dr. C.W. Randolph Says, "Absolutely!"

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL, November 14, 2012 (Press-News.org) A recent news report from Jacksonville, Florida-based Channel 12, First Coast News, has highlighted the controversy surrounding natural hormone therapy, including bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).

C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D., a nationally-recognized expert in age-management medicine and hormone health, calls this "a cautionary tale on the dangers of natural hormone therapy when it is misused and unmonitored."

"I am glad that the media is raising awareness," says Randolph. "Anyone who is considering natural hormone replacement therapy needs to ask the following questions to help ensure that treatment is safe and effective."

"First, is it bioidentical hormone therapy? Always choose bioidentical hormone replacement instead of synthetic hormone replacement. Bioidentical hormones are synthesized in the lab to be identical to naturally produced hormones and have a 100 percent relative binding affinity (RBA) for your internal hormone receptor sites," says Randolph. "The cells of your body recognize them as familiar and know how to put them to best use. Keep in mind, however, that even natural substances can be harmful if misused. Even the wrong dose of insulin - another important chemical your body produces naturally - can be extremely dangerous."

Dr. Randolph explains that the next question should be, "Is this a medical professional who is trained by a reputable medical organization to prescribe hormone replacement therapy? Hormone replacement therapy is intricate endocrinology, and requires a thorough understanding of the balance of hormones in the body. You should never trust your hormone health to someone who has attended a weekend course and thinks he or she knows how to test and prescribe hormones! Your medical professional must be educated and experienced to know which blood levels to test (and when) as well as how to interpret the results. When selecting your doctor, always ask questions about his or her background, training, and current licensure."

Several reputable professional organizations that train medical professionals in the proper administration of natural hormone replacement therapy include the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and the Academy of Functional Medicine. These organizations have strict requirements for the training of professionals, such as: licensure as a medical doctor, 200 hours of continuing eduction, written and oral examinations, and presentations of experience. "Without rigorous training, a medical professional is simply not qualified - and your health could be in danger because of it," says Randolph.

Dr. Randolph notes that one of the most important questions is whether your medical professional know how to appropriately and routinely test your hormone levels. "Each hormone exists in delicate balance to another, and they fluctuate depending on a number of factors, including stress, diet, and menstrual cycles," says Randolph. "Your doctor should test your levels at the peak time of the month, and thereafter, on a frequent enough basis to keep track of any variations that might signal an imbalance. If this is not done correctly - for example, if estrogen is not correctly balanced with progesterone - the results can be cancer-promoting. However, when estrogen and progesterone are balanced correctly, the effects are clinically-proven to be breast protective and cancer-preventative. Excess testosterone in men can convert to estrogen or dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and raise the risk of prostate cancer. In other words, it is vital that your hormones be monitored frequently by an experienced and educated practitioner."

"A hormone replacement clinic may use every marketing technique available to grab your attention, but when it comes to your health, do your 'due diligence' before you trust yourself to their care," says Randolph.

About C.W. Randolph, Jr., M.D.: Dr. Randolph is an internationally recognized expert in the field of bioidentical hormone replacement and anti-aging medicine. He is board certified by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Board of Holistic Medicine. He is also a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Randolph's distinctive expertise derives from his training as a licensed compounding pharmacist specializing in pharmacognosy (plant-based medicines), combined with decades of experience as a trail-blazing physician. He coauthored three highly-acclaimed books: From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well (winner of the 2010 Bronze National Consumer Health Information Award), From Belly Fat to Belly Flat (now published in four languages), and In the Mood Again (Simon & Schuster, 2010).

Dr. Randolph's Ageless & Wellness Medical Center, located in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, is nationally recognized as a Center of Excellence in the field of natural, bioidentical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT). The Ageless & Wellness Medical Center offers age management medicine for women and men, as well as comprehensive gynecological treatments and procedures for women.