Features - HRT and the Body's Own Production of Hormones

It is medically accepted that if you take steroids over a number of years your body's own production will stop. If you lower the dose of steroids, you need to reduce them very slowly for the body to start producing them again.

Steroids, or cortisol, are hormones manufactured by the adrenal glands. For a menopausal woman the adrenals are the main source of hormone production, apart from a small amount from the ovaries. So, as with steroids, if you supply the body with oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone by HRT, or by phyto-oestrogens, the adrenals are going to stop producing these hormones too.

Everyone differs, but many women experience strong menopausal symptoms when they stop taking HRT. This is because the adrenals have stopped their own production of oestrogen progesterone and testosterone, and it will take time to begin this process again.

If you have been advised to stop taking HRT, see if your doctor has any objection to you slowly reducing the dose over 2 or 3 months, to enable your body to pick up its own production again. However if you have suffered a side effect of HRT, then you must stop them immediately.

The process of hormone production is complicated. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to inform the adrenal glands to produce hormones. If there are sufficient hormones in the body from HRT, or phyto-oestrogens, then the hypothalamus will not be triggered to communicate with the pituitary, and so on. Also if you are experiencing a stressful time the body will choose to produce cortisol instead of sex hormones.

So how can you help your body adjust?

• You can support your endocrine system with Agnus Castus, or a plant called Maca, both of which help to balance out the hormone production.
• Take plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids.
• Relaxing exercises such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, can help.
• Avoid stimulants such as smoking and caffeine.
• Or you may wish to try an alternative therapy, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, or ayurvedic medicine.

Jo Pitcairn (web site manager)

Page updated: 29 January 2009