We feel it is important to highlight the history of hormone balance therapy (HRT), and educate women about the history, risks and benefits of HRT.
Unfortunately, in the last few decades, the medical field and the Women’s Health Initiative have failed women in providing significant data in the use of HRT going through perimenopause and menopause with flawed clinical studies on the effectiveness of HRT.
The first mistake was selecting women in the 60+ age group, which is approximately 10 years past the typical onset of menopause. By that time, you are already at risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. They also used single use estrogen or synthetic hormones in their clinical studies. These alter the bioavailability of free hormones in the blood (more on this further down).
These studies threw the entire medical profession off HRT based on blatant errors and approaches in these clinical studies.
The media blitz that followed not only caused massive confusion in the field of HRT but also major consequences to women who suffered from estrogen dominance that resulted in cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.
The full historical significance is in an article published by the National Library of Medicine “The Controversial History of Hormone Replacement Therapy” can be read here.
Even after more than two decades, HRT use has declined not only in the US, but abroad due to the media scare of erroneous studies.
However, the good news is that more recent studies are showing that combined use of estrogen and progestins provide positive results and a decline in endometrial and breast cancer.
“Nevertheless, in the following years, researchers discovered that reducing the dosage of estrogen and combining it with progesterone could reduce the risk of endometrial cancer [6]. Such combined therapy was recommended for women with an intact uterus, raising renewed enthusiasm for HRT treatment.” Citation: Medicina (Kaunas). 2019 Sep; 55(9): 602. Published online 2019 Sep 18. doi: 10.3390/medicina55090602
Even still since a few of these studies promote dual use of estrogen and progestins, the majority of women are still unaware of the difference between synthetic and bio-identical hormones and their effectiveness and risks.
What makes a hormone effective is its chemical structure and application i.e., pills or transdermal.
First let’s discuss how hormones are stored in the blood.
In the blood, hormones are either very tightly bound to binding proteins (molecules) or unbound and “free” in the bloodstream. Hormones that are bound are not considered biologically active, which means they will not have an effect on the cells in the body. In addition, if they are bound to a protein, blood tests cannot be accurate to the levels of hormones in the blood.
There are hormones (estradiol and testosterone) that bind to SHBG (sex hormone-binding globulin). SHBG is made by the liver and its production is affected differently by increasing levels of estradiol and testosterone.
In this regard, if taking a hormone pill, the liver senses a dramatic increase in hormones and produces more SHBG, thereby binding important hormones that are not biologically active.
The benefit of a transdermal application (cream, patch or gel) to the skin, bypassing the liver, is that it does not increase triglyceride levels, which is a risk factor for heart disease.
The most effective are bioidentical hormones, which are exact copies of the hormones that your body naturally produces and uses. With the exception of a few hormone preparations that are derived from urine, all bioidentical hormones are manufactured in a laboratory, often from a plant source.
How Big Pharma Makes Money regardless of the effectiveness of synthetic hormones
Pharmaceutical companies know this. However, they start with a bioidentical hormone, one that has the same molecular structure of a hormone the body naturally produces. Then they change it as little as possible, but just enough to get a patent on it. The resulting hormone is subsequently used in place of the bio-identical hormone. The effect of this new hormone is similar but not the same as the original hormone and usually has side effects, because it is a hormone the body does not naturally produce.
Pharmaceutical companies can make much more money by selling patented hormones rather than non-patented hormones. This is because patented hormones cannot be sold by any other company, nor can generic versions be made by any other company. This monopoly allows companies to make more money from patented hormones. Bio-identical hormones cannot be patented; the only thing that can be patented is the process by which these hormones are manufactured.
That being said, Dr. Michael E. Platt was a pioneer in offering the treatment of bio-identical hormones. With three decades of observational treatments in helping women and men achieve optimal health, he has only offered bio-identical hormones of superior quality.
He has written 3 books which have been awarded 5 literary awards. His Platt Protocol for physicians, “The Miracle of Bioidentical Hormones” and “The Adrenaline Dominance - A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness”
Dr. Platt’s legacy continues, even though he has retired from the day-to-day of the business. He serves on the board of directors of Platt Wellness & Metabolic Solutions to offer his skilled advice to help “d-myth” the facts of HRT.
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"Dr, Platt is one of the most knowledgeable, sincere, helpful doctors I have ever met. He really cares that you understand his recommendations and how it helps you. His knowledge in hormones is next to few. He has helped me in so many ways from my post hysterectomy symptoms to stress management. His message really needs to be told that it can help a lot of people.”
Becky Wilson, Verified Customer
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Dear Michael,
I want to thank you for the wealth of information you deliver in your books and the Platt Protocol I just received. Never have I read endocrinologic facts in such a comprehensive and at the same time down-to-earth approach...I already began to treat [patients] and am going to treat with the help of your protocol. Dr. Markus Windstosser, Germany. Practitioner
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After all the help you have given me, and valuable advice, I wanted to write and say how much I have appreciated it all. As a natural health practitioner, you have helped me immeasurably to have a greater understanding of the roles of bioidentical hormones insulin and adrenaline in the health of people of all ages...Trudy Phelps. Practitioner
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I have read Dr. Platt’s book and all I can say is WOW! I told my husband that this could change the world! The women in my community are flooded with antidepressants, diet pills, narcotics, and many other toxic drugs. Where do I start? I have no one here to help me on this journey. Does Dr. Platt have any educational materials out there. I would love to help my patients but have no knowledge or education on this topic other than what was in his book. THIS IS PHENOMENAL! Deana Barton, MSN, FNP-BC
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Thank you and more! It has been two short weeks since you provided me with the information to change my life. In those two weeks I have seen more profound benefits to my life than any other time in the last 30 years...what possible words can I use to attempt to describe and explain and thank you for what has transpired during these two incredible weeks. I had mixed type ADHD from birth. I fit into 90% of symptoms described in your Adrenaline Dominance book. It defies comprehension that I have waited 61 years to discover that I have a severe learning and social disability....It is so difficult to describe the ways that I have been changed, except to say that now I understand how ill I am and how confining my illness had become. What a wonderful experience my life has become. Nigel Westaire
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I never want to go a day without Platt Pro 5%. It has helped me tremendously with my blood sugar levels. I started checking them and couldn't figure out why they were so good. As I was filing some things, I reread the literature for Platt Pro and I believed it had made the difference. It also helps me sleep at night. I take it according to the literature that comes with it. There are many other benefits described in the literature--including reducing the chance of breast cancer.
Bella McUre