Bio-Identical (Natural) Hormone 
Balancing for Breast Health…
by Susan J. Riegg, MD
The month of October was designated at “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month” in 1986; this year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services.
Breast Cancer Prevention
While there is extensive dialog regarding the various methods to diagnose breast cancer, treatment options, adhering to prescribed treatment, and knowing the facts about recurrence, we generally hear very little about preventive measures that may be instituted in order to reduce risk of breast cancer from occurring in the first place. In fact, many physicians practicing conventional (western) medicine still believe that there is nothing that can be done proactively in order to reduce this risk. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Reducing risk for occurrence of breast cancer can (and should) be done for all women. It involves balancing estrogen with appropriate physiological doses of natural (bio-identical) progesterone. We refer to this imbalance as “estrogen dominance”, and it is very, very common in women after the age of 45. Estrogen dominance refers to a relative excess of estrogen when progesterone levels are inadequate. This condition can occur in women during the reproductive years, but tends to be particularly symptomatic for women during perimenopause and in menopause. Estrogen dominance is particularly prominent in women whom are no longer ovulating, in women being exposed to synthetic estrogens, and/or in women not metabolizing estrogens correctly.
Following the publication of results of the Women’s Health Initiative in 2002, which showed greater risk among women using synthetic pharmaceutical hormones (such as Premarin or Prempro), the emphasis is rapidly shifting away from synthetic hormone replacement to balancing hormones naturally. An estimated two million American women are already using bio-identical hormones as a safer alternative to synthetic hormones.
Numerous scientific studies in the peer reviewed literature link high estrogen or estrogen imbalance with a wide range of symptoms and conditions, including hot flashes, night sweats, low libido, mood swings, anxiety, sleeping problems, depression, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, and foggy thinking. Additionally, estrogen dominance is linked to more serious conditions related to reproductive health (endometriosis and PCOS) as well as breast disease including cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive carcinoma). Hormone imbalances triggered by medications like synthetic hormone combinations have also been found to contribute to estrogen dominance problems.
The Importance of Balancing Hormones NaturallyWomen of all ages benefit from appropriately balanced hormones. Laboratory testing is absolutely essential in understanding the underlying condition. In this manner, the laboratory results can be correlated with the patient’s symptom profile to make treatment decisions. Health care providers working with perimenopausal and menopausal women find hormone testing to be a key step in detecting and correcting imbalances. Testing hormone levels is also invaluable for monitoring women using bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.
As advocates for women’s health and wellness, we remain dedicated to educating and empowering women to take charge of their own breast health by knowing their options and having access to the laboratory testing and treatment with bio-identical (natural) hormones. We also advocate that all women continue regular self-breast exams to identify any changes, scheduling regular visits and annual mammograms with their healthcare provider, adhering to prescribed treatment, and knowing the facts about recurrence.
Dr. Susan J. Riegg is a 1990 graduate of The Medical College of Wisconsin. She did her postdoctoral work at the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Dr. Riegg is a board certified Clinical and Anatomic Pathologist with 20 years of experience in medicine, laboratory science, and anatomic (surgical) pathology. She is a leader in providing the latest in laboratory testing services, hormone balancing testing and therapy, weight loss programs, and medical aesthetics and wellness services for patients in Southeastern Wisconsin. Dr. Riegg sees patients at her offices at GreensSquare Center for the Healing Arts, 6789 N. Green Bay Avenue, Glendale, WI 53209. Her office can be reached by calling 414-292-3900, Ext 254. For more information, visit our website at www.GreenSquareCenter.com.
