Why is the FHP™ used?
The FHP™ is used to identify menstrual cycle deficits and imbalances in progesterone, estrogen, testosterone and DHEA
When is the FHP™ used?
This panel is utilized when you need a profile of the hormone fluctuations in a woman’s cycle for test-guided BHRT.
Who should consider having the FHP™ done?
The FHP™ test is most applicable in cycling women with
Weight gain
Functional infertility
Osteoporosis
Endometriosis and ovarian cysts
Fibroids and fibrocystic breasts
Increased risk of breast cancer
Recurrent cycle related symptoms and irregularities such as PMS, migraines, breast tenderness, emotional and cognitive issues, insomnia, spotting, etc
Representation of Hormone Cycle
Physiologic Roles of Hormones tested
LH and FSH
The pituitary Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) regulate ovarian function.
FSH promotes ovarian estrogen production
LH induces ovulation and progesterone production
In perimenopause, there is a growing scarcity in ovarian follicles. LH and FSH levels show respectively, a 3 and 7-fold increase over values found in young menstruating women.
In peri- and postmenopause, FSH is closely correlated with
Hot flashes and night sweats
Bone loss and osteoporosis
Sleep disturbances
Stress or excessive exercise have an adverse effect on LH and may inhibit ovulation. Stress makes women more estrogenic and less fertile and more prone to proliferative diseases.
Estrogen
Aids in endometrial growth and proliferation
Aids in inducing ovulation
Aids in maintaining vaginal lubrication
CNS
Neuroprotective
Neuroexcitatory, motivational and promotes territorial inclinations
Exacerbates migraine and other headaches
Sexuality
Estrogen/progesterone balance promotes arousability
Growth
Increases growth hormone secretion
Bone Health
Limits bone elongation in adolescents, and prevents bone loss in adults
Glycemic Regulation
Improves insulin function
Adipose Tissue
Increases size and number of fat cells
Immune System
Immune activator and pro-inflammatory; estrogen dominance promotes autoimmunity
Skin
Maintenance and regeneration
Progesterone
Reproductive
Matures endometrium in preparation for pregnancy
Facilitates embryo implantation
Maintains pregnancy through maintaining endometrial lining and preventing uterine muscle contraction
CNS
Promotes better sense of dominance, attenuates aggressiveness, and is a sedative
Promotes neuronal healing (neuroprotective)
Bone Health
Promotes new bone formation and deposition
Sexuality
Estrogen/progesterone balance promotes arousability; may play a role in overcoming inhibitions
Breast
Promotes breast growth and development during pregnancy
Inhibits lactation during pregnancy
Immunity
Lowers immune system activity (immunosuppressive)
Anti-inflammatory
DHEA
Reproductive
Integrity of vaginal mucus; eases premenstrual symptoms
Sexuality
Improves well being and sexual arousability
Antiglucocorticoid Hormone
Opposes catabolic cortisol effects during stress
Breast
Reduces breast proliferation
Bone Health
Enhances bone deposition and remodeling
Glycemic Regulation
Improves insulin sensitivity, increases muscle mass and reduces fat mass
Immune System
Stimulates immune system activity; reverses stress related immunosuppression
Somatic
Helps with control of hot flashes and night sweats
Cardioprotective Reduces the incidence of heart attacks by lowering total and LDL cholesterol
Anticarcinogenic
In breast, pancreas, colon and ovaries
Testosterone
CNS and Behavioral
Improves mental faculties including memory and artistic inclinations
Excess may lead to aggressive pursuit
Sexuality
Promotes erotic thoughts and orgasms
Breast
Reverses estrogen-induced breast proliferation; reduces breast tenderness
Bone Health
Helps reduce bone loss; may have a role in bone formation
Glycemic Regulation
Improves insulin sensitivity and increases muscle mass
Somatic
Helps attenuate hot flashes and night sweats
Cardiovascular
Increases blood flow to tissues and may reduce blood pressure
Immune System
Immunosuppressor; promotes suppressor T cell dominance
Use these panels to...
Customize BHRT
Presently, hormone therapy is very empirical and a “one-size-fits-all” approach is applied to most women. Due to variability among women, and the natural cyclical changes of hormones, a more frequent sampling is needed for proper hormone quantification. The single sample on day 20-22 of a cycle is less than 50% accurate. The FHP™ panel remedies this shortcoming by using a schedule for 11 samples distributed over a full cycle – start to end.
The Female Hormone Panel™ report includes: 11 Estradiol (E2) and 11 Progesterone (P) measurements, cycle average DHEA and Testosterone, 3 Progesterone production indices, 4 Estradiol production indices, a full cycle P/E ratio graph and an example of a restorative plan.
Assess Risk of Breast and
Uterine Diseases
It is universally accepted that there is an increased risk of proliferative diseases in breast and endometrial tissue when estrogen is overly dominant. The FHP™ and the eFHP™ report includes the Follicular Estrogen Priming Index (E ∏) that quantifies the impact of excess estradiol in menstruating women. Recommendations are routinely included in the report.
Please note that certain estrogen metabolites are falsely promoted as risk markers for breast cancer. A recent study which compared 2/16 Hydroxyestrone ratio in women with breast cancer to a control group of cancer-free women, concluded that there is no support for the hypothesis that the ratio of 2/16 hydroxyestrone is an important risk factor for breast cancer.
(J Nat’l Cancer Inst 1999 Jun 16:91(12):1067-72) |
