Dearest: My guest tonight is C. W. (Randy) Randolph, Jr., M.D., a Board Certified 
practicing gynecologist, trained pharmacist, and co-author with
Genie James, of the new book, "From Hormone Hell To Hormone Well: Discover
Human-Identical Hormones As A Safe & Effective Treatment for PMS, 
Perimenopause, Menopause or Hysterectomy."

For more than a decade, Dr. Randolph has built a sound foundation of clinical 
evidence to support the safety and efficacy of treating patients with human-
identical hormones vs. synthetic hormone replacement therapy. Dr. Randolph is
a much sought-after speaker at national women's health forums. He is the 
founder of The National Hormone Institute of America and divides his hands
on patient-care time between his practices in Jacksonville and Apalachicola, 
Florida.

With devastating reports coming out about synthetic hormones and the halting
of the Women's Health Initiative Study in 2002 (which used the synthetic 
hormones in PremPro), Dr. Randolph was urged to write, "From Hormone Hell To 
Hormone Well." It was written to help women understand how their bodies can
be treated effectively by using human-identical natural hormones to treat the 
symptoms associated with PMS, perimenopause, menopause, or hysterectomy. With 
more than 38,000,000 women now hitting the perimenopause or menopausal years, 
Dr. Randolph discusses safe and effective treatments for weight gain, 
depression, osteoporosis, mood swings, premature aging, breast health, hot 
flashes, low sex drive, fluid retention, and fatigue.

Dr. Randolph, it's a pleasure to welcome you to Power Surge :)


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Thank you very much for having me to discuss such
an important topic and welcome to everyone!


Dearest: My pleasure. Thank you for joining us. 

Dr. Randolph, I've noticed that PremPro is doing a great deal of advertising 
again. I wonder if we've learned from the abrupt halting of the WHI (Women's 
Health Initiative) Study (which used PremPro) in 2002 which was to continue to 
2005. Do you think it's changed the way conventional health care practitioners 
treat and prescribe for their menopausal patients, or now that the initial 
"scare" is over, are doctors minimizing the significance of the findings of
the WHI Study?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: What a great question. I believe that conventional 
doctors have still not gotten the message and that's due to lack of education 
and understanding about the basics of hormones. What has occurred is that the 
manufacturer of PremPro has reduced the dosage by 1/3 and has begun promoting 
that to doctors, saying that we are giving you less poison.


Dearest: So, it's basically what you refer to as A business opportunity - 
pharmaceutical hype and spin? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Yes, that is very true. The good news is that there 
are biopharmaceutical companies that are beginning to promote human-identical 
hormone therapy.


Dearest: It makes no sense to me. If doctors have so readily prescribed 
synthetic hormones for the past 50+ years and now prescribe strong medications 
for menopause symptoms, such as anti-depressants, anti-seizure medications, 
tranquilizers. Why do you think it's so difficult for women to get their 
doctors to prescribe bio-identical hormones? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: I believe it's the lack of education and most 
medical schools are funded by pharmaceutical companies, and therefore,
promote their own products. A doctor has to learn about bio-identical hormones 
by reading the journals. 


Dearest: Is that a fact, that most medical schools are funded by pharmaceutical
companies? It's almost conspiratorial, no? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: It's definitely true.


Dearest: Scary! Thanks, Dr. Randolph.


Hot: Hello Dr. I've just read Dr. John Lee's book "What Your doctor May NOT 
Tell You About Menopause. Will your book provide me with a different kind of 
information that Dr. Lee's book did not cover?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Dr. Lee was my mentor, and his book is very 
foundational, but I believe that our book is easier to read and more 
comprehensive, particularly with it's offering of real-life case studies. 

What we are hearing, is that our readers are better able to understand what 
their core issues are and what they can do in a practical way to impact their 
hormone imbalance and help themselves.


Graham1: Dr., how does hypothyroidism interact with perimenopause and can this 
be controlled bioidentically (if that's the right phrase)?



Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: In peri-menopause, estrogen levels are usually 
normal and progesterone levels are low. This estrogen dominance causes the 
thyroid to be underactive (hypo-active). There is a direct correlation. 


Dearest: You refer to estrogen dominance as a very common and extremely 
dangerous condition. Can you explain exactly what estrogen dominance is
and why it's so dangerous?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Yes, I'll be happy to. Estrogen dominance generally 
begins in the mid-30s and is a situation where the estrogen level is normal and 
the progesterone level is low. This condition whereby the breasts, the uterus 
and the ovaries are saturated with overabundance of estrogen without the 
balance of progesterone contributes to life threatening conditions including 
cancer, blood clots and cardiovascular disease.


Gramz: I am 53, postmenopausal and stopped synthetic hormones 2 and 1/2 years 
ago. My Estradial was less than 30 so I have now started NHRT because of 
depression, night sweats, hot flashes, etc. But I'm still having the depression 
and they just keep upping the dose of estrogen. Could to much estrogen be 
causing the depression to continue?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Gramz, the answer is absolutely too much estrogen 
equates to a situation of estrogen-dominance which causes depression, weight 
gain, and insomnia and mood swings as well as many other symptoms.


AverageWoman: I have tried several types of vaginal estrogens, the latest being 
the Estring. All give me yeast infections or vaginal irritation. I cannot have 
intercourse because of vaginal dryness/atrophy. I took Triest and that made me 
feel premenstrual. I'm 53. What is left for me to do? I've had my hormone 
levels checked and estrogen level was low but testosterone level and 
progesterone was ok.


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: good question, AverageWoman. Estriol suppositories 
would help you immensely, and should be used vaginally at bedtime two to three 
nights per week.


AverageWoman: Wouldn't those give me the same reaction? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: very doubtful, this form of human identical hormone 
is natural for the vagina, unlike synthetic and does not contribute to yeast 
infections.


Dearest: If, as the expression goes, "progesterone is the "feel good hormone," 
why do so many women experience depression, irritability and other adverse 
symptoms when using either over the counter progesterone creams and/or 
prescribed bio-identical micronized progesterone? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: In my experience, the incidents of those side 
effects are very low when micronized progesterone is used transdermally 
(applied to the skin).


JeanieM: I am a breast cancer survivor (DCIS) and want to get started on 
bioidentical hormones. Some say yes, some say no, what do you think? Of course, 
my oncologist says no, says a hormone is a hormone. He does not have a clue but 
how to prescribe toxic medications. I have all the symptoms of menopause and am 
desperate!  I have tried OTC (over the counter) progesterone and it does not 
help.


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Jeanie, very common question. Progesterone inhibits 
cell growth and therefore, decreases the likelihood of breast cancer. Estrogen 
promotes cellular growth and can increase the likelihood of breast cancer. All 
breast cancer patients can benefit from human identical (bioidentical) 
progesterone cream to inhibit cellular growth.  

As I've said before, many physicians continue to be confused about the benefits 
of human identical progesterone versus the risk of synthetic hormone 
replacement. My guess is that your oncologist is a well educated physician
with your best interest at heart, who has yet to be exposed to the medical 
information supporting the medical benefits of human identical progesterone 
therapy.


SuzanneBerg: Postmenopausal women are not talked about a lot.  My problems: 
vaginal dryness, tummy fat, weight gain, sugar cravings, 
depression/irritability.  Do you have any ideas?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: I see women like yourself every day in my practice. 
It's all about having a hormone balance. Most menopausal women can be 
overlooked for their needs to re-establish a hormonal equilibrium of all
three hormones. Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.


MrMcCoy: I'm 55. What can I use other than PremPro (used for 5 years) to stop 
hot flashes? Estroven extra-strength hasn't worked (suggested by ob/gyn).


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Bless your heart. The answer is not Estroven,
it is human identical (bio identical) hormone replacement therapy. PremPro is 
dangerous. Find a physician who is knowledgeable in saliva testing and Human 
Identical hormones.


Dearest: If you go to Power Surge's Recommendations page at www.power-
surge.com/recommend.htm - you'll find many suggestions including bio-identical 
hormones, MrMcCoy.


KYDewLady: How safe are these bio hormones and can you take them with script 
medications, (like lopressor for a fast heart rate) and is this fast heart
rate one of the problems you spoke of earlier?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: As we discuss in "From Hormone Hell to Hormone 
Well," these hormones are identical to the hormones made in the human body. 
They do not interfere with lopressor or any other medication. They are very 
safe and effective. There are many causes of fast heart rate and only your 
physician can determine the underlying condition.


JustMe5324: I am 57 and have 4-periods a year. Perimenopause is driving me 
nuts! I have lost all sexual desires and am wondering if those bio hormones 
will help?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Absolutely! We share case studies regarding the 
positive impact of human identical hormone therapy on sexual libido in the 
book.


SamBoy4: Do you recommend taking the estrogen and progesterone in a cyclic 
manner, in other words, do you recommend that estrogen be used every day, and 
the progesterone only 2 weeks of the monthly cycle, as to imitate a regular 
menstrual period, which results in monthly bleeding? Or do you recommend taking 
a combination of estrogen and progesterone every day? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Great question! If you are still menstruating, I 
would recommend the cyclic regimen. if you are not menstruating, I recommend 
the estrogen, progesterone daily continuous regimen because most women do not 
want to continue to have periods. 


Stella0324: Dr. Randolph, I'm 52, my last hormone test showed estradial to
be at 99, yet I was getting night sweats, occasional hot flashes and erratic 
bleeding. My has me on .5 mg of estradial and 100 mg of Prometrium. Still, one 
month I don't bleed, the next month I'm bleeding heavy and prolonged. Should I 
get off the estradial or what? I'm also afraid of taking soy in addition to the 
estradial for fear of causing more problems.  Conventional doctors usually 
don't know anything about the progesterone creams.


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Stella, your estradial level is normal, but 
Prometrium is an oral progesterone which is drastically metabolized in the 
liver and is not as good as transdermal (through the skin) progesterone cream.  
My recommendation would be to use human-identical progesterone cream, 30 mg 
applied twice daily and this would probably stop your bleeding.


Stella0324: For 2 weeks a month?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Use it every day, in addition to the estradial.


Victoria1: Thank you for being here tonight Dr Randolph. I think that I need
to begin to take bio-identical but feel overwhelmed about starting and the 
potential roller coaster ride while my body adjusts. How do I begin and are 
these expensive?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Victoria, it's a pleasure being with you all 
tonight. If you have not been on synthetic (HRT), you probably will not have
a roller-coaster ride adjusting to human-identical (bio-identical) hormones
at all. They are exactly like what your body normally makes.


Dearest: One way you can begin is by going to www.power-
surge.com/educate/yourhormones.htm - which is all about bio-identical hormones 
and read Dr. Randolph's book, "From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well".


Victoria1: Thanks. That's encouraging.


SissyBee: I have lots of symptoms of perimenopause. What about progesterone 
cream? How much do you use and how often? I started on it a couple of months 
ago and cannot tell a difference. 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Sissy, there are a variety of over the counter 
progesterone creams on the market with varying strengths. I don't know which 
brand you are using. You need at least 30 mg. twice daily of progesterone 
cream. In the book we list several over the counter creams or on our website.


SissyBee: How much would 30 mg be? A half teaspoon or so?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Sissy, every progesterone cream is different, you 
need to be educated about the cream you are using and the concentration of 
progesterone it contains.


Graham2: Dr, would the removal of one ovary after an ectopic 10 years ago
contribute to hypothyroidism and perimenopause?  My wife is now 44.


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: This is a very complicated question. Having one 
remaining ovary can contribute to hormonal imbalance and I would encourage 
saliva testing to determine your hormonal status. If you are estrogen dominant, 
this will impact your thyroid.


Leslie1953 I have problems with aching legs and sore feet. Have just started 
taking bioidentical hormones (2 days so far!) Are these symptoms that might
be helped? How about dry eyes?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Leslie, bio-identical (human-identical) progesterone 
often helps joint pain, arthritis and does help vaginal dryness and dry skin. 
I'm not sure about dry eyes, that would be uncertain.


Dearest: Doctor, when you talk about bio-identical progesterone, are you 
referring to the OTC progesterone cream, or the prescription micronized 
progesterone transdermal cream, or both?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Another good question, Dearest!  Bio-identical / 
human identical progesterone should be micronized in all over the counter 
products as well as prescription products. If the cream that you are using
does not specify micronized progesterone USP, it is below the standards that
I would recommend.


Dearest: Yes, thank you, but my point is - in certain cases you would recommend 
the OTC cream and in perhaps more severe cases you would prescribe a stronger 
transdermal micronized progesterone cream, yes? 


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Yes, in certain cases, the OTC progesterone would
be adequate. It is important to note that not all over the counter progesterone 
creams meet the USP standards. When a woman is initially suffering from the 
symptoms of peri-menopause, typically somewhere in her late 30's -mid 40's, 
supplementation with OTC micronized USP progesterone cream can be sufficient
to alleviate many of the symptoms of hormone imbalance. At the time when 
symptoms continue to persist, a woman may need a stronger or more 
individualized prescription of combinations of human identical therapy.  For 
example estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone.


CaraElla1: New doctor came to town five years ago, gave me Climara 0.075 and 
Prometrium 100 mg 2 for 12 days. He left within a year, for five years I have 
done great but now I am hot, mostly at night, don't sleep well, heart beats 
funny, hair coming out, well anyway, the same old thing. (The Climara is a 
patch.) My care giver here will not up the dose and thinks that all medications 
are bad. Would it be safe for me to use any of the creams with what I already 
have?


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Caraella, you do not mention your age, however,
an individualized salivary test would determine your base line hormonal status. 
It sounds like you are estrogen dominant because Climara.075 is a very potent 
amount of estrogen.


Saponifier: Hi Dr. Randolph, thank you for taking the time to educate and share 
with all of us tonight. My question for you is:  can you tell me how one would 
know at which stage of menopause they are in? Would this be outlined in your 
book "From Hormone Hell to Hormone Well"? 


Dearest: You're probably somewhere between the Hormone Hell and the Hormone 
Well :)


Dr. C.W. (Randy) Randolph: Good answer, Dearest!  Saponifier, There are very 
specific symptoms that correspond with the stages and they are clearly outlined 
in the book.


Dearest: Dr. Randolph, thank you for joining us in Power Surge tonight to 
discuss natural remedies for treating menopause. I strongly recommend Dr. 
Randolph's book, "From Hormone Hell To Hormone Well: Discover Human-Identical
Hormones As A Safe & Effective Treatment for PMS, Perimenopause, Menopause or 
Hysterectomy."  
                      


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