The Many Faces of a
Female Hormone Disorder

The diagnosis of "the many faces of a female hormone disorder" is commonly overlooked when gynecological patients are seeking a physician for bleeding disorders, missed menstrual cycles, infertility, increased hair growth and/or acne of undetermined origin. The patient's weight and blood pressure may or may not be normal.

The acne may have first been seen by the dermatologist following the patient seeking help. The help may consist of antibiotics for three months or birth control pills increasing the amount of estrogen to offset the acne. Both types of therapy will perhaps alter the course of the acne but not affect the origin of the problem or assist with the other symptoms if present and which are listed above.

Bleeding disorders experienced by these female patients may be treated by surgical D&C's, endometrial biopsies, and/or hysteroscopies unsuccessfully. Since the microscopic and hysteroscopic pictures show no abnormalities, misleading the doctor and the patient, birth control pills are provided with or without improvement. Missed menstrual cycles may appear first, but are part of the condition of bleeding disorders.

The question is: What is the common denominator? The answer is the inability by the adrenal gland to normally produce cortisone. The condition the patient is suffering with is Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (C.A.H.). These females are lacking a substance to convert cholesterol to cortisone. Other chemical compounds are created in an overabundance in order to produce a normal amount of cortisone. The overabundance of those chemical compounds back up to form increased levels of male hormones, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (D.H.E.A.S.) and testosterone (T.).

These male hormones should be measured in the patients, and if found elevated, treated. Treatment can be provided readily, easily, and successfully by a cortisone-type drug for six months to restore the chemical imbalance to normal and eliminate the patient's hormonal or endocrinological complaints.

If a female suffers with any of these symptoms, she should consult her gynecologist and be sure C.A.H. is evaluated and not overlooked.