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.
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