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Menopause Type® Eight Protocol
Menopause Type® Eight has symptoms that reveal decreased progesterone function, decreased testosterone function with adequate estradiol function. Health risks associated with Menopause Type® Eight may include decreased muscle mass, osteoporosis, some forms of cancer and heart disease. Because progesterone and testosterone function is suboptimal, they are often unable to properly oppose the actions of estrogen. This may appear to have “estrogen dominance”, even though estrogen levels are not excessive. Once progesterone and testosterone are supported to normal function, any minor “estrogen excess” symptoms and risks are usually rapidly corrected. To learn more about Menopause Type® Eight, please see pages 133 through 139 in Discover Your Menopause Type, by Dr. Joseph J Collins, RN, ND.
Determination of this menopause type® is made through the use of the Menopause Type® Questionnaire, and/or lab tests. The Hormone Health Guidelines provide a detailed description on how the get the best results from protocols. A brief summary on using this protocol is at the bottom of this page.
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This protocol was last reviewed on December 26, 2011
Summary of Recommended Products for the Menopause Type® Eight Protocol
Foundations of Health
Foundations of Health include lifestyle and dietary choices that support optimal hormone function, as well as a high grade multiple vitamin-mineral formulation rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids rich in docosahexaenoic acid are required for optimal hormone function.
- Ultra Preventive® X - A high grade multiple vitamin and mineral supplement with significant antioxidant support. Vitamins and minerals are cofactors required for every biochemical process in the human body, including the production and proper detoxification of hormones. Oxygen stress contributes to some of the pathophysiolgical effects of suboptimal menopause. These effects may be prevented and/or treated by improving the antioxidant defense of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal women.
- Opti DHA - An essential fatty acid rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), with a high DHA:EPA ratio. The essential fatty acid DHA helps maintain ideal cell membrane fluidity allowing optimal transport of molecules across the membrane, which is critical for hormone function, while EPA helps the body control inflammation. In some cases, it may be best to use an essential fatty acid with more EPA than DHA, such as in patients experiencing increase systemic inflammation and those with autoimmune diseases. In those situations, Opti EPA 500 should be considered.
- Multi-Probiotic 4000 - Oral supplements of live, beneficial intestinal micro- organisms for nutritional health and well-being are known as probiotics. Probiotics are vital for establishing and maintaining a healthy population of beneficial intestinal microorganisms, which play an important role in conditions such as obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Each Multi-Probiotic 4000 capsule contains over 4 billion organisms made up of different probiotic organisms.
Primary Hormone Health Formulations
Hormone health formulations indicated for Menopause Type® Eight include:
- Progesto-Mend™ is a unique blend of phytoprogesterones, adaptogens and other herbs to naturally support hormonal balance by supporting the ideal function of progesterone producing tissues and of progesterone responsive tissues as needed in Menopause Type® Eight.
- Testo-Gain™, a unique blend of phytoandrogens, adaptogens and other herbs to naturally support hormonal balance by supporting the ideal function of testosterone producing tissues and of testosterone responsive tissues as needed in Menopause Type® Eight.
Significant clinical improvement should occur within the first month of using formulations when foundational therapies are used concurrently. Please review Customized Dosing Guidelines for the protocols on weaning, determining maintenance dosage and addressing residual symptoms. The Primary Hormone Health Formulations should be taken at least three months after symptoms are under control before attempting to wean down to maintenance dosage.
If adrenal fatigue is also present with Menopause Type® Eight, then Adreno-Mend™ may be used. Adreno-Mend™ is the only adaptogen formulation designed to restore normal adrenal function and support the normal function of the multiple homeostasis regulatory systems that become imbalanced with adrenal fatigue. In addition to supporting normal function of the two adrenal regulatory systems, Adreno-Mend™ also supports the function of homeostasis systems affected by adrenal fatigue. These systems affect the health of ovaries, thyroid, inflammation, blood sugar, neurotransmitters (mood), fluid and electrolytes (blood pressure and edema), detoxification, cell signaling (how cells communicate), antioxidant balance, and hunger and food intake. To learn more, you can read about the specific actions of Adreno-Mend™ adaptogens.
When using Adreno-Mend™ with Menopause Type® Eight, also take Progesto-Mend™ and Testo-Gain™ as indicated. Use the Customized Dosing Guidelines for information on how to increasing dosages if needed; how to wean down dosages; and how to establish a lower maintenance dosage on Hormone Specific Formulations.
Secondary Hormone Health Formulations
There is always some risk for abnormal blood glucose function in women of menopause age including Menopause Type® Eight Thyroid function may also be affected. Therefore, after one to three months of Foundations of Health and Hormone Health Formulations the secondary Hormone Health Formulations should be considered.
Determination of which secondary Hormone Health Formulations may be appropriate is made through the use of the questionnaires and/or lab tests. Decreased thyroid function and abnormal blood glucose function are often seen when other hormones are not working properly. On the other hand, low thyroid function and abnormal blood glucose can adversely affect the functions of other hormones. However, in general, it is best to support other hormones first and then to use the questionnaires to see if thyroid and blood glucose problems need to be addressed. In most cases thyroid function and blood glucose function are both improved after using the primary Hormone Health Formulations.
- Thyro-Mend™ is a synergistic combination of iodine containing seaweeds, and herbs which contain phytothyroidogenic, phyto-thyroid-receptor agonists, and other herbs designed to promote optimal function of thyroid hormones by maintaining the health of thyroid hormone producing tissues and by supporting the healthy function of tissues that respond to thyroid hormones. This formulation supports the function of the thyroid gland and the liver (which converts T4 to T3) and also supports the function and response of tissues that respond to thyroid hormones. It should be used use if there are persistence signs and symptoms of decreased thyroid function.
- Glucobrium™, a synergistic formulation of phytotherapeutic extracts which mimic and potentiate the actions of insulin and support healthy blood glucose function. Excessive body weight also increases the risk for decreased blood glucose function, so this formulation may be needed if ther is s need to lose weight.
Hormone Precursors & Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone precursors that may be appropriate for Menopause Type® Eight include pregnenolone, DHEA and 7-KETO. If they are used to help support progesterone, testosterone and/or adrenal function, it is very important that estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels all be monitored, because hormone precursors can affect the levels of each of those hormones.
Hormone precursors can be tried after three months of Foundations of Health and Hormone Health Formulations as indicated, so that hormone metabolism pathways are at their best health.
Even though they are commonly referred to as “hormone precursors”, these supplements (1) may or may not be converted to more potent hormones such as progesterone, testosterone or estradiol, and (2) even if they are not converted, they still have actions of their own. Sometimes these supplements are used with BHRT to get better results. If hormone precursors are going to be used, please see the guidelines for Proper Use of Hormone Precursors.
After trying Hormone Precursors for a month, and if hormone precursors are not enough to restore normal hormone levels and normal hormone function, and relieve symptoms, then Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is an appropriate decision.
Hormone Health Formulations and Foundations of Health should still be used with bioidentical hormone replacement therapies (BHRT) to improve the function of the BHRT and the response of tissues to the BHRT. By using the formulations with BHRT healthcare professionals prescribing the BHRT notice that they are able to prescribe lower dosages of BHRT, and women are having a much better response to the BHRT prescriptions. If BHRT is used, please see the guidelines for Safe and Effective Use of Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.
It is also important to take at least a low dosage of Hormone Health Formulations while taking BHRT because BHRT does not fully support the hormone production pathways, but instead provides “replacement”, which may further diminish endogenous hormone production. Hormone Health Formulations also maintain proper tissue response to the BHRT and decrease the development of hormone resistance.
Using this Protocol
1. This is a brief summary on how to use this protocol. Please become familiar with the Hormone Health Guidelines to learn how the get the best results from protocols.
2. Remember, the position of Your Hormones, Inc. is to connect healthcare professionals, nutritionists, health advisors, health teachers, personal trainers, fitness trainers, life coaches, health coaches or other persons acting in any other advisory role (collectively called Associates) with patients, clients, consumers, customers, etc. (collectively called Clients) who are looking for guidance, direction and support in achieving optimal Hormone Health. So we encourage patients, clients, consumers, customers, etc. to work with Associates.
3. The Foundations of Health and Primary Hormone Health Formulations should be followed for at least one month, up to three months.
4. If need be, modify dosages using the Customized Dosing Guidelines.
5. If there are specific symptoms that are not responding to therapy use Protocols for Specific Menopause Symptoms. Keep in mind that if there are some symptoms still not responding, then there is most likely a generalized resistance to the therapy, such as Hormone Resistance. In these cases, more work may be needed in the Foundations of Health. The dosage of Primary Hormone Health Formulations may also need to be modified based on Customized Dosing Guidelines.
6. After one to three months consider Secondary Hormone Health Formulations and or Hormone Precursors, if they are indicated and appropriate, based on the unique needs of each person.
7. Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) may be appropriate after one month of Foundations of Health and Primary Hormone Health Formulations, or even right away, if the prescribing physician feels they are indicated. In patients already taking BHRT, but experiences inadequate relief even at higher dosage, Foundations of Health and Hormone Health Formulations should be started to improve tissue and cellular response to the BHRT.
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