Progesterone: The First Hormone to Drop

As menopause approaches, progesterone production may not reach adequate levels during a particular menstrual cycle. In fact, during some months progesterone isn’t even made at all. These are the months that you can skip your period entirely and experience symptoms of estrogen build-up. When estrogen dominates, PMS becomes worse. Symptoms felt just before or during a period (i.e. cramps, aches, bloating, migraines, etc.) are often due to a lack of progesterone. Young ladies or peri-menopausal women who experience severe PMS-like symptoms may benefit from bioidentical progesterone about a week or two before their period starts.

Introducing Amy Lee Hawkins of Hormones in Harmony

Bio of Amy Hawkins

Dr. Amy Lee Hawkins, Pharm.D. is the founder of Hormones in Harmony and author of Replacing Hormone Replacements: Your Bioidentical Hormone Solution. She has led hundreds of free community health seminars on hormone balance and was the co-host of a CNN ‘Ask the Expert’ radio show on these topics. Amy received her degree from the top pharmacy school in the nation, UCSF. She is a board certified pharmacist in the states of California and Nevada and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. She has completed extensive training and continuing education in compounding pharmaceuticals, and specializes in consultations related to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and lifestyle changes that foster health and wellness. As a bioidentical hormone therapy specialist, her consultations and seminar series are aimed at promoting longevity for women and men.

About Hormones in Harmony

Hormones in Harmony is a series of health programs aimed at wellness and hormone balance. It began in the Sonoma wine country in a small independent compounding pharmacy when ladies kept asking Dr. Hawkins for her advice and guidance through menopause. Around the same time, physicians were asking her about the treatment options and clinical principles of menopause. As pharmacists are inherently problem-solvers and excellent researchers, Dr. Hawkins dove headfirst into this topic and Hormones in Harmony was born. Her consulting practice and style is unique in that she spends an hour privately with each of her patients allowing her to intimately review a patient’s concerns and goals of therapy. Amy’s philosophy is not only about discussing symptoms and history, but also teaching the patient what they can do to help themselves. Patients receive excerpts from her book at the time of the consultation so that they may refer back to it from time to time. She highly recommends testing hormone levels via blood (serum) or saliva testing and working closely with a patient’s primary care physician to achieve optimal hormone balance. 

Solutions for Weight, Age, Libido, and More

Hormones in Harmony may be the answer for men and women over 35 years of age who are suffering from the symptoms of hormonal imbalance such as low libido, mood swings, sleep problems, fatigue, muscle loss, and weight gain. Dr. Hawkins works closely with your physician to create a hormonal health plan specific to your needs. Her consult includes a patient history review, hormone testing review, nutritional/hormone counseling and education, a care plan, and any initial recommendations to a health care practitioner. Visit www.bhrtsolutions.com to learn more.