I woke up this morning and looked in the mirror. There were two zits on my face.  Really?  Is that necessary?

Then it dawned on me. Earlier that week my hormone mixture had been adjusted slightly. Very slightly. But that was enough to cause the breakout. It’s amazing how just a minor hormonal alteration can cause such a discernable impact on the body. And that’s only the part that’s physically evident. That lead me to think.

If just that little bit of difference brought about a temporary upset of the applecart that is my bodily system, then what kind of a dearth exists in the bodily systems of all the women who have chosen to forego hormone supplements altogether in their menopausal journey?

In simpler terms, hormones have a major effect on the body.  Not having hormones will also have a major effect – and it’s very possible that the effect will not be positive. 

As young women our bodies are teeming with hormones. At the onset of menopause our hormones have decreased dramatically, and in some cases altogether. Arguably that is part of growing older – our body deteriorates until it can no longer sustain life. And then we die.

So many women proclaim proudly that they choose to live hormone free – like that’s somehow a measure of courage. They tell you that hormones are dangerous and cause cancer and they don’t need them. Maybe they don’t. But there are many who feel that measuring the exact amount of hormones your body is lacking – and then replacing them through a bio-identical supplement will keep your body functioning better for longer. Is it risky? Not as risky as open heart surgery and many of us will choose (or be forced to undergo) that option one day to extend our heart function.

My own grandmother aged in a time when hormone replacement was not common. She resembled a little old shrunken question mark with a shock of white hair. That’s not what I want for myself.

After my own hysterectomy the estrogen on my transdermal patch was not getting into my bloodstream. I unwittingly went without hormones for over a year. It wasn’t until I switched delivery systems and my hormone levels returned to “normal” that I began to feel like myself and start to care about things again.  

Years ago hormones were supplemented in large doses – just as the early birth control pills introduced dangerously high levels of estrogen into a woman’s body. Today an exact measurement can replicate the body’s younger self and reduce risk dramatically. But a lot of women don’t want to hear it. Hormones are bad – I will stay away. 

Fine – it’s your choice. Stick your head in the sand if you prefer. As for me – I’ll try to keep my body vital and healthy for as long as possible. And I’ll even live with the zits from time to time when adjustments are needed – it’s a small price to pay for having a life!