Estrogen levels are in a constant state of flux, especially during women’s childbearing years. In normal, healthy women, estrogen levels typically follow a 28-day cycle: they are lowest during menstruation, after which they rise rapidly near midcycle and decline just before ovulation (around days 12 through 15 of the cycle). During days 16 through 28, estrogen levels remain low, rising slightly again just before the onset of menstruation, while progesterone peaks around day 22, after which it declines rapidly before menstruation (learn more about progesterone).

Therefore, Dzugan Method restores estrogen levels by mimicking the above fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels according to each woman’s natural cycle so you will be taking varying doses of each throughout the month.

The Three Estrogens

In women, the three estrogens are present in the body in a ratio of approximately 60 to 80 percent estriol, and 10 to 20 percent each of estradiol and estrone. These are the guidelines we use when we prescribe bioidentical estrogen in our Program. Nature has a reason for these somewhat lopsided percentages:

• Estriol: We refer to this estrogen as the “safe” one because not only has it been found to help prevent breast cancer, it also is not associated with an increased risk of breast or ovarian cancer, as are estradiol and estrone.
• Estradiol: Estradiol has been found to have cancer-causing properties when it is in the body in an unbalanced state.
• Estrone: Like estradiol, estrone is a known carcinogen when it is in an unbalanced state.

Our goal in Dzugan Method is to restore all three estrogens to optimal and balanced levels, in proper ratio with progesterone. In most cases, the initial dosing of your Program will be sufficient, however it may require slight modifications over the course of the first three months and thereafter.

Taking Estrogen

We recommend a bioidentical form of estrogen gel called Triest®, which should be formulated by an experienced compounding pharmacist to consist of 90 percent estriol, 7 percent estradiol, and 3 percent estrone. We believe this formulation (or something very close to it, depending on the individual needs of the patient) is most beneficial for women, especially those older than thirty-five, because it provides levels of the three estrogens in safe, effective amounts.

Estrogen gel is typically applied in the morning after bathing to areas that provide the best absorption, which include the vulva (best site), forearms, and neck. It is not necessary to change the application site every day.