For a decade Helen has broken down barriers and challenging outdated practices that hinder the well-being of the underserved in our society.
Hormones directly affect our reproductive health, our growth and development. They are natural concentrated magic and should be used for good.
Hormones are integral to virtually every aspect of bodily functions.
Hormones are integral to virtually every aspect of bodily functions
They are our vital messengers that maintain balance and facilitate complex physiological processes.
The potential for innovative hormonal therapies promises to enhance the quality of life for people all over the world in the not so distant future.
Helen Webberley has spent over 10 years working the frontline in the field of hormone therapy and hormone replacement.
Her unique experiences include the application of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in women’s health and men’s hormone health and this work sites alongside her development of gender-affirmative health care where she is considered a global ground breaker, world-class expert and speak.
The hormonal therapies informed and enabled by the information patients and doctors are armed with by Helen Webberley literally saves lives every year.
Helen’s passionate about Hormones because they are so complex - in more ways than one.
Do an Internet search for the above questions and you will find a million different answers, opinions, executive summaries - maybe that’s why I love hormones so much, they are intriguing, they seem to have a mind of their own, you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them - a daily challenge to keep us on our toes.
I also love them for the happiness they bring - they gave me my shape, my curves, my body. They gave me my children and let me feed them. They regulate my bodily functions in the background, ticking away quietly while I get on with my day.
Hormones are essential - for life, for growth, for reproduction, for controlling your metabolism, for giving you the energy you need and controlling how what you have eaten gets to fuel your body. They also give you that boost when you need to escape from a chasing lion, or be first over the finishing line.
Not having enough of some can kill you, while not having enough of others will make you sweat, give you brain fog, and stop you functioning. Hormones give you hairs on your chest, they are what make you tick, they make you cry when you see a baby being born and they make you want to conquer the world.
When I became a doctor, I was soon taught how vital some hormones are - insulin, thyroid hormone, cortisol - if you don’t spot that your patient has those all wrong then they will die - 911, this is the emergency.
When I worked in sexual health, I learnt how the balance of hormones plays such a vital role. Puberty. contraception, periods, premenstrual tension, fertility, menopause, desire, erections, rage. I loved getting their balance right again, and seeing people go about their lives.
When I started working with trans people, they told me they wanted to switch their sex hormones - their bodies naturally produced one, but they wanted the other one. I was intrigued, what would happen?
I was astounded - something so simple - if you turn off a trans woman's testosterone production and replace it with oestrogen, then she develops the characteristics associated with femininity - breasts, hips, curves, soft skin, rounder face - and what’s more she starts to see things differently, like a woman does. She feels emotions as a woman does and she will most definitely cry at the movies.
On the other hand I watched with wonder as trans men’s voices broke, their beards and clitorises grew and their muscles proudly developed and they started to hunt and gather. Just from that tiny hormone molecule, testosterone.
But most of all, with my work with trans people, I watched smiles develop, confidence grow and I saw peace finally washing over my patients. I loved that most about getting their hormones right.
So, hormones - you definitely can’t live without them. Don’t ignore them, make them your best friend - understand them, listen to them, love them, respect them, and demand that you get the balance you need.
Dr Helen Webberley - the Hormone Expert
If you are unsure what hormones are, you are not alone and don’t worry. You can think of Hormones as the messengers that are made by our glands in what is called the endocrine system that speak to the other parts of our body.
They travel to various organs and tissues to regulate a wide array of bodily functions. These include metabolism, growth, development, mood, and reproductive processes. And because they are so wide spread they are incredibly important to keep in balance.
There are various types of Hormones and these can be broadly classified into several categories based on their structure and function
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Hormones play a critical role in maintaining homeostasis within the body.
Metabolic Regulation
Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) are essential for regulating metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. Insulin and glucagon, produced by the pancreas, control blood glucose levels, with insulin lowering and glucagon raising it.
Growth and Development
Growth hormone (GH) stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. Thyroid hormones also contribute significantly to brain development during infancy and childhood.
Reproductive Health
Estrogen and progesterone regulate the female menstrual cycle and support pregnancy. Testosterone is crucial for sperm production and male secondary sexual characteristics. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and FSH are essential for the function of ovaries and testes.
Stress Response
Cortisol, produced by the adrenal glands, helps the body respond to stress by increasing glucose in the bloodstream and enhancing brain use of glucose. Adrenaline and noradrenaline prepare the body for immediate physical action.
Mood and Emotions
Mood and Emotions: Hormones like serotonin and dopamine, although primarily neurotransmitters, also have hormone-like functions in regulating mood, sleep, and feelings of well-being.
If you are struggling with mood or having questions about your gender these are the types of things that hormones control and more or less of a hormones on therapy can help with. Consider speaking with your regular doctor if you are concerned that you may have a hormone imbalance and you can always consult GenderGP if you questions are about gender transition.
Hormonal imbalances often require medical intervention. Hormone therapy can be an effective treatment for conditions including Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), Insulin Therapy, Thyroid Hormone Replacement, and Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.
Essential for managing diabetes, insulin therapy helps control blood sugar levels.
Used to treat hypothyroidism by supplementing deficient thyroid hormones.
Used to alleviate symptoms of menopause by supplementing estrogen and progesterone. We know many women are struggling to access therapy from traditional health systems and are turning to alternative providers. The same challenge is also faced by men - who can suffer from hypogonadism and who need to be provided with testosterone in order to combat the effects of low levels.
For transgender individuals, this therapy involves administering hormones like estrogen or testosterone to align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. In doing so that individual can develop a body that showcases who they are in the truest form and prevents unnecessary harm and in some cases death.
