Feeling Great Is The Goal!
Sunday, April 26th, 2009
I was having breakfast with a friend who proudly confided that she had successfully weaned herself off of all hormone support, less than one year after her total hysterectomy. “Why?” I asked, horrified. “I thought that was the goal,” she replied. “That’s what my doctor said and even you said so in your book.”
She was woefully misinformed. Hormones are not an evil to be avoided and weaned from. Let me clarify: stopping hormone support is not the goal. Feeling great is the goal. Staying healthy as we age is the goal. Having strong bones to dance at your 100th birthday is the goal. Enjoying sex, feeling joy at the sight of your great grandchildren, remembering phone numbers and how to drive your car in your nineties. These are the goals. Using natural hormones, safely, for the rest of your life will make this possible.
Why do we need hormones? Because our bodies are designed to last roughly seventy years, eighty max. If you win the gene lottery you may make it into your nineties- but it won’t be pretty. Tour a nursing home. Ask the ages. See for yourself what lies ahead. Ask how many women there had total hysterectomies without hormone support (they are the ones using walkers).
Studies have shown that women who use estrogen in the first 10 years of menopause have less calcifications (hardening of the arteries) around their heart. Studies have also shown that using hormones reduces memory loss, bone loss, depression, weight gain, and wrinkles. Hormones prevent sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections, and vaginitis. The references are in my book.
Ask your doctor for estradiol (patch or cream), natural progestereone (pill or cream). Measure your DHEA-S, maintain your DHEA in the midrange- it will support your testosterone and it has been shown to improve sex drive. Keep your eye on the prize. The world needs more healthy women.
0 Comments | Permalink | Posted in Menopause, Progesterone, Natural Hormones, Osteoporosis, Estrogen, Heart Disease, Cardiovascular, Hormones, Uncategorized
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Confused About 1/29/09 Oprah’s Show? Natural Hormones ARE Regulated
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
In Oprah’s last hormone show an unnecessary battle waged over the safety of compounded hormones. On her show it was insinuated that compounded hormones are not regulated. But that is just plain false. I often have to clarify this (see below) and it’s too bad because it detracts from the bigger picture which is that hormones should be used, and can be used safely to live a longer, happier, and more satisfying life.
All women can safely use natural bioidentical hormones, FDA regulated or pharmacy regulated, to improve sleep, moods, energy, memory, bones, heart, skin, and sex drive. My website lists all of the symptoms of low hormones. You don’t need fancy tests to start. All doctors are capable of prescribing natural bioidentical hormones. Here’s how:
- To support estrogen: Ask your doctor for Estradiol (FDA regulated patches, gel, or mist, or compounded Estradiol lotion). The patches can itch and fall off but many women love them as they only require changing every 3 days. All FDA approved treatments are prescribed at a specific dose so they don’t work for all women. That’s where compounding lotions are helpful. Compounding pharmacies make estradiol in lotions that allow you to vary doses. This is particularly helpful in perimenopause and early menopause when estrogen levels are very changeable.
- Always balance estradiol with natural progesterone, even if you have had a hysterectomy. Natural progesterone is available in FDA approved oral capsules or vaginal cream. It can also be compounded into oral capsules, skin lotions/creams, or drops (taken under the tongue). Chapter 8 in my book discusses progesterone. If you are on too much estrogen or if you start and stop progesterone, you may bleed or spot, which you should discuss with your doctor, whether you are using FDA approved hormones or compounded.
- Many insurance companies cover bioidentical natural hormones. If finances are a problem talk to your pharmacist about price options as insurance coverage may vary. If insurance is not covering your compounded hormones ask your insurer which compounding pharmacies they do cover. Most insurance companies have an affiliated compounding pharmacy.
- All Compounding pharmacies are regulated. Compounded hormones can not be FDA approved because they do not come in standardized doses. Instead, they are regulated by state boards of pharmacy. The materials that make up the compounded medications are all sourced from licensed FDA-registered manufacturers. To learn more about this visit the IACP (International Academy of Compounding Pharmacy) website.
- All compounding pharmacies are not equal. They are not monitored as to how much hormone is actually delivered in their products. This is why you hear so much (unfair) criticism of compounded products. To ensure quality, many compounding pharmacies routinely submit their products to independent labs for testing to establish that their creams contain what they say. Ask if your pharmacy does this. Better yet, remember, “the proof is in the pudding.” If your symptoms improve with the product, then the product is doing it’s job. If you are not improving, talk to your doctor about increasing your dose, that is after all why you are using a compounded product- to match your individualized symptoms with your individualized needs.
1 Comment | Permalink | Posted in Natural Hormones, Progesterone, Menopause, Estrogen, Hormones
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Thanks Oprah for Speading Some Light on Hormones!
Monday, January 26th, 2009
I recently saw Oprah’s first show on hormones (1/23/09). It is great that some much needed light is being spread on this topic. Hormone use doesn’t have to be confusing. Myths and fear prevent women from taking charge of their health and feeling better. Here is what I would add to Oprah’s last discussion:
- Most women avoid using hormones because they fear developing breast cancer. These women are missing out on the short and long term benefits of hormone support.
- Women continue to make estrogen as they age. Avoiding estrogen does not lower a woman’s breast cancer risk (avoiding Progestins, synthetic progesterone, does).
- Estrogen is not a single hormone, it is a family of hormones, some good and some dangerous. As women age they tend to make more dangerous forms, that is why breast cancer rates increase as women grow older.
- The WHI study did not show any increase in breast cancer from synthetic estrogen. Only women using estrogen with Progestin had an increase in breast cancer. Thousands of studies have shown that Progestins are linked to breast cancer and should never be used to treat menopause.
- Diet, life style, and genetics determine what types of estrogen a woman makes. Women can alter their breast cancer risk with foods and certain supplements.
- Hundreds of studies have proven that estrogen prevents heart disease, bone fractures, depression, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and even wrinkles.
- The WHI study showed that women using estrogen alone, (not with Progestins), in the first 10 years of menopause, had less hardening of the arteries in the heart.
- Studies show that increases in blood clots with the use of estrogen occur only when women take estrogen orally. Women should not eat estrogen. They should apply it to their skin with a lotion or patch.
- Most women do not need to measure their estrogen and progesterone levels before starting therapy. These hormones should be measured while on therapy to make sure these hormones are being absorbed and breaking down safely.
- We are living older than ever before and we must do everything we can to ensure that we reach these bonus years with a strong mind, bones, heart, and spirit. Smart hormone support helps to ensure this will happen.
0 Comments | Permalink | Posted in Menopause, Natural Hormones, WHI Study, Estrogen, Heart Disease, Hormones, Uncategorized
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