Can menopause symptoms be safely comforted with bioidentical hormones?

Recent research suggests that menopause can be treated with bioidentical hormones, a natural replacement for a woman’s body, with no reported side effects.

In the past, menopause has been treated like a disease - primarily with Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT (including Premarin, which is made from pregnant mare’s urine, Prempro and Provera), which meant ingesting synthetic chemicals on a regular basis. Now we know that these drugs are causing the very problems we’re trying to avoid including breast cancer and heart attacks.

Bioidentical means the hormone molecule in the product, for example progesterone cream, acts exactly like the molecules produced by the female body. They function in your body in a natural and normal way unlike synthetic chemicals. A “natural hormone” is really a compound synthesized in the lab from a natural source (such as soybeans used for estrogens and testosterone; or wild Mexican yam in the case of progesterone and sometimes testosterone).

Synthetic hormones are typically only available in oral form, but bioidentical hormones come in a variety of delivery systems such as oral, transdermal patch, cream, lotion or sublingual drops. Bioidentical hormones recently caught mainstream attention in part because of Suzanne Somer’s new book, The Sexy Years

Typically a successful approach to dealing with a woman’s menopausal symptoms is to begin with laboratory tests of hormone levels called a “hormone panel.” The doctor can then prescribe a precise dosage of bioidentical estrogens, testosterone or DHEA that can be made for you at a Compounding Pharmacy This is contrary to HRT treatments that are typically “one size fits all.”

Most doctors prescribing bioidentical hormones find that a large percentage of women find some relief by using medical-grade supplements, over-the-counter bioidentical progesterone, and dietary and lifestyle changes (including the proper nutrition and exercise). And, for the percentage of women who need a little more help, most doctors don’t support the idea that bioidentical hormones should be used indefinitely as some kind of fountain of youth.

Is it right for you to treat your menopause with bioidentical hormones? First you need to Consult with a Doctor to get the right answer for you. Once you know what you need, your doctor and you can work out the best alternative for your body.

Anti-Aging Directory, Answers All Your Questions About Bioidentical Hormones and Nutrition

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Cathy writes frequently on mid-life issues for women and men particularly menopause, and a copy of her book can be found at www.howtoconquermenopause.com
To read a sample of this book go to www.everythingmenopause.com/currentissue.html

How many times have you heard someone say it was when they
weren’t looking for love that they found it? Often they’ll say,
“I had just accepted the possibility that I may not find someone
and realized that I’d be ok.” Or, “It’s ok if I’m single for the
rest of my life.”

It’s a paradox. We’re taught to focus on what we want and to
take action until we reach our target. Yet if we focus or hold
on too tight to the target, it eludes our grasp and gets further
and further away.

What’s a single gal or guy to do?

I needed an answer so I called relationship coach Karen Jones. I
figured if anyone knew the answer she would.

Karen has been working with and listening to hundreds of single
and married women for eight years through her ‘Heart Matters’
(www.heartmatter.net) coaching company. When I asked her for an
explanation of this paradox she explained it like this:

“Think of it in terms of energy. There is a flow to it; the more
attached you are to an outcome, the more you squeeze the flow,
and you either slow it down, divert it, or simply shut if off. I
like to use the imagery of being in the shower, and grabbing a
bar of soap. If you squeeze too hard the soap jumps out of your
hand. It’s like that with relationships. If you squeeze too hard
around relationship energy it becomes too hard to hold. Loosen
your grip, and the soap (relationship) is there.”

She then went on to explain the solution.

“You have to decide you’re just going to be happy in life, no
matter what. Make your life work now. Do what you love to do,
and spend time in ways that fulfill you. One indirect benefit of
that decision (and way of being), is this: that energy is very
attractive. You’re doing things that interest you, which will
create opportunities for you to meet people that you enjoy; men
as well as women who’d be good to spend time with.

Just to clarify. This doesn’t mean you give up on your vision of
having a happy, successful marriage. You need to keep that dream
alive in your heart. It does mean you let go of the specific
details you have pictured in your mind about your dream. For
example: your husband will be 6′2″ tall and have blue eyes and
blond hair, you’ll have 2 kids - a twin boy and girl, and your
house will be in this city on this street etc. Trust that your
vision will unfold and that it may look very different from your
picture. In fact, it’s often better than what you could have
possibly imagined.”

It’s like this invisible fine-line exists. While you need to
clearly see and know what you want and take action to make your
intention a reality, at the same time you have to be ok if you
don’t get it. Expect to get it yet don’t be attached to getting
the outcome. If you find yourself holding on too tight, just let
go and enjoy life. Love may find you.

The only thing a woman can say for certain about her vagina is that it is drenched in mystery. And with this mystery comes a bounty of myths. One myth marring the woman’s body is the concept that her vagina is a filthy pit. Frequent marketing of feminine douches does nothing to arrest this myth. But is the vagina dirty and should a woman douche?

A substantial body of medical evidence makes a clear case that douching is not necessary and in some cases unhealthy.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh led by Dr. Roberta Ness discovered that most women are introduced to the concept of douching by their mothers, sisters, or girlfriends. Yet this well-intentioned sisterly advice has left too many women misinformed about their vaginal health. For instance, a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham asked 729 women why they douched. Twenty-one percent of the participants said that they believed douching killed infectious germs, while 27% believed that douching prevented pregnancy. Neither assumption is true.

As writer Mary Ann Innacchinoe explains in an “American Journal of Nursing” article, the vagina contains, lactobacilli, “good”, aerobic bacteria that cleanse the vagina and protect it from infection. Lactobacilli release hydrogen peroxide, a natural disinfectant. The presence of hydrogen peroxide helps keep potentially harmful anaerobic bacteria in balance.

Ironically, some women view menstruation as a time when the vagina most needs a douche. After menstruation, vaginal mucus returns to its thicker, characteristically non-fertile state, which makes it more difficult for pathogens to enter and infect the vagina. Douching could wash this protective coating away and invite vaginal bacterial imbalances and infections. For example, a 2004 study published in the medical journal “Sexually Transmitted Diseases” linked douching after menses with an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis, or an excess of harmful bacteria in the vagina, is one of the most common reasons women visit their gynecologist. Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include a gray or frothy vaginal discharge, a “fishy” odor after intercourse, vaginal itching and a vaginal pH greater than 4.5.

While douching can provoke bacterial vaginosis, it may also encourage the herpes virus. In 2003, researchers from the Magee-Womens Research Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania questioned why women are more susceptible to the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection than men. After examining 1207 women aged 18 to 30 from three Pittsburgh health clinics, the investigators noted that women who douche, smoke, have sex with uncircumcised partners, or have bacterial vaginosis are at greater risk for contracting an HSV-2 infection.

Nevertheless, Dr. Christiane Northrup, author of “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom”, recommends douching in one instance, after having made love three times in one day. But sperm must have been released into the vagina during each round of intercourse. Northrup cautions that after such an entry of sperm, the vagina will not return to its normal pH for another twenty-four hours. Using a vinegar douche, made by adding a tablespoon of vinegar to a quart of water, may help restore the vaginal pH balance faster. Note, this douche is by no means meant to serve as a contraceptive, only as a pH balancer.

The vagina deservingly derived its name for the Latin word meaning “sheath”. While the vagina sheathes, or holds many mysteries, the truth about this enigmatic organ will only come forth by asking for the truth, not by believing hearsay or fanciful medical ills crafted by marketers. At least now a woman can say with certainty when she should and should not douche.

Sources:

Cherpes, Thomas L. et al. “Risk Factors for Infection With Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2: Role of Smoking, Douching, Uncircumcised Males, and Vaginal Flora”, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, May2003, Vol. 30 Issue 5, p405.

Innacchinoe, Mary Ann. “The Vagina Dialogues: Do You Douche?” American Journal of Nursing; Jan2004, Vol. 104 Issue 1, p40.

Martino, Jenny L. & Surasak Youngpairoj, Sten H. Vermund. “Vaginal Douching: Personal Practices and Public Policies”, Journal of Women’s Health, Nov2004, Vol. 13 Issue 9, p1048.

Ness, Roberta B. et al. “Why Women Douche and Why They May or May Not Stop”, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Jan2003, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p71.

Oh, M. Kim et al. “Early Onset of Vaginal Douching Is Associated With False Beliefs and High-Risk Behavior”, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, May2003, Vol. 30 Issue 5, p405.

Schwebke, Jane E. &, Renee A.Desmond, M. Kim Oh. “Predictors of Bacterial Vaginosis in Adolescent Women Who Douche”, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Jul2004, Vol. 31 Issue 7, p433.

Health author and Stanford University graduate Naweko San-Joyz lovingly writes from her home in San Diego. Her works include “Acne Messages: Crack the code of your zits and say goodbye to acne” (ISBN: 0974912204) and the upcoming work “Skinny Fat Chicks, Why we’re still not getting this dieting thing” (ISBN: 0974912212) for release in June of 2005. For useful acne self-help articles visit http://www.Noixia.com

One out of five women will get a UTI at some point in her life, and some will continuously have them. Many women get prescriptions for antibiotics, but these remedies don’t help the underlying cause of these infections. Our kidneys filter waste carried in urine and the bladder stores it. Ureters and Urethras transport this fluid from one place to another and then out of the body. Bacteria can thrive in urine and infect the bladder. When bacteria is resisting in the urinary tract, the body urinates frequently and a burning sensation or pain/pressure might be felt on the bladder. UTIs can migrate from the bladder to the kidneys, where these infections can become very serious.

UTIs can come about from many different ways. Sometimes women in menopause or pregnancy will suffer more than their share, due to hormonal changes. Because antibiotics have adverse side effects, there are ways of preventing UTIs naturally. It is always best to treat UTIs, even if it is naturally, under a health care provider as they can progress to the kidneys.

A five year study was done by the New England Journal of Medicine that found condensed tannins in blueberries and cranberries preventing the bacteria that causes UTIs (E. Coli) from binding to the lining of the urinary tract. Taking regular doses of cranberry juice (of course, the unsweetened kind) can act as a good preventative measure. If you already have one, take 500-1000mg of C, every two hours and daily doses of 10,000 to 25,000 IU of vitamin A, 400 IU of vitamin E, 30 mg zinc citrate, and a good probiotic.

Foods known to irritate the bladder are : coffee, artificial sweeteners, carbonated beverages, tea and tomato products. Getting rid of these might bring immediate relief. Bacteria also thrives on sugar, so limiting or avoiding highly processed foods and sweets might work wonders.

Help Me! I Can’t Seem To Lose The Weight? Does that sound like you? Perry Fields, U.S. Track and Field athlete is telling people just like you what diet books won’t with here Ultimate, Fast, Easy, and Permanent Weight Loss Secrets! Go get her FREE Diet Secrets newsletter and FREE report on The 5 Most Common Diet Blunders at http://www.HealthToHeart.com.

When the WHI’s study on HRT (Hormone Replacement
Therapy) was halted prematurely due to health concerns for
its participants, the United States’ 45 million menopausal
women were left to fend for themselves. Some kicked HRT
cold-turkey, suffering the immediate and ferocious
onslaught of hot flashes, night sweats and heart
palpitations. Others remained on HRT choosing the threat
of increased risks of many fatal diseases over the
unpleasantness of menopausal symptoms. Still others
sought alternative treatments and remedies to help cope
with the hormonal changes.

In a culture that celebrates youth more than any other
society in the world, millions of women have been forced to
look aging square in the crow’s footed eye. Ever since the
menopause cure was yanked from women’s grasps how
are they coping? As Marilyn Kentz and Nancy Alspaugh say
in their book Not Your Mother’s Midlife, “All you need is a
sense of perspective and a sense of humor…”

With that philosophy in mind, a growing trend of
menopausal entertainment and community highlights one
very important medical fact: FUN is the safest prescription
for menopause. A slew of clubs, websites, theatrical
productions and even a pop-up book, all dedicated to
menopause and aging, have cropped up; proving that when
all else fails, a menopausal woman can always feel better
by having a good time.

In the Red Hat Society, a country-wide community
organization, gangs of 50+ women clad in red hats descend
on malls, coffee shops, restaurants and even national
talk-shows, and act the way they wish they had when they
were younger. The message is clear: aging women are not
ready to shrivel up and die just yet.

MenOpop is the world’s first menopause pop-up and activity
book that with its 3-D pop-up uterus, The Menopause Fairy
and MenOland -The Board Game, lets menopausal women
and their friends and family laugh and play through
understanding menopause.

Keep your eye on the theatre, and you’ll see the national tour
of “Menopause the Musical.” Menopause is even infiltrating
your computer through entertainment websites devoted to
hot flashing and mood swinging. Currently online there is
www.minnipauz.com, which features humorous cartoons
and www.menopop.com, an entertainment website where
it’s “cool to be hot.” A companion to the pop-up book, it
features online video games, virtual paper dolls, a
print-and-make-your-own pop-up bookmark, and community
tip-swapping.

So, join the fun and try this new approach for yourself with
the MenO “Pop-Quiz”:

1. How many women are going through menopause right
now?

A. Just you.
B. You and a guest.
C. Millions, and millions, and millions, and you.

2. What happens after menopause?

A. There’s something after menopause?
B. People no longer cower when you enter the room.
C. You find yourself making finger puppets out of your
unused tampons.

3. What are the warning signs that you are menopausal?

A. You are surrounded by idiots.
B. You’re looking forward to the next Ice Age
C. What was the question, again?

Answers: (there are no answers, just many many more
questions…)

Michelle Cohen produced the Off-Broadway musical hit
Schoolhouse Rock Live!. and is CEO and President of the
entertainment company, Fill’ er Up Productions, Inc.
Michelle and her varied projects have been featured on
CNN, Good Morning America, MTV, NPR’s All Things
Considered, People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Dave
Barry’s Holiday Gift Guide, Maxim, FHM, the Chicago Tribune
and the Washington Post.

As a writer, her first book is MenOpopTM: A Menopause
Pop-Up and Activity Book created by her company. (available
at http://www.menopop.com). Her latest book is Of Course You
Can Sing!TM
For more details go to http://www.michellecohenonline.com