Two Articles about women's hormones, very good!

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Estrogen levels as related to estrogen dominance

Cynthia

 

2.

What I love about menopause

Cynthia

 

 

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Estrogen levels as related to estrogen dominance

 

Posted by: "Cynthia"

catarantino

 

 

cat1622

 

 

Thu Jan 4, 2007 6:37 am (PST)

 

Here is another doctor's take on Dr. Lee's studies concerning

estrogen dominance.

 

She is very correct in that progesterone cream alone is not all it

takes. If you really want to feel better you have to work at it

which requires more than just applying cream but changing your diet

and overall lifestyle to be healthier and in turn happier.

 

Cynthia

www.catsbiz.partyrep.net

 

Estrogen levels as related to estrogen dominance

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Most conventional doctors still tell women that menopause — and all

the menopause symptoms — is the result of a drop in estrogen

production. In their view the solution is estrogen supplementation,

or HRT, usually with synthetic hormones.

 

In contrast, many alternative practitioners believe that women have

too much estrogen, leading to a condition known as " estrogen

dominance. " The late healthcare pioneer, Dr. John Lee broke new

ground when he claimed that estrogen dominance was the real cause of

menopause and pre-menopause symptoms, especially in younger women.

In his view the obvious solution was to rebalance the ratio of

estrogen to progesterone through progesterone supplementation.

 

This idea has led to the marketing of hundreds of brands of

progesterone creme and other progesterone products — all promising a

quick fix and miraculous results in curing menopausal and pre-

menopause symptoms.

 

Unfortunately, both of these views are simplistic and misleading for

women. We've written other articles telling you the truth behind the

estrogen deficiency theory and our view about synthetic HRT versus

bioidentical hormones.

 

Let's focus today on the concept of estrogen dominance, the

incredible claims being made for the efficacy of progesterone, and

what it all means for you and your health.

 

What is estrogen dominance?

Estrogen and progesterone are two of the primary female sex

hormones. During a normal menstrual cycle, they take turns driving

the process of maturing and releasing an egg and preparing the

uterus for possible pregnancy: estrogen rises in the first half of

the cycle, peaks at ovulation, then falls in the second half as

progesterone rises. Progesterone is released by the rupturing of the

egg follicle during ovulation. If there is no pregnancy, you have a

period and the whole cycle begins again.

 

When estrogen and progesterone are doing their jobs, they work

together. How much or how little of each hormone is made at any one

time relies on a complicated feedback system between the brain:

specifically the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, which release

LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), and

the ovaries. Stress and diet affect that feedback system and so

directly impact your hormonal balance.

 

© 2006 Women to Women *

 

What's critical here is the role of progesterone, which " opposes "

the estrogen by helping the body break it down into metabolites that

are absorbed and removed in the process. Estrogen stimulates tissue

growth, and progesterone signals the body to slough it off.

 

The original concept of estrogen dominance was very simple. Dr. Lee

argued that the first sign of menopause is a drop in progesterone

production (not estrogen deficiency!). Without enough " opposing "

progesterone, estrogen levels stay unnaturally high in the second

half of the menstrual cycle. This causes discomfort in a great many

women and can lead over time to some severe health consequences.

 

(The history of HRT contains a tragic example of the effects of

unopposed estrogen. For many years after the creation of synthetic

estrogen — Premarin — it was prescribed to women without any

accompanying progesterone. The result was an epidemic of uterine

cancer that led to the bundling of Premarin with Provera, a

synthetic progesterone — i.e., a progestin — which was called

Prempro, for decades now the most widely prescribed synthetic HRT in

the world.)

 

Over time, Dr. Lee's concept of estrogen dominance evolved to

promote another, powerful argument: that our overall estrogen levels

(in women and men) are too high because of xenoestrogens — chemicals

in the environment that mimic estrogen in our bodies and act as

endocrine disruptors even at minute concentrations.

 

Scientific study of wildlife — specifically, frogs and fish — is

proving this unfortunate reality to be without doubt.

 

In an interesting twist, researchers worldwide have observed that

fish in our lakes and rivers are actually switching gender due to

the high levels of effluent estrogens. Even though mainstream media

has only begun to recognize this as " news, " experts have been

discussing the problem of pharmaceutical pollution for over 25

years, and have known about " gender-bent " fish for more than 10

years now! Some surmise these changes to be caused in part by

excessive levels of steroids — largely excreted by humans using

birth control pills and hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). Our

water treatment facilities are not designed to remove hormonal

pollutants.

 

Myriad studies indict environmental estrogens as the cause of

reproductive abnormalities in small life forms. So it should come as

no surprise that these and other widespread contaminants are now

suspected of negatively impacting humans as well, contributing to

the problems of estrogen dominance and infertility.

 

As evidence, it's often noted that women in Western Europe and the

US have estrogen levels that are much higher than women in

underdeveloped countries. Many experts link these high levels of

estrogen with the rise in breast cancer, autoimmune diseases,

infertility and other health issues. They question whether or not

xenoestrogens are the cause.

 

The truth about estrogen dominance

 

While we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Dr. Lee for his

groundbreaking work on the importance of progesterone in relation to

estrogen, to my mind the concept of estrogen dominance is too

simplistic, as is the concept of progesterone supplementation.

 

Since Dr. Lee's death in October 2003, we have witnessed huge leaps

in our biochemical understanding. If he were still with us, I'm sure

he would feel vindicated to learn that the latest research indicates

many women actually have normal levels of circulating progesterone.

Just as Dr. Lee himself noted, what throws the balance off is an

excess of estrogen, caused by environmental, dietary, and lifestyle

factors.

 

What this all means is that the theory of estrogen dominance is very

real, but its significance lies in the overall ratio of estrogen to

progesterone — and this ratio is an individualized one. Of all women

experiencing symptoms of estrogen dominance, some with low levels of

progesterone may do very well with progesterone supplementation,

whereas others with normal progesterone levels may be better off

focusing on changes that can reduce their estrogen levels. How do

you know where you fit in? The only way to really tell is to have

your hormone levels checked and take action from there.

 

It is true that estrogen is often too high relative to progesterone.

Most of us who have had PMS are familiar with this temporary, benign

form of excess estrogen. You can see by the chart above how

progesterone levels gradually fall during the course of a regular

menstrual cycle. In some women this drop may be more precipitous and

cause symptoms of PMS.

 

During pre-menopause it's common for estrogen levels to decrease

slowly while progesterone levels plummet — a natural result of fewer

ovulations, fewer burst follicles and less progesterone. This can

cause many of our worst symptoms. (See our article on irregular

periods to learn more.)

 

Calling this state " estrogen dominance " is catchy but misleading. It

implies there is one problem, which isn't true; and not all women

experience the condition anyway. And it implies there is one

solution, which also isn't true. Most of the tens of thousands of

women we have treated for pre-menopause symptoms have suffered not

from simple estrogen dominance but from a more fundamental

disruption of the body's ability to maintain hormonal balance. There

are usually multiple causes, including stress, emotional factors,

and the estrogen-like chemicals in our environment called

xenoestrogens.

 

The truth is, healthy hormonal balance is complicated. It isn't just

a matter of not enough progesterone. That's a little like arguing

that menopause is caused by not enough estrogen.

 

There's no simple test for estrogen dominance. But if you have

severe symptoms of PMS, pre-menopause or menopause that don't

respond to a program of increased support for your body within a

month or two, you may have persistently higher than normal levels of

estrogen. Let's talk about why it's important to pay attention to

these symptoms.

 

What are the health consequences of estrogen dominance?

Another of Dr. Lee's contributions was to raise women's awareness of

the profound connections between hormonal imbalance and health.

 

When estrogen levels are high in relation to our progesterone we

experience many severe symptoms, among them anxiety, breast

tenderness, cyclical headaches or migraines, depression, digestive

issues, fuzzy thinking, palpitations, food cravings, irregular

bleeding, water retention, weight gain and more.

 

(Note that a number of these symptoms are also indicative of the

exact opposite condition — a deficiency of estrogen — another

example of why the concept of estrogen dominance is too simplistic.)

 

If estrogen levels stay unopposed, women may develop infertility,

endometriosis, amenorrhea (skipped periods), hypermenorrhea (heavy

bleeding), fibroids, uterine cancer, stroke, and decreased cognitive

ability, among other conditions.

 

And while we share many of the precepts set forth by Dr. Lee, we are

less inclined to think of estrogen, even high levels of estrogen, as

universally harmful. We believe every woman is unique, and what may

cause harm in one may be fine for another. There have been studies

and speculation for example about the connection between high levels

of estrogen and breast cancer. We think many unanswered questions

remain about this link; to learn more, read Dr. Dixie Mills' article

on estrogen and breast cancer.

 

Estrogen has many wonderful qualities. It creates our fertility,

protects our health in myriad ways, and serves as a powerful anti-

inflammatory. But we are very concerned about environmental

estrogens. They're another story entirely.

 

Awash in a sea of xenoestrogens

 

For the most part, our bodies are amazingly resilient. We are hard-

wired to resist threats to our equilibrium. What our bodies are not

designed for is exposure to the many endocrine disruptors in our

environment, among them the family of chemicals known as

xenoestrogens.

 

Many of these xenoestrogens are proven carcinogens. They are also

well known for their ability to damage the immune system and

interrupt hormonal balance. Our cells can't always distinguish fully

between our own estrogen and xenoestrogens. Every cell has estrogen

receptors that recognize and open to the shape of an estrogen

molecular chain, regardless of where it comes from.

 

Pesticides are perhaps the biggest source of xenoestrogens. Most

bioaccumulate, meaning they are stored in fat cells of fish, poultry

and other food sources in increasing concentration until they reach

the top of the food chain — where you and I consume them! They are

highly estrogenic, and some experts estimate that the average

American ingests over a pound of pesticides a year.

 

A second major source of xenoestrogens is the many growth hormones

given to livestock and poultry, most of which contain fat-soluble

estrogens. When we consume those animals or their milk, we ingest

that estrogen. Organochlorides like dioxin (a by-product of chlorine

when it is burned or processed), PCB's, PVC's, and some plasticizers

are just a few of the many chemicals that act like estrogen in our

bodies. Many others have the effect of interrupting our normal

endocrine function, hence the term " endocrine disruptors. "

 

Mainstream medicine is finally paying attention because

xenoestrogens not only affect the cells of women, but those of men

and children. Sperm counts have dropped by 50% in some studies, a

significant factor in the epidemic of infertility. The age at which

girls develop secondary sex characteristics (breasts and pubic hair)

is also dropping. It is not exactly clear what role endocrine

disruptors as a whole have in the steady rise of chronic diseases in

children (at earlier ages!), but studies are underway to evaluate

this.

 

It is easy to see why Dr. Lee's advice to support our bodies with

extra progesterone makes some sense. Let's examine the role

progesterone plays in our bodies and how it can help in hormonal

balance.

 

The role of progesterone

 

Progesterone is the building block for many other major hormones.

Cortisol, DHEA, testosterone and estrogen are all made from

progesterone in a process that begins with cholesterol. Take a look

at the chart below of the metabolic pathway.

 

© 2005 Women to Women

 

These hormones are present in our bodies to varying degrees at all

times, but only progesterone is readily converted into its sister

hormones if needed. Importantly, if we are under a lot of stress and

our adrenals are pumping out cortisol, our bodies will take any

available progesterone and divert it to meet that demand. If too

much progesterone gets diverted for cortisol, as happens when you

suffer from adrenal fatigue, there is not enough to make the

testosterone needed for a woman's sexual response — let alone to

oppose rising levels of estrogen. No wonder we feel sick, lethargic,

and uninterested in sex when we're under stress!

 

Insufficient progesterone is hard on our health in other ways

because, in addition to reproductive function, all women need normal

levels of progesterone to spur new bone growth (and ward off

osteoporosis), convert fat into energy, metabolize glucose, and

perform many other vital cell functions.

 

But it's equally obvious that just adding progesterone isn't the

answer. If stress is creating your hormonal imbalance, adding

progesterone will just treat the symptom, not the cause. Hormonal

balance is never a matter of taking a magic pill. Let's talk about

how to find a solution that works for you.

 

Your unique path to hormonal balance

 

In looking at the illustration of the metabolic pathways of

progesterone, it's helpful to think of your endocrine system as a

kind of orchestra, and hormonal balance as its music. Each of us has

a unique body and biography, so each of us has a unique orchestra

and a unique symphony. We all make different demands on our bodies;

we all need different kinds of support. Adding any one element to

the exclusion of others may make you feel worse, not better. For

instance, many women convert progesterone immediately into estrogen;

for them, a progesterone supplement will only worsen their imbalance.

 

There are many women whose bodies, either naturally or due to

external factors, produce an abundance of estrogen. I call these

patients highly estrogenic, and they are more susceptible to

experiencing severe symptoms. They also feel the most dramatic

improvement when they add progesterone to their routine.

 

While genetics have some influence, lifestyle is the single biggest

factor in the production and storage of estrogen, progesterone and

our other hormones. Our modern diet, filled with refined flour and

sugar, simple carbohydrates and artificial ingredients, combined

with our lack of exercise, promotes metabolic irregularities that

lead to insulin resistance, obesity, digestive problems, and

cardiovascular disease, which in turn affect the healthy flow of

hormone production shown in the chart above.

 

Stress plays a major role in estrogen overproduction by triggering

an elevated level of cortisol, which interrupts the feedback loop

between the brain, pituitary, and the ovaries that regulates

hormones. I'm sure most of you have had the experience of skipping a

period or two when you are under stress. At the practice we have

learned that most women don't understand that unhappiness is a form

of stress. To make the point, I sometimes actually write a patient a

prescription that says " Play! "

 

Limiting our exposure to xenoestrogens is also very important.

Thoroughly wash or peel all produce to remove at least some of the

pesticides. Eating only lean, organic meat and dairy products is

wise. Heat food in metal or porcelain containers, not plastic, and

definitely not in the microwave with plastic wrap! Drinking out of

glass containers instead of plastic, previously used water bottles,

or Styrofoam cups is also a good choice.

 

A diet rich in phytoestrogens is thought to be protective.

Phytoestrogens are plant-based substances found in soybeans,

licorice, yams, and alfalfa that naturally mimic estrogen in a

healthy way when consumed. This action supposedly protects the cell

receptors from accepting the more damaging xenoestrogens.

 

In addition to making healthy choices in our diet, I recommend

taking a high-quality daily nutritional supplement as a very

important step towards restoring hormonal balance naturally.

 

How and when to use natural progesterone supplementation

Additional progesterone can be a shot in the arm for many women with

moderate to severe symptoms — especially at the beginning of pre-

menopause — and particularly when used as part of a comprehensive

plan. We've seen women respond extremely well to small amounts of

progesterone in over-the-counter formulations for just weeks or

months; others need therapeutic doses over longer time periods.

 

If you are experiencing moderate to severe, persistent symptoms of

hormonal imbalance, or weaning yourself off HRT, you probably would

benefit from additional progesterone. As long as you're receiving

regular medical check-ups to rule out any serious problem, it's

relatively safe to experiment with non-prescription strength

bioidentical progesterone. However, if you don't respond well to

that, I always recommend having your health practitioner do a

hormone panel. A simple saliva test, and possibly a blood test, will

show whether or not you have a serious progesterone deficiency that

warrants a prescription-strength version.

 

Conventional doctors will often prescribe synthetic progesterone, or

progestins, to women who experience major discomfort. In my

experience, progestins help with heavy bleeding but only in the

short term, and they may make PMS and depression worse. Longer

exposure can cause even more problems.

 

Progestins are large synthetic molecules that do not bind with the

progesterone receptors in a cell. In other words, they are not

bioidentical — their shape does not quite fit the cell receptor — so

the cell has a diminished capacity to accept it. However, your body

does register the presence of these synthetic progestin molecules in

your bloodstream and consequently downgrades its own progesterone-

release mechanism. So by using synthetic progesterone you diminish

your body's own ability to generate the natural form!

 

The most effective method for delivering progesterone support to our

bodies is by way of a bioidentical formulation. We've had superior

results with a transdermal cream containing micronized progesterone

USP. ( " USP " means the progesterone meets the standards set by the US

Pharmacopeia, which works closely with the FDA.)

 

Progesterone USP is real progesterone, not a phytoestrogen. The wild

Mexican yam contains a phytoestrogen that is closely related to

human progesterone, but requires a simple molecular manipulation to

become identical. That is why yam creams alone are not effective;

their phytoestrogens must be transformed into progesterone USP to be

truly therapeutic. If you've tried some over-the-counter

progesterone products and been disappointed, you may still benefit

from the right kind of progesterone support in the right dosage for

you. If your symptoms are moderate to severe, like most women's, you

also need to combine progesterone use with other forms of support.

 

I recommend to my patients that they apply 30–40 mg of high-quality,

micronized progesterone USP cream to the inner part of the wrists

for two weeks, starting at the mid-point of their monthly cycle.

Since everyone is different, some women need more while some need

less to restore their equilibrium. We find our progesterone cream is

so safe that we can experiment with dosages to see what works best

in our patients.

 

In all but the most severe cases I prefer using progesterone in a

skin cream form because transdermal delivery is more natural than

oral delivery in pill form. The hormone is absorbed through the skin

directly into the bloodstream, which allows us to achieve the

desired results with lower dosages than those required to survive

the digestive tract. We've found the progesterone cream in our

Personal Program to be the most efficient, most recognizable, most

natural way to give your body what it needs. You don't have to use

ours, but you should look for a progesterone cream with the

following attributes:

 

Contains pharmaceutical-grade progesterone USP

Micronized

Bioidentical

All natural

Hypoallergenic

When patients with severe PMS, heavy bleeding or other severe

symptoms don't respond to progesterone cream, I often switch them to

a pill form because it's easier to deliver the necessary higher

dosage orally, and because oral dosage delivery is standardized.

 

Like Dr. Lee, we think progesterone supplementation can be an

important step towards rejuvenating hormonal balance, but we don't

recommend using progesterone cream for the rest of your life. And we

strongly advise that you have your hormone levels monitored on a

regular basis. Our belief is that the smallest intervention that

restores hormonal balance is best. In most cases we recommend you

use progesterone as a bridge, and curtail its use or drop it

entirely when doing so won't result in a return of your pre-

menopause symptoms.

 

A special note about progesterone use after menopause: although

there is no evidence that it's unsafe, it clearly is not natural to

add progesterone to your body indefinitely after menopause, and we

feel adequate long-term study is needed before making this

assumption. We tell our post-menopausal patients they may safely use

additional progesterone for up to a year. These women often benefit

immediately from the extra progesterone, but it's wisest to use it

as a bridge to a new, more natural balance in their bodies.

 

Remember, progesterone can't do it alone!

 

I hope it's helpful for you to read up on how our bodies really seek

hormonal balance, and what each of us can do to find a solution that

works for us. Viewing our symptoms as simply a sign of estrogen

dominance is as misleading as attributing them to estrogen

deficiency alone. And a combination approach works better than any

kind of magic pill. Improving our nutrition, adding a robust

nutritional supplement, reducing stress, and minimizing

xenoestrogens are measures that are just as important as adding

progesterone. Together they will help support the demands on your

body and restore the vitality and good health that come from natural

hormonal balance.

 

 

 

 

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2.

 

What I love about menopause

 

Posted by: "Cynthia"

catarantino

 

 

cat1622

 

 

Thu Jan 4, 2007 6:38 am (PST)

 

Here is another article by the same doctor... it is good to be

reminded that menopause is not a disease & that we are not freaks

because we are experiencing it.

 

Cynthia

www.catsbiz.partyrep.net

 

What I love about menopause

Understanding what menopause is and its advantages

by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

 

It astounds me that women are still being told that (and treated as

if) menopause and midlife are a disease — something to be avoided at

all costs — when the very opposite is true. Menopause is a gift, a

lantern lighting the way to significant transformation in all areas

of your life. I want you to know, unequivocally, that you can feel

and look better than you ever imagined after menopause, even if your

symptoms right now are terrible. It just takes a little help and a

lot of self-care. I know this to be true because I've experienced it

myself and I've seen it time and again in my medical practice.

 

Women to Women sometimes feels like an island surrounded by a sea of

negative thinking — especially when it comes to menopause. But from

where I sit, the view of midlife is gorgeous: the waters are

Caribbean blue, the skies balmy, and the horizon has never looked

brighter.

 

Menopause is a developmental milestone — like puberty in reverse —

and it's different for every woman. The word menopause comes from

two Greek words: menos or " month, " and pausis or " cease. " At

menopause, your ovarian function declines, your menstruation cycle

stops, and the monthly spike of reproductive hormones recedes.

 

This does not mean your body stops making sex hormones altogether —

it means you don't get your period and, if you haven't menstruated

for over 12 months, you almost certainly won't get pregnant. So go

ahead and throw out those tampons and Kotex and buy yourself some

nice new underwear. The cessation of monthly cycles can be

incredibly liberating.

 

This doesn't mean there won't be some stormy seas. It means that

paradise doesn't come in a pill — it comes from finding out who you

really are, what your body really needs, and what you really want to

do with this part of your life.

 

So let's brave this new sea and swim for shore — I promise you, the

water is fine.

 

The gifts of menopause

Once a woman reaches menopause, life gets simpler. Post menopausal

women can maintain regular cycles of energy with much less fatigue.

Plus, strange food cravings and binges disappear, as do monthly mood

swings and breast tenderness. And there are no more awkward moments

walking backwards out of a restaurant with your sweater tied around

your hips.

 

The secret no one tells you is that midlife can be the most radiant,

passionate years of your life. Self-knowledge and self-confidence

are the true gifts of menopause — they create an inner glow that

more than cancels out other physical changes. One patient describes

it as finally owning her skin after years of struggling to pay rent.

 

You may be asking: what about aging, wrinkles and weight gain? What

about becoming metaphorically invisible? Surely there must be

something backing up those dried-up menopause clichés. After all, if

menopause is so great how come there's so much bad press?

 

Well, it's a fact that everyone gets older every day and this comes

with some inevitable physical changes — it's a price we all pay for

getting to stick around. Gravity does exert its pull — but menopause

is not the wicked witch. She does not drain women of any vital

function nor turn them old, weak, crotchety, or unattractive with a

wave of her wand. We do that to ourselves by buying into a

prepackaged idea of what being older (and younger) means.

 

It's time to retire that tired old stereotype of the post-menopausal

woman and take a good look at the real women who are living it.

 

Stamping out the stigma of menopause

Lauren Bacall once said during midlife, " I am not a has-been, I'm a

will-be. "

 

Just think of the number of highly successful, gorgeous women now in

their 50's (Kim Basinger, Oprah, Vera Wang, Diane Sawyer, Patti

Labelle, Goldie Hawn, Suzanne Somers), and you get an exciting look

at the new face of menopause. There's a reason they're saying that

50 is the new 30.

 

These women — and the list gets longer everyday — are defying the

stereotype and shifting the public's attitude. They are sensual and

accomplished and no one really cares when or whether they've stopped

menstruating. Think of the women you most admire — chances are they

are not twenty, or even thirty-something. Baby-boomer women have

changed the world already, and in menopause they will do it again.

 

Yet even with these living, breathing, dynamic beacons, the stigma

of menopause has staying power. Why? Partially, it's our youth-

obsessed culture, and partially we're hard-wired as all species are

to place a greater value on the attributes that make us mate-able.

(Outward signs of abundant sex hormones are on the top of that list.)

 

But aside from biology, something else is happening.

 

Symptoms of menopause begin to bother many women (but not all) at a

particularly stressful juncture in their lives. Often they are

dealing with aging parents. If you have children, it's likely that

they are almost grown but still requiring a great deal of attention.

If you are working, you may be feeling pressure from younger workers

angling for your job. Increasingly, bittersweet reminders show you

that time is passing — all of which can weigh you down and make you

feel stuck.

 

And that's just when menopause comes to the rescue.

 

The journey to menopause: midlife transitions

When we talk about menopause, we usually think of it as a transition

or change. In reality, menopause is a destination — the date on

which it has been a year since you've had a menstrual period. The

journey we take to get there is more accurately referred to as

perimenopause and can begin many years — even decades — earlier and

be marked by all the stresses I mentioned above. This often leads to

symptoms of hormonal imbalance as a woman's body struggles to cope.

 

These physical changes can be unsettling (and for the unlucky few, a

living hell). The road to menopause has an unmasking effect on your

biology. Physical conditions that were hidden by higher estrogen

levels reveal themselves. Emotional issues — often left over from

childhood — resurface unexpectedly. You may find yourself awash in

unfamiliar, unwanted sensations. Many women in perimenopause feel

out of control, miserable, and powerless.

 

Understand that these symptoms are actually urgent requests from

your body for attention — big red flags signaling to you to slow

down the train. If you take the time to pay attention, they'll stop.

 

If I know one thing from all my years of practice it is this: no

woman has to suffer during this time in her life. But you do have to

tune in and act — the more severe the symptoms, the more diligent

you'll need to be.

 

This can take time and a lot of women can't do it alone — a reality

that HRT can postpone but not avoid. Eventually, you will have to

discover the missing pieces of your individual puzzle — and it may

not be easy (that's why I call it work).

 

Often the most uncomfortable symptoms stem from adrenal exhaustion

or a poorly functioning digestive tract. It takes a good partnership

between you and your practitioner to identify and address those

issues before you can even begin to talk about hormones.

 

But that's why menopause is so great — it forces you to finally come

home to yourself, to really understand what makes you who you are,

whether you want to or not.

 

The Women to Women approach

At Women to Women, we think of menopause as a critical time in a

woman's lifecycle: one in which we help our patients interpret what

their bodies are saying. We call it identifying their emotional and

physical roadmap. Every woman has one and each one is different.

 

For some women this roadmap takes them on a relatively

straightforward journey, others need a lot of help to untangle years

of physical and emotional knots. What works for one woman may not

work another and you may need a professional (or several) to support

you in the process.

 

Helping women to begin this transformative and empowering journey

was one of the inspirations for our Personal Program — we wanted to

share what we know to be true with as many women as we can, but keep

in mind it's only the foundation. I encourage you to find some

trusted health professionals and learn as much as you can. Like I

said, the water may get choppy at times but the rewards are

phenomenal if you keep your head up and swim.

 

How to make your menopause positive and joyful

Start with your core foundation of health. If you have not found a

doctor or health professional you can talk openly and honestly with,

try another. Take a medical-grade vitamin supplement on a daily

basis to fill in any nutritional gaps and support hormonal balance.

We prefer those that are readily absorbed and contain a rich supply

of EFAs, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Eat a balanced

diet of whole foods, including a good ratio of protein,

carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fiber. Limit your exposure to

toxins by purchasing organic foods whenever possible. Drink at least

eight glasses of filtered water a day and limit caffeine and

alcohol. If you are smoking, get help to stop. Exercise daily at

least 30 minutes.

 

If you think you're experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance, take

our hormonal balance profile. This is a good place to start, and

it's free! Determining whether your symptoms are mild, moderate, or

severe and will give you some insight into what kind of work lies

ahead. Don't worry if your symptoms are severe — often my patients

who feel the worst recover the fastest.

 

Almost all women trying to restore their hormonal balance will

benefit from bioidentical progesterone cream, at least in the

beginning of their efforts. Progesterone is a building block for

estrogen and other hormones, so your body can use it in an

adaptogenic way to restore hormonal balance.

 

So many women we see are in the throes of adrenal fatigue and don't

know it. Cortisol is a major hormone, and until it's in balance you

won't be able to balance your estrogen and other sex hormones. So if

your body isn't responding to the fundamental steps we've already

discussed, learn about this problem and figure out if it's blocking

your progress.

 

If your symptoms don't respond to these basic steps, you might want

to discuss bioidentical hormones with your healthcare practitioner.

Many of my patients go on bioidentical hormones in perimenopause and

for some time after menopause. They do so for various health

reasons, but also because they think they look better — which makes

them feel better. When they feel better, they have the energy to do

some of the emotional work that helps them grow from the inside.

This in turn gives them the confidence to take care of themselves so

they don't have to take the hormones anymore.

 

Don't ignore any issues of vaginal dryness and loss of libido. One

of my patients began the most passionate marriage of her life at age

60 — proof positive that sex is as good if not better later in life.

Topical estrogen creams containing estriol will help the dryness

that often accompanies the drop in blood estrogen levels at

menopause. Bioidentical hormones and exercise are also helpful in

this area.

 

At some point it's essential that you examine the relationship

between your emotional experience and health. Examine unhealthy

habits and relationships. As you look inward, building your cocoon,

ask yourself what and whom you want to bring along with you. If you

are weighed down by your relationships (to others, to work, to

food), find someone to talk to. Ask your friends or family for a

referral. Your local religious institution or your healthcare

practitioner is a good place to start.

 

Read our article on alternative medicine for information on

different techniques that can help you with intractable symptoms or

to give you new insight into yourself and your total wellbeing.

 

Try a lifecoach. Lifecoaching is a targeted therapy that helps

people of all ages discover what they are inherently good at and

what kind of work/relationships would give them the most

satisfaction. There are life coaches in almost every part of the

nation. For more information on this process, log on to Cheryl

Richardson's website. Think about the things you love to do in your

leisure time: listening to music, decorating, knitting, reading —

they can be a launching pad to something new.

 

Have a financial health check-up. This is an area many women find

intimidating, but it is a crucial part of your personal life

picture. If you don't understand what's happening with your money,

chances are you won't have very much of it. Talk to your local bank

or business bureau for information about upcoming seminars and

training sessions. You may also like Suze Orman's website.

 

Don't be afraid to express yourself. You've got a lot to say! A

majority of women at this time find they no longer have patience for

the incessant demands of others; they are more in touch with their

emotions, including anger, and begin to figure out that now is the

time to put themselves and their own well being first. This is a

good thing! Besides, you've earned the right to speak your mind —

it's one of the perks of being on the planet a little longer. Start

a journal or buy a sketchbook and record your thoughts as you make

this journey. Most of all enjoy yourself and have a little fun!

 

Go ahead, be high-maintenance! This can mean many things, from

treating yourself to some expensive bath oil or a new haircut to

exploring plastic surgery. Often women go through such an amazing

emotional transformation at menopause that they feel their outside

doesn't reflect their inside anymore. (We do recommend you start

from the inside out — not the other way `round!)

 

If there is something that doesn't feel like the real you (maybe

you're hiding your inner redhead), change it. At age 58, one of my

patients finally spent the money to get a bunion shaved off her foot

that she'd had for 20 years. No one saw it, but she knew — and it

made her feel great.

 

Read and learn as much as you can. There are many wonderful books

about menopause and getting older, in particular Dr. Christiane

Northrup's The Wisdom of Menopause. I also like Suzanne Somer's The

Sexy Years. Another lovely book of essays edited by Connie Goldman

called The Ageless Spirit, gathers comments from both men and women

that are very inspirational.

 

A final word

Whatever age you are right now, I encourage you to look inside and

listen to your body's signals. If you are unhealthy or unhappy,

don't ignore it or surrender. If you are worried about menopause, or

post-menopause, ask yourself why? Whose voice are you hearing when

you think about aging?

 

Changing your perspective on what it means to get older is a

powerful first step in changing how you will age. I can't promise

that you will ever be 21 again, but I can promise you that if you

eat well, take your nutrients, and make some positive lifestyle

choices, you will be something — triumphantly — else.

 

Our Personal Program is a great option

 

The Personal Program supports healthy endocrine function with

nutritional supplements, Natural Progesterone Cream, dietary

guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse–Educators.

It is a convenient, at-home version of what we suggest to our

patients at the clinic.

 

If you're ready to get started, consider joining the Personal

Program. The first step is to complete our on-line Hormonal Balance

Profile. It's easy and informative.

If you'd like to learn more about the biology behind the Personal

Program, go to How it works.

If you have questions about whether the Program will work for you,

call us toll-free at 1-800-251-1073. We're here to listen and help.

We're always happy to welcome new patients to our medical clinic in

Yarmouth, Maine. Click here for information about making an

appointment.

 

Original Publication 10/15/2002

Last Modified: 10/13/2006

Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

 

 

 

 

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