Good News for Hormone Replacement Therapy

News flash! You can safely get rid of your hot flashes! Estrogen is not so bad after all. A study in JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association April 2011 found that estrogen alone had a reduced risk of breast cancer and their risk of stroke declined after stopping the medication.

There is so much confusion regarding hormone replacement therapy. When evaluating the studies, you should consider a few things. The type of hormone (synthetic versus bioidentical), the route of administration (oral, transdermal or through the skin or other), the age when started and other therapies. These are just a few considerations.

This study cited in the media was done on women with hysterectomies using oral synthetic estrogen alone without any synthetic progestin. They began using the hormone in there 50's. There were 3 important findings:

• The first one is when you stop taking oral synthetic hormone therapy the increased risk of stroke and blood clots in the legs and lungs go down and so does the benefits on decreased hip fracture. Note: only oral estrogen produces blood clots and increases risk of stroke. Bioidentical estrogen given through the skin does not increase stroke or cardiovascular disease risk.

• The second major finding was a decreased risk of breast cancer. When we followed for another four years, that decreased risk of breast cancer persisted, so that, over the entire follow-up period, we saw a 23 percent decreased risk of breast cancer. Note: it was the oral, synthetic progestin that was implicated in increasing the risk of breast cancer.

• The third finding is that the risks and benefits of hormone therapy differ importantly by age for several types of chronic disease, heart attacks, colorectal cancer, death and then overall chronic diseases are lower among women taking hormone therapy in their 50s compared to placebo, but among women in their 70s, they actually had higher rates of all these conditions if they were taking estrogen alone vs. placebo. Note: In the Women's Health Initiative study the average age of women studied was 63 and most were 10 years post menopause.

So if you are considering hormone replacement therapy, be sure to keep in mind the differences in type, route of administration and age when you begin taking them. Discuss all of your options with a physician knowledgeable in bioidentical hormones to determine the most appropriate treatment given your age, risk factors and state of health.

Causes and Treatments of Prolapsed Bladder Or Cystocele

A prolapsed bladder is a disconcerting bladder problem that occurs in women. In order to understand what a prolapsed bladder is and how it occurs, you need to understand how the female body is designed.

The walls of the vagina are designed in a way to help support the bladder and keep it in the correct anatomical position. Sometimes the wall of the vagina stretches and become weak and it can even tear. When this happens, the bladder can drop and this is called a prolapsed bladder or a cystocele.

If a person has a mild case of prolapsed bladder they may not notice any symptoms at all. However, if the conditions worsen they may begin to feel fullness or a lot of pressure in the pelvis and vagina area. This will get worse when the person stands for long periods of time.

You may feel pain when you lift, bear down, strain or cough and often you may feel like you still need to use the bathroom even after just emptying your bladder. In severe cases, a soft bulge of tissue can protrude through the vaginal opening and you can feel it when sitting down. Many women have frequent bladder infections, pain or leakage during sex and loss of urinary control when laughing, sneezing or coughing. If the condition is serious, you may not be able to control urination at all.

Causes

The bladder, uterus and rectum are the organs that fill the pelvic cavity. They're supported by muscles, ligaments and connective tissue found on the pelvic floor.

This condition occurs when the muscles that support the pelvic are strained and become weak. This can happen during childbirth because the muscles of the vagina go through tremendous strain during this time in a woman's life. Even though the walls of the vagina will heal, it doesn't always regain the strength it once had. This is the most common cause for prolapsed bladder.

Other causes can include chronic constipation and straining by doing heavy lifting repeatedly. Violent coughing or bronchitis can also cause this condition along with being obese. After a woman goes through menopause their estrogen levels will decrease and this will also create problems and it can cause this condition.

Treatment

Treatments will depend on how serious the condition is. In mild cases where there are no obvious symptoms present, you may not need any treatment. However, doing exercise to strengthen the pelvic muscles is recommended to prevent the condition from getting worse. If the problem is bad enough that symptoms are present but not too serious, then you may be able to correct the problem with nonsurgical treatment.

Instead of surgery some women use a vaginal pessary, which is a rubber or plastic ring inserted into the vagina to support the bladder. This is a temporary alternative but it can often be used for years. Estrogen therapy is another option that can be used for women who have gone through menopause.

If the condition is severe then surgery may be necessary. This may be the only way to keep the bladder and other organs in place. If you elect to have surgery to repair the damage the surgeon will put the prolapsed back into place, remove the stretched tissue and tighten the muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor so it will hold the bladder in place.

There is a chance that prolapsed bladder can re-occur after a few years even if you do choose to have surgery. For this reason, the surgeon may recommend a hysterectomy if the tissues that supports the vagina are very thin and weak.

Menopause Migraines - Treatment Methods

Menopause Migraines - Treatments for the Afflicted
Women who are going through menopause experience many different changes within the body and sometimes emotional stability can become disrupted as well. Along with the usual symptoms of menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, heighten anxiety and irritability many women experience menopause migraines. With the changing of hormone levels at this time in a woman's life, these symptoms of menopause can often be serious and even debilitating. Many women experience migraines in early years that are often noticed to be associated with menstruation and some women's migraines actually decrease with menopause while others experience more severe migraines during this change in life.

Migraines are very distinct from regular headaches. The pain of a migraine is usually isolated to one side of the head and most experience a throbbing type pain. These types of headaches can last for hours and sometimes even days. Symptoms associated with menopause migraines can include nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity and noise sensitivity. The pain may be more severe while bending or doing any kind of physical movement. They also can make a woman feel very tired and weak. Some women experience auras before the onset of a migraine. This neurological phenomenon is usually experienced as a visual disturbance, which is characterized as lights, perhaps shimmering around objects or zigzag lines that disrupt the field of vision. Some women experience hallucinations or wavy images while others may have total vision loss for a short amount of time.

Finding an effective treatment for these types of migraines can be challenging as most common headache pain relievers often have no effect on this type of severe headache. Doctor prescribed medications such as Imitrex, Zomig, Frova and Maxalt have been reported to be very effective in some women. The most effective treatment for menopause migraines is hormone replacement therapy. Choosing this form of treatment balances the hormones thus relieving the symptoms. Women who experience menopause migraines should speak with their physicians about the best possible treatment choices for them.

Menopause: Cessation of Menstrual Cycle

The anatomy as well as physiology of the female reproductive system is quite complex when compared with the male reproductive system. Menopause is a very prominent stage in the life cycle of all females. It can be simply defined as the absence of the menstrual cycle for at least 12 months. The transition of the menopause starts with varying menstrual cycle length and finally terminates into menstrual period. The menopausal transitional period is often referred to as perimenopause phase although it is not a medical term but is often used while dealing a layman. Postmenopuase period is known to commence after the last menstrual period. Menopause can also be described as a phase of the female's life when the function of ovaries terminates. Ovaries are the female reproductive organs, located in the pelvis, one of each side of the uterus. Each ovary resembles an almond in its shape and size. They are known to produce ova as well as the female hormone estrogen.

A single egg or ovum is produced from either the right or the left ovary during each menstrual cycle. The egg then enters the Fallopian tube and finally reaches the uterus. The female hormones secreted by the ovaries participate in the development of secondary sexual characters in the female like development of breasts, body shape and body hair. These hormones also participate in the regulation of menstruation and pregnancy. Estrogens are also known to provide protection to the bones and osteoporosis develops in a female if ovaries fail to produce adequate amount of estrogen. Perimenopause is different for each woman and researchers are still under dilemma about the factors governing this phase, so study is under execution.

Commencement of menopause

In general menopause is known to enter a female's life at the age of 51 but no one can predict that when a female is going to enter menopause. The age at which menstrual cycle starts in the life of a female is also not correlated with the onset of menopause. Majority of the females are known to enter menopause between the ages of 45-55 but menopause can also occur at the age of 30, 40 or 60 years. Perimenopause is characterized by irregularities in the menstrual cycle followed by typical symptoms of early menopause and can commence 10 years prior to last menstrual period.

Conditions affecting menopause

Certain surgical as well as medical conditions are known to cast their spell on the timing of menopause. These conditions will be dealt one by one.

1. Surgical removal of ovaries

Surgical removal of ovaries from an ovulating female is known as oophorectomy and it results in immediate menopause and the condition is sometimes also designated as surgical or induced menopause. In this condition there is no perimenopause and the female automatically experiences the signs and symptoms of menopause. The ovaries can often be removed along with the uterus and this procedure is known as hysterectomy. If uterus is removed without removal of ovaries then they function normally and produce female hormones but such a female is not able to menstruate. In this situation symptoms of menopause occur naturally. The woman can experience other symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and mood swings. These symptoms cannot be correlated with the cessation of menstruation. Such a female is liable to get affected with premature ovarian failure before commencement of menopause within 1-2 years after hysterectomy. If this condition arises then the female will not experience the symptoms of menopause.

2. Cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Cancer is also known to affect ovarian function. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given to a female depending upon the type and location of cancer. If these treatments are given to an ovulating woman then they result in cessation of menstruation and symptoms of menopause come into play. The symptoms may arise during or after treatment.

3. Premature ovarian failure

This condition can be defined by the appearance of menopause before the age of 40. This condition is common among 1% woman population. The exact reason behind premature ovarian failure is although unknown but it is believed that autoimmune diseases and genetic factors are associated with it.

Symptoms associated with menopause

Each woman experiences a different set of symptoms. Some women experience few or no symptoms of menopause while some experience a wide variety of physical as well as physiological symptoms. The major symptoms are:

1. Irregular vaginal bleeding

Vaginal bleeding may become irregular at the onset of menopause. Some females have little problems with abnormal bleeding during perimenopause while others have excessive bleeding. Menstrual periods may occur very frequently within short intervals or may get farther and farther apart before terminating completely. There is no usual pattern of bleeding during perimenopause but it may vary from individual to individual. If a female is experiencing irregular menses then she must consult the doctor as whether the problem is due to perimenopause or some other clinical condition is associated. The abnormalities associated with the menstrual cycle during the perimenopause are also responsible for the declination of the female fertility as egg production in the ovaries also becomes irregular. However, a female under the perimenopausal state can become pregnant and should take contraceptives if she is not interested to become pregnant.

2. Hot flashes and night sweats

Hot flashes are very frequent in the females undergoing menopause. A hot flash may be defined as a feeling of warmth spreading throughout the body but is more intense on the head and chest region of the body. It is sometimes associated with flushing as well as perspiration. They may last from 30 seconds to few minutes. The exact cause of hot flash is although not known but it is believed that is the result of a combined action of hormonal and biochemical fluctuations brought about by the declining estrogen levels. One cannot predict when hot flashes will arise and for how long they will appear. Hot flashes are known to occur in 40% of females under the age group of 40 having normal menstrual cycles. So hot flashes can appear even before menopause. Hot flashes end up within 5 years in 80% of the females entering menopause and sometimes they can run for about 10 years. Sometimes hot flashes are coupled with night sweats resulting in awakening, difficulty in falling asleep again resulting in daytime tiredness.

3. Urinary symptoms

Urethral lining also undergoes changes just like the tissues of the vagina and becomes drier, thinner, loses elasticity due to declination of the estrogen levels. These changes increase the risk of urinary tract infections as well as urinary leakage. Urination may also occur suddenly with coughing, laughing and lifting of heavy objects.

4. Vaginal symptoms

The vaginal tissues also become thinner, drier and lose elasticity as the estrogen levels fall. The symptoms include vaginal dryness, itching or pain during intercourse. The vaginal changes also increase the risk of vaginal infections.

5. Emotional and cognitive symptoms

Women entering perimenopause experience a variety of emotional symptoms like fatigue, irritability, memory problems and rapid mood changes. It is difficult to explain which behavioral symptom is directly associated with the hormonal changes. Emotional and cognitive symptoms are very common among women so sometimes it becomes difficult to determine whether these changes are due to menopause or not. Night sweats during menopause can also result in fatigue and irritation.

6. Other physical changes

Weight gain is very common among women during menopause. The distribution of fat may also undergo change and may get deposited more in the waist and abdominal areas rather than the hips and thighs. Wrinkles may also appear on the skin. As the body continues to produce small levels of male hormone, testosterone, some females may develop some hairs on the chin, upper lip, chest or abdomen.

Complications associated with menopause

1. Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is very common among the females undergoing menopause. Osteoporosis is the deterioration of quality and quantity of bone resulting in increased risk of fracture. However, the density of bone tends to decline normally in the females during the fourth decade of life but it declines rapidly during the menopause. Age and hormonal changes during menopause act together resulting in osteoporosis. The process can occur slowly for many years. Women may remain unaware of these changes unless and until she encounters a painful fracture. The treatment of osteoporosis includes slowing down the rate of bone loss as well increasing bone density and strength. The treatment includes lifestyle changes like cessation of smoking and drinking alcohol, regular exercise with adequate intake of balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. calcium and vitamin D supplements are prescribed for those females who do not take a diet rich in these nutrients. Medications responsible for preventing bone loss include alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate and teriparatide.

2. Cardiovascular disease

Females before menopause are at decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases when compared with men but the frequency generally increases as they approach menopause. The incidence of heart diseases is very high both among men and women in the United States. Coronary heart diseases are two-three times higher in the women reaching menopause. This may be due to the declining levels of estrogen and the women in post menopausal stage are advised not to undergo hormone therapy in order to avoid the risk of heart attacks.

Treatments available for menopause

Menopause is a normal part of life that cannot be combined with a disease. However, the treatment of related symptoms is possible so can be taken into consideration.

1. Hormone therapy (Estrogen and progesterone therapy)

Hormone Therapy (HT) or Hormone Replacement Therapy (HPT) or Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (PHT) is a treatment that administers doses of both estrogens and progesterone. It is administered in order to prevent the symptoms associated with declination of estrogen levels like hot flashes and vaginal dryness and is still the most effective treatment available but studies have indicated that the women receiving HT have increased risk of breast cancer, heart attacks. Women receiving only estrogen therapy also have higher risk of endometrial cancer. Hormone therapy is available in the form of oral pills and transdermal forms. Transdermal hormone products are already in the active form so they don't have to get converted into activated form in the liver. As these products have no effect on the liver they are prescribed for majority of the females. There has been an emerging interest among the researchers for the use of a bio-identical hormone for the perimenopausal women. These hormones have same chemical compositions like those produced naturally inside the body. These products are prepared in the laboratory from the naturally derived plant products and are approved by the U.S.FDA so are in market. They are also used transdermal in the form of creams or gels. The use of hormone therapy is based on the decision of both the patient and the doctor.

2. Oral contraceptive pills

Oral contraceptive pills are other form of hormone therapy that is prescribed to the females undergoing perimenopause in order to treat irregular vaginal bleeding. Before prescribing these pills the doctor must check that whether the irregular vaginal bleeding is due to perimenopause or some other factors are associated with it. These do not provide relief from hot flashes but prevent a female from becoming pregnant.

3. Local hormone and non-hormone treatments

Vaginal estrogen deficiency is also treated with the local hormonal treatments. These include vaginal estrogen ring, vaginal estrogen cream or vaginal estrogen tablets. Local and oral estrogen treatments are sometimes combined. Vaginal moisturizing creams or gels or use of lubricating agents during intercourse are non-hormonal agents used to prevent vaginal dryness. Application of Betadine topically on the outer vaginal area or soaking in a bathtub or warm water may also relive the symptoms of vaginal pain or burning sensation after sexual intercourse.

4. Antidepressant medications

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a class of drugs most frequently used to control the symptoms of hot flashes and have given positive results in 60% of the women. The common examples of these drugs include venlafaxine, citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine and sertraline. However, antidepressants are associated with some side effects like sexual dysfunction.

5. Plant estrogens or phytoestrogens or isoflavones

Isoflavones are chemical compounds present in soy and are plant derived estrogens. The structure of these plant estrogens is exactly similar to those produced in the body but their effectiveness is somewhat lower in comparison to the body estrogens. Their estrogen potency is estimated to be about 1/1,000 to 1/100,000 of that of natural estrogen. Two types of isoflavones namely, genistein and daidzein have been derived from soybeans, chickpeas and lentils that are considered to be the most potent phytoestrogens. Some studies have shown that these compounds help in relieving hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Women suffering from breast cancer are also prescribed these phytoestrogens if they do not want to undergo hormone therapy (HT) during menopause transition. Some researchers have however shown that excessive intake of these plant derived estrogens result in over-growth of the tissues lining the uterus which can result in the development of cancer.

6. Vitamin E

Some women have reported that intake of vitamin E supplements can also help in relieving hot flashes but this fact lacks scientific support. Taking a dosage of greater than 400 IU of vitamin E is not safe as it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

7. Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is an herbal preparation popular in Europe often prescribed against hot flashes. The North American Menopause Society does not support the short term usage of this herbal preparation

8. Non-pharmaceutical therapies

Survivors of breast cancer or females not interested to take oral or vaginal estrogens are prescribed vaginal lubricants however, they are not very effective.
So it can be concluded that menopause is a natural state of body and the symptoms can be controlled by the medications mentioned above.

Learn How Progesterone Cream Can Battle Against Acne

Progesterone cream is commonly given to women whose bodies are having trouble making the right amount of the hormone progesterone that they require. This hormone is essential because it assists to moderate the quantity of estrogen that their bodies are producing. Too much estrogen can cause health complications like endometriosis and breast cancer.

But health studies show that progesterone cream is able to do much more than just proportion out the estrogen in the woman's body. While in peri-menopause and menopause a woman's hormones are not balanced and this is able to cause hot flashes, weight gain, hair loss, depression, dry skin, mood swings, and insomnia. It can also stimulate discoloration in the neck and face and also adult acne.

Out of all of these things the one problem we were hoping to never have to contend with ever again after the age of twenty was acne. But while going through this dramatic change our bodies are out of control and having to deal with numerous contrasting things. Some physicians will order a synthetic type of progesterone that will replace hormones.

Unfortunately this type of hormone treatment is ofttimes frowned upon by several women who discovered the hard way that the side effects that occurred from it were no better then the troubles they were trying to fix. This synthetic treatment commonly caused the same problems - but with the increased risk of cancer or a heart attack.

The only other alternative that assists to offset the symptoms of menopause and likewise the acne connected with it was to use a natural kind of progesterone in the form of a cream. After a couple of weeks of employing this normal cream the majority of women discovered that the discoloration had improved and the acne was under control.

The best part of applying natural progesterone cream for acne is that there are no side effects that you have to worry about. The total process is safe, effective, and has the ability to give you back your life and self esteem.

Menopause Hot Flash Relief - Alternative Treatments and Cures

Menopause hot flash treatments have now become accessible through the alternative medicines marketplace and have been gaining in both popularity and acceptance in recent years. Many cities and towns now have a number of outlets where anyone can buy these types of products.

Are these alternative treatments for hot flash and night sweats safe?

Alternative treatments for menopausal hot flush relief are basically methods of accessing a treatment regime that has not been officially recognized by the clinical and medical establishment as a relief or cure. You can discover a large number of such products that fall within this category, and most people would be surprised to discover some of the items which are now categorized as "alternative" medicines.

In this day and age of mass marketing, alternative medicine is not as frowned upon by the healthcare profession like it used to be. Treatments for example like acupuncture and hypnotism are quite common, and several other forms of optional treatments for menopausal hot flashes are gaining acceptance. Some of these products proclaim results which are quite frankly inexplicable, and professionals who do witness these results decide not to specifically endorse the products or systems, but neither will they dismiss them.

Is The Power of Mind over Body effective for Hot Flash Relief?

One of the main elements of alternative treatments could be the recognition of the powers of the mind over body, or the subconscious mind. There is increasing evidence that a patients attitude may also effect the response a patient has to a remedy or treatment, and this in part helps to demonstrate why the choices of available treatments is much better received than it was in the not too distant past. In a recent survey it was also discovered that a patient who believes they are doing better, generally will do better in the long term.

Before deciding on a specific treatment or remedy for hot flashes or night sweats, it is crucial to do some research into the products you are contemplating. Alternative treatment, by its definition, is exactly what it says it is; an alternative.

Are There Any Effective Non-Drug treatments for menopause symptoms?

With regards to hot flash and night sweats remedies and treatments, there are many alternatives available. They range from simple herbal remedies, to complex combinations of known drugs. There are now alternative treatments available which rely entirely on the body's own ability to heal itself. One such product is a band aid like product which the makers claim embodies a combination of materials which when worn in a specific way, will almost immediately start to reduce the effects of hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopausal symptoms. Apparently it is also claimed that they can be used for Men who have been having hormone therapy treatments following prostate cancer or other hormonal imbalance problems

Amazingly this product has actually been endorsed by medical practitioners as a very effective non-drug treatment for the relief of hot flashes and night sweats because there are no known side effects, thereby allowing the Practitioner to treat patients for other ailments whilst also offering an effective cure for problems associated with with the menopause.

Menopause and Memory Loss - The Estrogen Link

Have you been forgetting where you put your keys more than usual? Or maybe you are having some problems remembering names. Menopausal women often complain of memory loss, forgetfulness and difficulty in staying focused.

If this sounds like you, rest assured you are experiencing a normal menopause complaint. You are far from losing your mind; short-term memory loss is very common with mature women and it can usually be treated. Let's look at the physical and chemical causes of memory loss during menopause and what you can do about it.

Memory and the Brain
Memory is a very complex mechanism and even nowadays scientists are still trying to break its boundaries. It is indeed difficult for some to comprehend how we store and access such massive amounts of information inside our brain. But what is it about menopause that seems to trigger memory problems?

Registration, retention, and recall are the three stages our memories have to pass through when they work. Every time we make some kind of observations in our daily life, our brains register what they see, feel, or taste. Have you wondered why children remember songs and poems so well? This is because they continually repeat or remember something they observe. Our brains store this kind of information in our short-term memory.

Estrogen deficits occur at the beginning of menopause, after a sudden event such as a hysterectomy, or may occur due to other physical issues. Low levels of estrogen can bring memory problems, trouble finding your words, loss of attention, not to mention mood swings. You should know that all these symptoms, including memory loss, can be vastly improved, or eliminated, using nutrition, supplements, bioidentical hormone replacement and conventional drug therapies.

Here are some guidelines for evaluating the seriousness of your symptoms.

Do I have Alzheimer's disease?
This is the fear most women have when experiencing cognitive symptoms during menopause. Due to the fact that the discovery might scare them, many women choose not to seek treatment. Resist this fear and seek out the assistance of a healthcare provider. Quite often, menopausal brain fog can be improved or eliminated, given the proper attention.

Does estrogen have an impact on functions of the mind?
Yes it does. Estrogen can influence language skills, as well as mood and attention.

How does estrogen affect the mind?
Sites that store estrogen exist in several regions of our brain, including those involved in memory (such as the hippocampus). Whenever they are activated by estrogen, they activate processes, beneficial to the brain. More than that, estrogen raises levels of brain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters, including those implicated in memory, mood and motor coordination. Estrogen is crucial to the networking between nerve cells, promoting their ability to communicate with one another.

What are some common signs of Estrogen Deficiencies?

• Brain fog and mental fuzziness


• Increased amounts of forgetfulness (names, birthdays)


• Depression


• Anxiety issues, sometimes panic disorders


• Insomnia and difficulty falling asleep


• Hot flashes and night sweats


• Mood changes, emotionally unstable


• Unhealthy-looking skin


• Dry eyes, skin and vagina


• Pain during intercourse, due to dryness


• Weight gain

What about medical treatments?
A careful history may differentiate estrogen related cognitive problems from those associated with other conditions. During this time in a woman's life, many problems may also exist, all treatable, such as depression, hypothyroidism, etc. Neuropsychological testing is useful, and it will help you know the nature of the problem. In the same way, testing will establish a cognitive baseline for further comparison and the options you have for treatment depend on the cause or causes of your memory loss.

Treatment options for menopause memory loss may include bioidentical hormone replacement, medication for hypothyroid and synthetic estrogen replacement therapy. Alternative practitioners may recommend nutritional therapies and supplements designed to support hormone balance.