Entries Tagged 'Hormone Replacement' ↓

Symptoms of labor pain and menopause are somewhat alike, never ending!  However, in comparison to the few hours of labor, the symptoms of menopause are more long lived – from 5 to 15 years approx. Menopause is a time when body undergoes hormonal changes, and thus the symptoms reflect fluctuations in the body systems.

Menopause can be very troublesome causing sleeplessness, depression, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. But the good news is that these symptoms can be reduced and even eliminated. The treatment has emerged in the form of HRT, perhaps the most popular with doctors and physical health specialists.

Yet, the doctor community must know that there are several kinds of hormone replacement therapy. One of its kinds is Premarin, one of the oldest types of treatment. Premarin is an estrogen hormonal pill, composed from the urine of pregnant horses. Apart from healing the normal symptoms, it’s useful for:

• Thickening of vaginal tissue
• Relieving stress and depression
• Controlling hot flashes and night sweats
• Preventing from heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s

Research also shows that estrogen-only supplementation and breast cancer have a strong connection. Because the cells in the breasts and the uterus are reactive to estrogen, by adding estrogen in to our hormonal system can encourage the growth of this tissue.

Many researchers also believed that Premarin helped prevent heart disease by lowering the LDL cholesterol level in the body.

Because the estrogen in horses is not similar to estrogen in women, side effects like bloating, headaches, and sore breasts were common. Many studies show that these estrogen from horses can make changes in the DNA of cells of women, causing breast cancer increases among women taking premarin.

When Premarin was developed, there were no other types of estrogen available. But there are alternatives today in the form of Bioidentical Hormones, which are developed from soybeans or yams, reflecting the chemical structure already found in women. Moreover, bioidentical are not given to every woman alike, and different treatment is given to women with different sizes and medical history. Although not used as highly as premarin, bioidentical hormone treatment is sure going to make a mark in the world of HRT with its less symptoms and effective functioning.

The subject of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy interests women to a great extent, but does it equally interest men? Let’s find out.

Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a popular medical treatment that has shown some wonderful results in both the aging men and women. However, women are more familiar with the topic because they start experiencing hormonal changes during puberty and during the menopause stage.

Unlike women with vigorous symptoms including hot flashes, mood swings and discomfort, the mid-life hormonal changes come more gradually and slowly in men with minimum intensity of symptoms. More gradual and less obvious than menopause, the effects of displaced hormones in men are equally troublesome as women.

For health conscious men, these symptoms are alarming and so the bio identical hormone therapy captures their interest. Bio-identical hormones can play a commendable role in reviving the lost hormones, eliminating symptoms and allowing men on bio-identical hormone therapy to feel much younger and stronger. HRT works well for all those men experiencing lost muscle tone, sleeping disorders, fatigue, depression and weight gain.

When men age, their testosterone levels tend to decline causing several sexual problems such as low libido, impotency, reduced erection periods etc. Normally, men don’t talk about these issues freely and many opt to surf the internet and find as much as they can about the Hormone Replacement Therapy before the word gets out.

Studies show that a large number of men have consulted such therapy centers for treating their aging symptoms with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, and increasing the quality of their life.

Studies show a greater performance in cognitive tests among the aged women using hormone replacement therapy than the one who don’t.

Memory decline is a common symptom of menopause and many experts believe that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may defend post-menopausal women against memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss occurs when there is a rapid change (or rapid decline) of hormones among women during menopause, and replacing or enhancing these lost hormones through Hormone Replacement Therapy may work surprisingly well in retaining memory and mental health.

Memory is basically affected when the body discontinues producing a special kind of hormone called “estrogen”, and this decline is usually the cause of memory loss. According to one issue printed in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, HRT works by restoring these hormones to a balanced level.

On the contrary, these are also some studies which underline the risks involved in HRT. For example, the writings published in the journal Neurology suggests that HRT may not be as protective as it is deemed to be and may even lead to an increase of dementia among the older women.

HRT is extremely effective for other menopausal symptoms like severe hot flashes, sleep disorders, mood swings and vaginal dryness. But to use HRT alone for the sake of protecting against dementia needs proper consultation from the doctors. Moreover, women should be careful when using HRT for menopausal reasons and if the condition is severe, try using it in low doses and for the shortest possible time period.

Menopause is a stage when the female reproductive system loses its breeding capacity, causing a sharp decline in hormones. This reduction in hormones causes extreme menopausal symptoms in many women including hot flashes, mood swings, reduced energy and sleeping disorders.

Although being a natural phase, the symptoms of menopause can last for above 10 years in most women and can become extremely frustrating. However here are the steps you can take to fix the maddening symptoms of menopause.

Pre-menopause checkup

To fight menopause affects, it is important to identify the time of menopause. Usually, a drastic change in menstrual cycle can determine the beginning of menopause and when you suspect this, consult your doctor right away. A blood test can also be conducted to detect menopause.

Detect the major signs of menopause

Following are the symptoms of menopause you should not ignore. However, keep in mind that not all women experience all these symptoms, and may only be suffering from a few. So if you are facing any of the below given symptoms, check with your doctor.

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Sleeping disorders
• Reduced sex drive with vaginal itchiness, dryness, or bleeding
• Increase in urination frequency
• Increased urination urgency
• Body and muscle pain
• Reduced energy levels with constant fatigue
• Mood swings and Irritability
• Less Memory retention
• Stretch marks and wrinkles

Treating Menopause Symptoms with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Menopause symptoms vary from woman to woman, depending on different body conditions and reasons. However treating menopause with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is increasingly gaining attention.

Since menopause is a condition where your body stops producing hormones, HRT works by replacing those hormones, thereby giving your body the same functionality and energy it had before the menopause stage. This bioidentical hormone therapy seldom involves any side effects if you have consulted your doctor before getting on with the treatment, because it involves replicating those hormones which your body already had but stopped producing.

If you are considering Hormone Replacement Therapy to control menopause symptoms, don’t take the decision alone. Consult the experts in this field and if proved safe for you, go ahead and get yourself rid of the irritating signs of menopause.

According to the International menopause society, Bio identical Hormone Therapy is termed as a safe process for younger women. It negates the old theory and clearly states that it doesn’t increase the risks of coronary heart disease, but instead it prevents young women from developing one.

The society developed a consensus statement in collaboration with the European Society of Cardiology, highlighting the following points. These points have been described in simple words for you to easily understand what has been communicated.

Patients interested in BHRT should know the following:

• Physicians are recommended not to use BHRT on women suffering from cardiovascular disease just to prevent them from heart attacks and strokes.
• BHRT maybe a little effective in relieving menopause symptoms among women, but it may not be effective in lowering cardiovascular risks.

The collaborative parties concluded the consensus with eight points in total, among which five were directed towards the spread and prevention of cardiovascular disease and the remaining three described the Hormone Replacement Therapy.

The three points relating to BHRT included:

1. BHRT relieves menopausal symptoms among women.
2. HRT is not contraindicated (risky) in women with hypertension and in some cases it may even reduce blood pressure.
3. HRT is contraindicated in women with a history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or pulmonary embolism.

The group also disclosed that cardiovascular disease is the top most killer of women in the Western world.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is a term used to describe medications containing estrogen, progesterone, or other hormones that are chemically exact duplicates of hormones produced by women, primarily in the ovaries. Some bioidentical hormones are made by drug companies, are approved by the FDA, and are sold in standard doses. Other bioidentical hormone preparations are made at special pharmacies called compounding pharmacies, which make the preparations on a case-by-case basis for each patient. Those “custom-made” preparations aren’t approved by the FDA.

Despite the hot debate of terming bioidentical hormone use as unsafe and risky, many patients treated with the same therapy for menopause symptoms are amazingly satisfied by the results. Glaring examples of such women are Suzanne Somers (author of “The Sexy Years”) and also Oprah Winfrey who writes; “After one day on bioidentical estrogen, I felt the veil lift, …After three days, the sky was bluer, my brain was no longer fuzzy, my memory was sharper. I was literally singing and had a skip in my step.”

In addition, many other patients have revealed that using bioidentical hormone therapy has helped them a lot during their menopausal stage and in fighting back the maddening symptoms, particularly in terms of hotflashes, night sweats and insomnia.

According to the supporters of customized Bioidentical Hormones, every individual is different and they have to work that out with their doctor. Therefore, at compounding pharmacies, hormones are mixed to match exactly what each woman’s body needs. After initial blood tests and saliva tests, the doctors determine what hormones need to be replaced in your body.

Bio-identical hormones have emerged as the latest technique to control menopause symptoms. But considering this technique natural and safer than the pharmaceutical type is wrong because bioidenticals are after all chemicals! It’s strongly recommended that you do complete research and consult expert doctors before going into the whole process.

Hormone therapy is considered most effective treatment for Prostate Cancer but HT do have side effects too. The three main side effects of HT in prostate cancer are (1) loss of libido,(2) erectile dysfunction, and (3) metabolic syndrome. These side effects can be debilitating to the patient and consideration of minimizing these side effects is critical.

Hot flashes occur in 80% of patients and do not abate with time. Progestational agents are effective in minimizing hot flashes. Metabolic syndrome includes lipid abnormalities, weight gain, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and fatigue. These abnormalities are difficult to prevent, so early treatment with appropriate medication is critical. Institution of an aggressive exercise program is recommended to prevent the metabolic syndrome and fatigue.

Skeletal related events (SRE) are caused by osteoporosis and bone metastases. Osteoporosis is common in men on HT and continues over time. SREs are associated with worse overall survival. Bisphosphonates such as zoledronic acid are effective in preventing SREs and may improve survival in patients with CRPC by preventing a SRE.

Bisphosphonates are recommended in men with widespread metastatic disease especially if they involve weight bearing bones, and in symptomatic men. Bisphosphonates are not recommended for a rising PSA alone in men with CRPC. Depression and cognitive loss is common in men on HT. Early treatment with anti-depressants is recommended.

Intermittent HT will prevent many of the reversible side effects, but this treatment should be withheld until the randomized SWOG study on continuous vs. intermittent HT is published.

When menopause makes you miserable what you can do?

Most of women’s health experts suggest that try to consult the doctor if don’t have believe to fix that problem before you try to tackle rest of having menopause.

A good doctor will do an test to make sure menopause is what is causing your symptoms, take stock of which ones are most bothering you, and help you evaluate the benefits and risks of treatment options with your medical history in mind. For example, women bothered most by sleep problems may find a non-hormone solution.

Bio-identical Hormone Therapy — captivating estrogen, progestin or both — works. It tames hot flashes, improves sleep, keeps bones strong and prevents vaginal dehydration. It also can raise the risk of cancer and heart problems. Though, studies show that the risk is small to an individual woman who starts on the pills at normal menopause age and uses them for fewer than five years.

Experts suggest:

_Ask about ways to use hormones other than taking pills, such as estrogen patches that can be cut to adjust the dose, or estrogen-secreting vaginal rings. Some beginning research suggests these modes may be safer than taking pills.

_If you use hormones, use the lowest dose for the shortest time possible, and try to quit or cut down every few months.

_Do not take hormones to try to prevent heart disease or dementia. If you take them to keep your bones strong, talk with your doctor about possible alternatives.

_If you were taking birth control pills for symptoms during the changeover into menopause, check with your doctor about whether to continue. Many oral contraceptives contain far more estrogen and progestin than conventional hormone replacement therapy does.

_Eat a healthy diet to keep bones strong, maintain a healthy weight, get regular exercise and don’t smoke.

_For hot flashes, try to figure what triggers one, such as hot drinks, spicy foods, alcoholic drinks, stress, hot weather, or a warm room. Dress in layers, and keep your office and home cool.

_To sleep better, go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, eat regular meals at regular times, and not late at night. Limit caffeine. Keep away from nightcaps: Alcohol may make you feel sleepy, but it interferes with sleep patterns.

The discussion “Hormone therapy associated with the risk of Breast cancer” is very hot now days. Hormone Replacement Therapy which is being used to treat menopause symptoms is been associated with the breast cancer risks for the last months. But a recent research has indicated a different theory against this.

Yale researchers report in an abstract presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) scientific meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, October 17-21 that;

“The right combination of estrogen and a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), which blocks the effects of estrogen in breast tissue, could relieve menopause symptoms and cut breast cancer risk.”

Usually the treatment, that is used to cure menopause in women, contains combination of estrogen plus progestin hormone therapy but this treatment comes with side effects, including a higher risk of breast cancer caused by the progestin.

To find a better way of administering hormone therapy without the breast cancer risk, Hugh S. Taylor, M.D., professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale, and his colleagues treated breast and endometrial cell lines with either estrogen or estrogen plus one of the SERMs.

The team then looked at various markers of cell growth, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), one of the best-characterized markers of cell growth. The team found that PCNA was increased when they stimulated cells with estrogen and decreased when they added a SERM, indicating that the SERM blocked cell growth.
Taylor said that breast and uterine cells won’t be stimulated by the estrogen plus SERM combination, so women in menopause get the benefits of estrogen without the risk of progestin. Progestin is a double-edged sword, Taylor said. It poses a breast cancer risk, but if you use estrogen alone without progestin, there is a higher risk of uterine cancer. SERMs appear to be a good substitute for progestin.

“In our study, the right combination of estrogen and various SERMs was able to prevent the proliferation of breast and endometrial cells, said Taylor. “These preliminary findings could lead to a better way of administering hormone therapy to women in menopause.”

These laboratory results are currently being tested in large-scale clinical trials.

The study was funded in part by the Women’s Health Research Institute, Wyeth Research.

The findings will be presented at ASRM by study co-author Jaime Kulak, M.D. of the Federal University of Parana in Brazil.

As the older people around the world grow, then the issue of aging is getting more and more concentration every day. But when you take the Human growth hormone or HGH supplements then you wouldn’t feel about aging.

Imitation Human Growth Hormone is a bonus to human. It helps us to reverse the aging process. Additionally HGH supplements are used in the management of numerous diseases. These supplements are available in the every form of Allopatic and Homeopathic medicine in the market as are in form of Tables as well as oral spray.

HGH supplements overturn the aging process by inspiring increased emission of growth hormones in the body. Which increase the bone density, strengthening of bones, and an increase in muscle mass, reduces the body fats and growth of internal organs such as the liver and spleen. HGH supplements also helpful in improving the immune system, which makes people fewer vulnerable to infections.

Here are some tips to achieve optimum results from HGH supplements

1. When HGH pills are taken before going to sleep then it have maximum results. The body produces the maximum growth hormones when a person is in the deepest sleep.

2. The supplements should be taken with little water. If more water is drunk before and after the supplements are taken, they will get weak. So, very little water must be consumed when taking them

3. The HGH pills must be taken two hours after or one hour before a meal or snack. This condition must be strictly adhered to because these supplements are very delicate. They may break down easily when they encounter digestive enzymes, thus preventing them from entering the bloodstream and doing their job. So it is best if they are taken when the stomach is empty.

4. Take supplements 1 hour before work out. Thus if HGH supplement is taken just before a work out session, it will increase secretion of growth hormones in the body too. Experts recommend regular moderate to high-intensity work out sessions in order to increase the secretion of growth hormones in the body.

5. Human Growth Hormone supplement must be taken along with the right kind of food. You must eat foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals and low in fat and glucose in order to increase the production of growth hormones in the body.

Human Growth Hormone supplements are available as powder, pills and oral sprays. Most people prefer to take pills as it is the most suitable way but the choice is really yours to make. Just remember the above 5 tips when you are going to start a course of anti aging HGH supplements.