What EVERY Woman MUST Know About Hormones
Copyright © 2010 by www.Hormones-Beauty-Health.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Hormones and You 1
What are some of the major female hormones? 2
How do I know if my hormones are out of balance? 4
Are hormones and depression related? 6
Are hormones and premenstrual syndrome related? 9
How do I recognize the onset of perimenopause? 11
Does perimenopause cause depression? 14
What are the symptoms of early menopause? 16
How do I recognize the onset of menopause? 18
How do I get relief from menopausal symptoms? 20
What causes night sweats? 22
What can I do to relieve night sweats? 24
What is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)? 26
What are the benefits & risks of HRT? 30
What are the alternatives to HRT? 31
Does black cohosh provide menopausal relief? 35
Does primrose oil relieve menopausal symptoms? 38
Should I take progesterone supplements?. 39
Are progesterone creams effective? 41
Do progesterone creams have side effects? 44
Do skin care products affect hormones? 47
Introduction: Hormones and You
Today, age is more a state of mind than a chronological event. Look at some of our favorite movie actresses – Goldie Hawn, Shirley Ma-cLaine, Sophia Loren, Catherine Denueve, Faye Dunaway, Michelle Pfieffer, Halle Berry, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Demi Moore, and Salma Hayek.
What do these actresses have in common? They are all in their 40s, 50s, 60s, even 70s, and all are beautiful, vital, strong women. We celebrate women of all ages and at all stages of their lives.
Regardless of our state of mind or our profession, our bodies change as we age. Many of these changes are caused by the natural shifting and balancing of hormones.
This book addresses some of the most commonly asked questions regarding the major hormones that affect all women as they age. Our goal is to show you how you can embrace your life at every stage and enjoy good health throughout.
You will learn how your hormones change in each life stage. We will discuss health issues that result from hormonal changes, symptoms of hormonal changes, and how you can moderate or alleviate some of these symptoms.
Throughout the book you will find hints, tips and suggestions for living a healthy life at all hormonal levels and at all ages.
Enjoy this book about hormones and please be sure to visit our website: www.hormones-beauty-health.com for more information.
What are some of the major female hormones?
Our bodies are made up of a complex set of systems that work together every day to keep us functioning and alive. The natural hormones that occur in the body are the fuel that keeps the complex engine of our bodies running. Hormones tell the systems of our body how to react, what to do, and what we need. Without hormones, our bodies simply wouldn’t function.
So let’s start with the typical female and the hormones that occur naturally in the body and regulate our systems.
First of all, there is no “typical” hormone level. We all are unique and our hormones levels are different and constantly changing. In this section we’ll discuss some of the hormones that occur in the female body and what those hormones do to keep our system running. Different glands produce different natural hormones. Let’s take a look at some of these hormones.
Natural Growth Hormone
Natural Growth Hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. This hormone regulates our growth and our metabolism.
The pancreas produces insulin which regulates sugar levels in our bodies. When the pancreas isn’t working or isn’t producing sufficient insulin, diabetes may result.
Adrenalin
Most people have heard of the “flight or fight” system. Our body naturally triggers adrenalin (from our adrenal gland) to warn us of a possible dangerous situation. What many people don’t realize is that the adrenal gland also regulates many female hormones. There are actually two adrenal glands - they sit on top of each kidney and they mostly provide steroid hormones - aldosterone (regulates salt and water balance of the body) & cortisol (mediates metabolic processes, has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, and whose levels in the blood may become elevated in response to physical or psychological stress).
Estrogen
Ovaries produce the hormone estrogen. Estrogen tells the body when to menstruate, when to ovulate, and when to support pregnancy. There are 3 major forms of estrogen - estradiol (the most potent, administered especially to treat menopausal symptoms), estriol (a weak hormone secreted by the placenta during pregnancy), and estone (a keytone secreted by the ovaries to treat conditions relating to estrogen deficiency).
Over time, our ovaries stop producing estrogen, which begins the menopause period, however, a small amount is still produced by the adrenal gland.
Progesterone
Progesterone is produced in the ovaries, the brain, and during preg-nancy, in the placenta. Progesterone is sometimes referred to as “the pregnancy hormone.” It’s essential for successful pregnancies, and brings about lactation after pregnancy. As the ovaries stop working, progesterone levels drop.
Testosterone
Surprise! Women also produce testosterone. Again, the ovaries are responsible for producing levels of testosterone. Testosterone is sometimes called the hormone of desire – testosterone is tied to our sex drive and also helps maintain muscle and bone. As women enter menopause, the drop of testosterone contributes to a decrease in sexual drive.
These are just a few of the naturally occurring hormones that make our bodies function at top speed. Over time, these hormone levels change, or situations affect their levels. These changes lead to some natural phases of life, and sometimes, when not regulated correctly, lead to further health problems.
How do I know if my hormones are out of balance?
It's been said that many of us think our bodies are perfectly in sync all the time and don’t expect to see any changes to our hormone levels until menopause kicks in. But is this really true? For example, many young women experience mild to severe PMS, which can cause them to feel out of sync.
Actually, our hormone levels fluctuate throughout our life. Sometimes that’s perfectly natural and our bodies respond to these changes. Sometimes other problems lead to hormonal imbalance, such as:
Estrogen dominance
Taking birth control pills
Stress
Lack of exercise
Intestinal candida (parasitic fungi)
There are a variety of symptoms that could indicate a potential hormone imbalance. Some of these symptoms include:
Depression and anxiety
Sleep disorders
Hair loss
Increase in facial hair
Fibrocystic breasts
PMS
Endometriosis
Sudden change in sex drive
Osteoporosis
Headaches or migraines
Foggy thinking
Uterine fibroids
Sudden weight gain
Water retention and bloating
Sudden changes to skin – acne or wrinkles
These symptoms, and others, could indicate a hormone imbalance between the two female hormones – estrogen and progesterone. Your body’s hormone levels will change constantly, due to stress, exercise, or nutrition. But if you experience some of the symptoms above, it may indicate a long-term problem with hormonal imbalance.
Talk to your doctor about the symptoms you are experiencing. A simple blood test may be able to answer a lot of questions and help get to the root of your problems but it's not always that easy and may require some trial and error. However, with patience and a competent physician, hormonal imbalance can eventually be restored, and you can get back to that balancing act we call life.
Are hormones and depression related?
Depression can happen to anyone of any age and is a common, yet potentially serious, symptom of menopause and female hormones.. Clinical depression is a severe period of sadness characterized by more than two weeks of extremely low moods that affect how a person feels, thinks, and acts.
Symptoms of Depression
There are three categories of depression--physical, emotional, and behavioral--and at least five symptoms must be present for no less than two weeks and one of those five must either be persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest or pleasure. Female hormones are often the underlying cause in menopausal aged women.
Physical Symptoms
Fatigue, decreased energy, overeating, appetite loss, insomnia and early-morning wakefulness.
Emotional Symptom
Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings; feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism; feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness. Female hormones can be treated with drugs such as generic estridiol pills, Prempro, Prefest, etc., or natural progesterone creams. Many health articles are written about the impact of female hormones on depression.
Behavioral Symptoms
Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable including sex, difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering details, difficulty making decisions, and neglecting responsibilities.
Causes of Depression
The underlying cause of depression in menopausal women has to do with female hormone imbalance, especially decreased levels of estrogen. As women approach menopause, their estrogen levels begin to drop off. This female hormone plays a big part in regulating brain functions, especially chemicals that influence mood, such as serotonin and cortisol. Decreasing levels of estrogen during menopause can also cause other physical and mental symptoms, such as hot flashes, and anxiety, which lead to depression. One of the early menopause symptoms is depression and is directly tied to the imbalance of female hormones.
Another major cause of depression is a low thyroid. Low thyroid and menopause are very much connected and can increase as women age. If this is true in your case, treating it with estrogen and progesterone may not be enough and you should really have your thyroid tested.
Other causes include biochemical, genetic, personality, environmental factors and disease.
Treatments For Depression
As usual, the least invasive option is lifestyle changes, which involves regular exercise, eating healthy, and practicing mind-body techniques such as meditation or yoga.
Simply by including three 30-minute sessions of physical activity, such as walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling into a weekly routine can greatly relieve the milder symptoms of depression.
Similarly, eating healthily will also help to stabilize mood swings and alleviate depression.
The most effective approach to relieve depression in menopausal women is directly at the problem itself—female hormone imbalance. A variety of natural and alternative supplements exist that may be able to address this imbalance.
For more prolonged or severe cases, it may be necessary to seek the advice of a healthcare professional.
Are hormones & premenstrual syndrome related?
It’s estimated that 85% of all women suffer from PMS at some point in their lives. PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome, is a term that encompasses a number of symptoms – physical and emotional symptoms – that occur prior to menstruation.
PMS is attributed to the rapid changes of hormone levels in a woman’s body. Some of the changes in hormone levels lead to physical symptoms, while others trigger emotional symptoms.
Let’s take a look at some of the changing hormone levels and how it affects PMS symptoms.
Prior to menstruation, your pituitary gland will secrete prolactin. Prolactin causes breast tenderness. Too much prolactin may interfere with ovulation and could cause irregular periods.
The adrenal glands secrete aldosterone. During ovulation, Aldosterone levels increase. This hormone may cause fluid retention, which causes symptoms of bloating, breast tenderness, and headaches.
Endorphins are hormones secreted by the pituitary gland. Sometimes if the pituitary gland does not secrete sufficient endorphins, it can lead to depression and increased pain sensitivity.
Occasionally, women suffer from a more severe form of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. This disorder can be especially debilitating for women and can cause lost time at work as well as severe pain. Unfortunately, few people understand how stressful and painful this illness can be.
It’s difficult to say why some women suffer from PMS and others never experience a difficult day. There seems to be some evidence that women may be more likely to suffer from PMS if they have an immediate relative that also suffers from PMS.
How do I recognize the onset of perimenopause?
Some women may start to experience certain changes in their bodies when they reach their mid- or late-30s. These changes may be symptoms of perimenopause, and they usually occur about 10 to 15 years before a woman stops menstruating. The perimenopause period for women and the severity of the symptoms vary from one individual to another.
Perimenopausel symptoms are caused by hormonal imbalances in women who are nearing the age of menopause, and they can be subtle changes in the body or they can be so severe that medical attention is required. Here are some of the common symptoms that are associated with perimenopause:
Hot flashes and night sweats
The estrogen levels in perimenopausal women are unstable, and they will cause the temperature regulating system in the body to become jumpy. This will result in hot flashes, which are characterized by heat surges in certain parts of the body as well as flushing on the face and neck, and red blotches on the back, chests, and arms. When hot flashes occur during sleep, they will cause profuse sweating that can drench your clothes and sheets. Night sweats are a major cause of insomnia in women who are perimenopausal.
Menstrual irregularity
Perimenopausal women can be fertile, but most of them will experience a more irregular menstrual cycle. During perimenopause, the eggs in the body will start to decrease in numbers, but the pituitary gland will continue to produce hormones to facilitate ovulation. Ovulation will become more inconsistent; menstrual cycles may become shorter or longer and the menstrual flow may become lighter or heavier. Menstrual irregularity in perimenopausal women is also a sign of decreasing fertility.
Mood swings
Women who are undergoing perimenopause may also experience mood swings. There are occasions when they may feel depressed, anxious, irritable, or weepy - this can be directly related to sudden shifts of hormonal imbalance, but may also be caused by insomnia or other perimenopause symptoms.
Vaginal problems and loss of interest in sex
As estrogen levels in the body begin to decline, the vagina will start to lose elasticity and lubrication, and this may make sexual intercourse a painful experience. As a result, some women will lose interest in sex. Depleted estrogen levels will also make women more susceptible to vaginal infections.
Migraine headaches
Migraine headache is also a common symptom of perimenopause, and medical experts believe that it is caused by hormonal imbalance. A study shows that calcium and vitamin D are effective in reducing the severity and frequency of migraine headaches.
Bone loss
Lower estrogen levels will also cause the bones in the body to deplete faster, and this makes perimenopausal women more vulnerable to osteoporosis.
Change in cholesterol levels
With less estrogen in the body, perimenopausal women will experience certain changes in blood cholesterol levels. There will be a decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which will both contribute to a higher risk of heart illnesses.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms of perimenopause, it is advisable that you consult a doctor.
Does
perimenopause cause
depression?
Recent medical findings have shown that all perimenopausal women are vulnerable to depression. The years leading up to perimenopause are not the only indicator of perimenopause symptoms including actual depression.
A research project studied 450 women with perimenopause symptoms with no history of depression for six years. When menstrual irregularities indicated perimenopause symptoms, the study group became twice as susceptible to depression. Interesting, the theory is that women’s brains do not respond well to hormonal flux.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) treats depression but it’s not the only choice. And that’s important because there are now well-known side effects with HRT. The study further showed that the use of an anti-depressant in women with perimenopause symptoms do just as well on an anti-depressant as HRT – actually, the anti-depressant drug was better than hormone replacement therapy at beating perimenopause symptoms of depression.
Further research is currently underway and many practitioners have different viewpoints, but the use of all-natural progesterone balancing creams are working well for a significant number of women. For example, botanical-based creams are available to help the body balance naturally; some are conveniently packaged with a pre-metered pump. Dr. John Lee recommends looking for those that contain 960 mg USP progesterone per 2 oz. tube.
Natural balancing creams are applied to the soft tissues, including chest, inner arms, neck, face, palms of the hand, and soles of the feet (with the best results rotating applications to different soft tissues).
Natural alternatives are a growing source of relief to women with perimenopause symptoms, early menopause symptoms, and symptoms of menopause. While the causes of night sweats are not yet fully understood, all-natural balancing creams are showing themselves to be a practical solution.
Note: Natural progesterone in menopausal women is important to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen. Unopposed estrogen creates a risk for reproductive and breast cancers.
What are the symptoms of early menopause?
Did you know early menopause typically means that a woman experiences menopause symptoms before the average age of 47? Symptoms of early menopause may start as young as the 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s.
This time leading up to actual menopause is called perimenopause and is started by fluctuating hormone levels. Typically perimenopause can start in the late 30’s or early 40’s. Often when people talk about menopause, they’re actually talking about perimenopause since this is the time they first begin noticing early menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, sweats, irregular periods, and mood swings.
The actual definition of full menopause is total cessation of periods for 12 months and an FSH hormone level in an elevated range. The average age for women to have completed menopause is age 51.
Conditions contributing to early menopause symptoms
Anything that causes premature ovarian failure is a major contributor to early menopause symptoms. The two major factors are autoimmune disorder and chromosomal irregularity. In the case of autoimmune disorder, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself which, if the ovaries are what's being attacked, leads to missed periods and early menopause symptoms. Chromosomal irregularities are of a hereditary nature and caused by defects on the X chromosome.
Surgery also leads to early menopause symptoms
Typically, a radical hysterectomy drives lower estrogen and progesterone levels and immediate menopause is the result. Removal of either or both ovaries due to cancer, cysts, or tubal ligation also radically alters hormone levels which can lead to early menopause symptoms.
Other factors leading to early menopause symptoms
Family history is a leading factor as women tend to go through menopause at about the same time as their mothers and sisters. Viral infections in the womb can cause the child to be born with a lower number of eggs, which causes symptoms of early menopause later in life.
Diseases leading to early menopause symptoms
Thyroid disease is a major disease leading to early menopause as well as pituitary and/or hypothalmic disorders.
Historically, physicians prescribed hormone replacement therapy (synthetic) to offset the unpleasant side effects of menopause. However, results from a National Institute of Health study published on July 9, 2002 showed marked increases in breast cancer, heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots in the test group. The study, which made headlines around the world, led medical organizations and the food and drug administration to revise their policies for hormone replacement therapy. They now say to use bio-identical (natural) hormone replacement therapy.
How do I recognize the onset of menopause?
Menopause does not occur overnight, but rather is a gradual process of transition. This transition period (known as perimenopause) is different for each woman.
Perimenopausal women may experience similar symptoms to PMS, or no symptoms at all. For some women, the cessation of periods can be the only symptom of menopause they have. About half of women experience slight physical or mental changes while approximately 25% inconvenient and/or distressing problems.
Scientists are still trying to identify all the factors that initiate and influence this transition. Women in perimenopause transition typically experience abnormal vaginal bleeding such as erratic periods or abnormal bleeding patterns. Eventually a woman’s periods will completely stop as she completes this transition into menopause.
The average age of onset of menopause process is 51 years old. But there is no single method to predict when a woman will enter menopause. The age at which a woman starts having menstrual periods is also not related to the age of menopause onset. As a rough “rule of thumb” women tend to undergo menopause at an age similar to that of their mothers.
Alternative treatments include optimizing diet, such as increasing calcium intake to protect against osteoporosis. Soy and phytoestrogen-rich food intake can be increased, which are naturally occurring estrogen-like compounds. Natural medicines such as the use of acupuncture and homeopathy have been found by many women to be helpful with symptoms of menopause. Certain herbs and vitamins can also help with symptoms.
Hot flashes are common among women undergoing menopause. A hot flash is a feeling of warmth that spreads over the body. A hot flash is sometimes associated with flushing and is sometimes followed by perspiration. Sometimes hot flashes are accompanied by night sweats (episodes of drenching sweats at nighttime). The cause of hot flashes is not yet understood.
Recent research theory suggests that women with hot flashes seem to start sweating at a lower environmental temperature than women without hot flashes. There is currently no method to predict when hot flashes will begin and how long they will last. Hot flashes occur in up to 40% of regularly menstruating women in their forties, so they may begin before the menstrual irregularities characteristic of menopause even begin. About 80% of women will be finished having hot flashes after 5 years. Sometimes (in about 10% of women), hot flashes can last as long as 10 years. There is no way to predict when hot flashes will cease, though they tend to decrease in frequency over time. On average, hot flashes last about 5 years.
How do I get relief from menopausal symptoms?
The first clue for most women that they’re in transition to menopause (perimenopause) is that their menstrual cycles become irregular. The true symptom of menopause is that you’ve gone without a period for 12 consecutive months. A confirmation of menopause is checking the follicle-stimulating hormone level with a blood test. The typical symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, and headaches and insomnia.
Until recently, hormone therapy promised to solve the symptoms of menopause, however, in 2002 the women’s health initiative study reported that estrogen and progestin (Prempro), while solving the symptoms of menopause, raised the risk of heart disease and breast cancer.
Estrogen Decision
Visit http://www.johnleemd.com/store/resource_hormonetest.html. This website was actually developed by a noted physician where you can enter all important data about your concerns and medical status and help make an informed decision about whether to take hormones. The severity of your symptoms of menopause will play a large part in any recommendation to take hormone therapy.
Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy
Since the 2002 study, a number of all-natural hormone replacement therapy products have come to market claiming to resolve the symp-toms of menopause. Additional information can be found at http://www.hormones-beauty-health.com/progesterone.htm.
Lifestyle Changes
Many women have found that making lifestyle changes, while not totally resolving symptoms of menopause, go a long way towards relieving them – starting with diet, exercise, meditation, and water consumption. A good source for recipes supporting reduction of symptoms of menopause can be found at http://www.hormones-beauty-health.com/pageAppendix03.html.
Remember, while symptoms of menopause may be obvious, the official sign that menopause is complete is 12 months without a period. The time from when symptoms of menopause start until complete is termed perimenopause. Any decision to take hormone therapy should be considered very carefully; otherwise, symptoms of menopause can be fully or at least partially relieved by lifestyle changes and all-natural hormone replacement products.
What causes night sweats?
Night sweats can cause great discomfort, and they can certainly spoil a good night’s sleep. It is common for us to sweat during the night, but such sweating is usually caused by high temperature in the bedroom or too much clothing. Night sweating is actually a medical condition, and it usually has nothing to do with the conditions in the bedroom. Medical experts describe night sweats as hot flashes that happen during the night, causing people to sweat so profusely that their clothes and sheets become drenched. Some people may confuse night sweating with flushing, but they are actually two different kinds of conditions.
Reasons for night sweats vary from one individual to another, and a physician has to perform a medical check-up and evaluate your medical history to find out what is the exact cause of night sweat in you. However, there are a number of common reasons why people suffer from night sweats, and these include:
Menopause: The hot flashes that are experienced by women who are becoming menopausal can result in excessive sweating at night. This is due to the fluctuating levels of estrogen and the brain’s inability to adapt to the changes. A perimenopausal woman may be awakened from her sleep drenched in sweat, with the heart pounding and the body feeling clammy and cold. More than 75% of American women suffer from hot flashes due to hormone imbalance during the menopause transition. No one knows exactly what hormone imbalance happens to your body during a hot flash, but it appears that changes in our brain chemistry have something to do with it.
Infection: One of the types of infections that are commonly known to cause night sweats is tuberculosis. Night sweats also happen to those who are suffering from bacterial infections, such as inflammation in the bones, inflamed valves of the heart, and abscesses. Another type of infection that is known to cause night sweats is HIV infection.
Idiopathic hyperhidrosis: This is a condition that makes the body produce excessive sweat, but the medical cause of the sweating is still unknown.
Medication: There are a number of medications that can cause night sweats, and one of these is antidepressants. It is known that 8% to 22% of people who consume antidepressants experience night sweats. Consumption of medications for fever, such as acetaminophen and aspirin, can result in excessive sweating at night as well. Other drugs that are known to cause night sweats are niacin, tamoxifen, hydralazine, nitroglycerine, sildenafil or viagra, prednisone, and prednisolone.
Hormone disorders: It is common for people with hormone disorders to suffer from night sweats. Carcinoid syndrome, pheochromocytoma, and hyperthyroidism are some of the hormone disorders that can cause a person to sweat at night.
Cancer: Those who are suffering from cancer may experience night sweating during the early stage of the disease. Lymphoma is a type of cancer that is known to cause night sweats.
Neurologic condition: Certain neurologic conditions may make the body sweat too much, and these conditions include post-traumatic syringomyelia, autonomic dysreflexia, autonomic neuropathy, and stroke.
Hypoglycemia: Night sweats can sometimes be caused by low blood glucose. Those who consume anti-diabetic medication or insulin may suffer from hypoglycemia during night time, and this may be accompanied by night sweating.