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Welcome to the Hormone Jungle! Surgical Menopause: Surgical Menopause is a result of an oopherectomy (removal of ovaries) or the loss of function of ovaries because of chemotherapy, radiation, or other medical treatment. Surgical Menopause is different than natural menopause in that it is immediate, without benefit of slowing of ovary functions and the ovary benefits women enjoy post-natural menopause. While the hormone jungle is not the easiest place to be, this website should be able to help you navigate through the dark, hot, sometimes sticky remote places of hormone replacement therapy. Journey through discussions with other women going through surgical menopause in our [Message Boards]. Read through the archived [Hormone Jungle Articles] and check out the newest article for surgical menopause. Need hysterectomy recovery help and support? Check out the HysterSisters wedbsite for Hysterectomy information. 
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Experimenting with Supplements? - by Debbie DeAngelo, RNC, BSN, author of Sudden Menopause Black cohosh, chaste tree, red clover, calcium, essential fatty acids---the array of dietary supplements is mind boggling and leaves us feeling overwhelmed and confused. Do they help with sudden menopause? Are they safe? Which ones should be used? When used responsibly, dietary supplements help alleviate menopausal changes, fortify your diet, enhance stamina, bolster immunity and reduce risk of chronic illnesses such as osteoporosis and cancer. Vitamins, minerals and herbs can be used by women who arenÕt taking medicine to manage their menopausal symptoms as well as by women who are taking medicine to manage their menopausal symptoms. However, sometimes the types of supplements recommended may vary between these two groups. In either case, it is imperative to have a basic working knowledge of the supplements you wish to try. This includes information about dosage, duration of use, side-effects and drug interactions. Even though readily available over-the-counter, supplements can still interact with certain medications. As a general rule of thumb, allow at least two hours to elapse between taking medicine and nutritional supplements. Also, it you are taking medication, undergoing cancer treatments or are scheduled for surgery or a procedure; be sure to discuss your supplements with your doctor and pharmacist. Sometimes you need to suspend taking specific vitamins and herbal products immediately before and during cancer treatments or prior to a surgical or invasive procedure. Fatigue For example, many hysterectomized women report fatigue for up to one year after surgery. Ashwagandha is an ayurvedic herb that naturopaths use to improve stamina. Since it supports the adrenal glands, it has the added benefit of helping to balance hormones by counteracting the effects of cortisol (a stress hormone). Many women report that it buoys energy level, improves sleep, and assists in managing hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. For optimal effectiveness, take 500-1,000 mg in the morning and again early afternoon. Ashwagandha should be cycled at two to three month intervals with a two to four week break in between. You should notice a difference in two to four weeks. Do not combine this herb with sedatives or alcohol and avoid using if you have an overactive thyroid. Hot Flashes Another option for Òred-hotÓ menopausal women is my hot flash cocktail. This combination of vitamins can be used alone or in conjunction with most herbal products as well as dietary sources of soy and ground flaxseed. Here is the recipe: Hot Flash Cocktail Choosing Herbal Products Since using herbal products is like venturing into foreign territory for most people, I have excerpted the following guideline from my book, Sudden Menopause.
Debbie DeAngelo, RNC, BSN, is the author of Sudden Menopause - a book recommended by the HysterSisters.
November 8, 2004 Clinical Trial for Treatment of Female Sexual Arousal Disorder - Post Hyst Alistaª Clinical Study A clinical study is a research method used to test a drug or medical device in humans after it has demonstrated a positive result in the laboratory and/or in animal studies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees human drug testing to protect the public, closely monitors studies. The goal of each study is to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. Clinical studies are the safest and quickest way to find new drugs/treatments that are safe and effective. New clinical studies are being conducted throughout the U.S. to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ALISTA, a topically applied product for the treatment of women with female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) as a result of undergoing a hysterectomy. As there are no medications currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of diminished sexual arousal, these clinical studies are an important step in the development of new therapeutic options to provide women with useful treatments for decreased sexual arousal. Women who are interested in learning more about the ALISTA clinical studies are encouraged to call 1-866-4-ALISTA (1-866-425-4782) to learn more about participating in this important research. Or Click Here for more information! Why You Should Use a Natural or Bio-Identical Hormone Regimen By Pete Hueseman, R.Ph., P.D. The hormone supplementation that I have been recommending for the past 15 to 20 years uses human bio-identical hormones only. In every tissue of the body there are receptors that respond to estrogen and androgen to protect against conditions and diseases associated with hormone deficiency. When women are treated for menopause, they should not be treated equally, and get the same dose regimen. Rather, they should be treated in much the same way a physician would treat a thyroid or diabetes patient, that is to tailor the dose to fit each patient individually. Typically, a physician would do a complete clinical history work up for symptoms, as well as measuring the levels of the hormones with saliva, blood or urine testing. This is the only way it can be determined if the patient is getting too little, too much, or the correct amount of hormones. This testing should be done with each patient on a regular basis and adjustments of the hormone doses should be made as necessary. If this process of individualizing therapy followed by close monitoring is followed, then hormone therapy is safe when indicated. If indicated, women should start with a low dosage in early menopause, and reevaluate periodically. The preference of estrogen is generally estradiol or a combination of estradiol and estriol, also known as "biest". These hormones can be measured reliably in saliva or blood. The lowest dose that is effective for any one patient is the safest dose. Progesterone is commonly used to help balance the system, and protects the lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium. Progesterone is preferred in a micronized form. Testosterone can help with libido enhancement, mild depression, bone growth, fatigue, and is usually used sublingually or topically. |
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Last Post By: April Dawn
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More information on Hysterectomy Recovery can be found at Hyster Sisters Hysterectomy website *Standard Disclaimer* This website is not intended to take the place of your personal physician. Discuss all issues and concerns of HRT with your doctor.
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The Hormone Jungle Website is a product of Hyster Sisters¨