Women and Menopause.6/11/00
The time in a female's life when the Ovaries cease to produce an egg cell every four weeks and therefore Menstruation ceases and the woman is no longer able to become pregnant.
Female Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.
Female Menopause causes a decline in female production of Oestrogens (and it is for this reason that post-menopausal women are often administered exogenous Synthetic Oestrogens (this practice known as Oestrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT)):
-Synthetic Oestrogens differ in their chemical structure to that of the body’s natural Oestrogens and can produce toxic side-effects that exceed those of natural, endogenous Oestrogens. For this reason post-menopausal women are advised to consider the use of natural Oestrogens in ERT (natural Oestrogens are more difficult to procure than Synthetic Oestrogens).
-The ideal proportions of Oestrogens (preferably natural Oestrogens) for post-
menopausal females in Oestrogen Replacement Therapy is:
-80% Oestriol
-10% Oestradiol
-10% Oestrone
The female body's endogenous production of Progesterone falls to very close to zero during and for some time prior to Menopause:
-In fact serum levels of Progesterone in menopausal females are lower than that of males.
-Supplemental, exogenous Natural Progesterone can therefore alleviate the discomfort (including the “hot flashes”) experienced by many females prior to, during and immediately following Menopause.
Small (but biologically significant) quantities of Testosterone are manufactured by the Ovaries up until Menopause - this Ovary-manufactured Testosterone contributes to female Sexual Desire - after Menopause approximately 35% of females have reduced Sexual Desire due to the cessation of Testosterone production by the Ovaries (the other 65% manufacture enough Testosterone in their Adrenal Glands to sustain their Sexual Desire).
Clonidine is sometimes prescribed to prevent the hot flushes associated with female Menopause [caution: Clonidine has some toxic side-effects].
Toxic Side-Effects of Clonidine
Oedema (water retention). Obesity. Sexual Desire
Female Menopause Inhibits these Substances
Melatonin, Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone.
Post-menopausal females absorb dietary Calcium less efficiently - this accounts for the greater risk of Osteoporosis in post-menopausal females.
Side-Effects Occurring during Female Menopause
Varicose Veins, Lethargy, Bone loss, Male pattern baldness, Osteoporosis, Anxiety, Concentration, Depression, Insomnia, Irritability, Sex drive and Vaginitis.
It is widely believed that females require additional Oestrogens (Oestrogen Replacement Therapy) during and after Menopause:
-During and following Menopause, many females do NOT require Oestrogen Replacement Therapy - the female body still produces a small quantity of Oestrogens (from Androstenedione within Adipose Tissue) - Oestrogen production merely declines in tandem with the female body's reduced requirement for Oestrogen that was formerly necessary to prepare her Endometrium for Pregnancy.
-Notwithstanding the information in the previous paragraph, it is noteworthy that Oestrogen Replacment Therapy has been found to protect against the development of Alzheimer’s Disease in post-menopausal females.
Oestrogens
Group of Female Sexual Steroid Hormones produced in the Ovaries and (to a lesser extent in males) the Testes. Recently (March 1997), researchers discovered that Oestrogens are also produced within the Brain by Astrocytes.
Supplemental Oestrogens (administered during the 5 years immediately following Menopause) inhibits the rate of Bone loss that occurs during Osteoporosis (by inhibiting the production of Interleukin 6 which in turn inhibits the production of Osteoclasts). Oestrogens do NOT influence Bone building (which is mediated by Osteoblasts, upon which Oestrogens do not exert any effects) [scientific research - females: supplemental Oestrogens only retard the Bone loss associated with Osteoporosis during the 5 years following Menopause, after that period Osteoclast-mediated Bone loss proceeds at the same rate as in those females who are not undergoing Oestrogen replacement therapy].
Oestrogens (preferably natural Oestrogens identical in chemical structure to those produced endogenously) help to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease in post-
menopausal women and improve the Mental Function of persons afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease [preliminary epidemiological research: females on Oestrogen-
Replacement Therapy have a 40% reduced incidence of Alzheimer's Disease] [scientific research - animals: Oestrogens help to prevent age related changes in Neurons] [scientific research - humans (1996): supplemental, exogenous Oestrogens improved the Mental Function and the ability to undertake daily activities in 85% of persons - 60% of subjects improved greatly, 30% improved moderately and 10% did not improve]
Oestrogens help to prepare the female body for Pregnancy by stimulating the production of Trophoblasts [caution: when the manufacture of Trophoblasts is stimulated in situations other than Pregnancy, Cancer can result - Trophoblasts can be detected in almost all Cancer sufferers by testing for the presence of Chorionic Gonadotrophic Hormone that is manufactured by these Trophoblasts].
Vaginitis can occur as a result of insufficient production of Oestrogens.
Tamoxifen is used to prevent Breast Cancer by blocking the receptor sites for Oestrogens within the body [caution: Tamoxifen increases the risk of Liver Cancer].
Excessive Oestrogens production increases the risk of some forms of Cancer:
Breast Cancer is a toxic side effect of too much Estrogen (specifically 2-Hydroxyestrone form of Oestrone)
Pharmaceutical supplementation of Oestrogens to postmenopausal females is a major cause of Endometrial Cancer (due to their Oestrone and/or Oestradiol component) [epidemiological evidence: when given to postmenopausal females, Oestrogen supplements for five years increase the risk of Endometrial Cancer by 600%].
Excessive use of exogenous, supplemental Oestrogens by postmenopausal females increases their risk of developing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) [scientific observations: the longer a female undertakes Oestrogen Replacement Therapy, the greater the risk of SLE].
Oestrogens inhibit the mobilization of Adipose Tissue from Cellulite for redistribution to other areas of the body (possibly accounting for the greater incidence of Cellulite in females than in males).
Excessive Oestrogens levels can cause Depression
Low dosages of Synthetic Oestrogens are often prescribed in the treatment of Endometriosis (in order to suppress the manufacture of endogenous Oestrogens that exacerbate the Pain associated with Endometriosis) [this strategy is normally unsuccessful as it does not prevent the proliferation of Endometrial Tissue that underlies Endometriosis].
Synthetic Oestrogens increase the risk of Hypertension
Excessive use of Synthetic Oestrogens stimulates the abnormal Cell Growth that is implicated in the development of Uterus Cancer
Excessive use of Synthetic Oestrogens increase the risk of Endometrial Cancer [epidemiological evidence: women who use Synthetic Oestrogens “unopposed” by Progesterone have a 14% greater risk of Endometrial Cancer compared to women who have normal endogenous levels of Oestrogens and Progesterone].
Synthetic Oestrogens increase the risk of Cholestasis (impaired delivery of Bile to the Intestines).
Optimal endogenous Progesterone levels appear to assist the prevention of all forms of Cancer (in females) [epidemiological evidence: Progesterone-deficient females exhibit a 10-fold higher rate of death from all forms of Cancer compared to females with optimal Progesterone levels]:
-Optimal endogenous Progesterone levels help to prevent the development of Breast Cancer [scientific research - humans: premenopausal females with low Progesterone levels have a 5.4 times greater risk of developing Breast Cancer].
-Supplemental, exogenous natural Progesterone helps to prevent Endometrial Cancer in postmenopausal females (by counteracting Oestrogens-dominance that is implicated in Endometrial Cancer).
Supplemental, exogenous, natural Progesterone (especially in post-menopausal females) prevents and REVERSES Osteoporosis (by stimulating Osteoblast activity) [scientific research - postmenopausal females: Progesterone deficiency is a major cause of Osteoporosis; supplemental Progesterone increases bone mass density (BMD) by 7% after 1 year of supplementation, by 12% after 2 years, and by 15% after 3 years; females administered supplemental Progesterone up to the age of 80 following Menopause exhibit strong bones without evidence of bone loss while continuing to use natural Progesterone].
Many Progestins (ie. analogues of Progesterone) are claimed to be or are marketed as Progesterone. As mentioned above, Progestins have a different chemical structure to natural Progesterone and do not provide the full spectrum of Natural Progesterone's biological activity and can cause numerous toxic side-effects. The primary reason for the development of Progestins as analogues of Progesterone was to allow pharmaceutical companies to hold patents on their chemical structure (which are unavailable in respect of true Progesterone - a natural substance).
The Endochrine System
The glandular system that produces hormones.
Name the glands
With this system in balance Menopause will not be a problem.
Explain how it is balanced.
Everything comes back to the U.H.M.
Products to help the Hormones when a person is going through Menopause.
Vit. E
Black Cohosh
Dong Quai
Mexican Wild Yam
Passion Flower
Sarsaparilla
SumaCaterpillar Fungus (China)
Products that help Progesterone
Vit. B6, E.
W.W. Pages 18 Adrenal Glands
19. All the glands
50. Two Pointing
References
Gamma Oryzanol and Female Menopause
·Ishihara, M. Effect of gamma-oryzanol on serum lipid peroxide levels and climacteric disturbances. Asia Oceania J Obstet Gynecol. 10:317, 1984.
·Murase, Y., et al. Clinical studies of oral administration of gamma oryzanol on climacteric complaints and its syndrome. Obstet Gynecol Prac. 12:147-149, 1963.
Hesperidin and Female Menopause
·Smith, C. J. Non-hormonal control of vaso-motor flushing in menopausal patients. Chicago Med. March 7, 1964.
Vitamin E and Female Menopause
·Finkler, R. S. The effect of vitamin E in the menopause. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 9:89-94, 1949.
·Gozan, H. A. The use of vitamin E in the treatment of the menopause. New York State Medicine Journal. May 15, 1952, pp. 1289-1291.
·Kavinoky, N. R. Vitamin E and the control of climacteric symptoms. Annals of Western Medicine and Surgery. 4(1):27-32, 1950.
·McLaren, H. C. Vitamin E in the menopause. British Medical Journal. ii:1378-1381, 1949.
Books about (female) Menopause
·Menopause: How You Can Benefit from Diet, Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs, Exercise and other Natural Methods. Author: Michael T Murray, N.D. Paperback. 182 pages. Price: US $12.95. Prima Publishing. April 1994. ISBN: 1559584270
Alzheimer’s Disease and Oestrogens
·Birge, S. J. Is there a role for estrogen replacement therapy in the prevention and treatment of dementia? J Am Geriatr Soc. 44(7):865-870, 1996.
·Lerner, A., et al. Smoking and oestrogen-replacement therapy as protective factors for Alzheimer’s disease [letter]. The Lancet. 349(9049):403-404, 1997.
·Tang, M., et al. Effect of oestrogen during menopause on risk and age at onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The Lancet. 348(9025), 1996.
·Paganini-Hill, A. Oestrogen replacement therapy and Alzheimer’s disease. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 103(13):80-86, 1996.
·Zwain, I. H., et al. Astrocytes cultured in vitro produce estradiol-17-beta and express aromatase cytochrome p-450 (P-450 AROM) mRNA. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1334(2-3):338-348, 1997.
Dendrites and Oestrogens
·Zwain, I. H., et al. Astrocytes cultured in vitro produce estradiol-17-beta and express aromatase cytochrome p-450 (P-450 AROM) mRNA. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1334(2-3):338-348, 1997.
Skin/Wrinkles and (topical) Oestrogens
·Schmidt, J. B., et al. Treatment of skin aging with topical estrogens. International Journal of Dermatology. 9(35):669-674. 1996.
Wrinkles and (oral) Oestogens
·Dunn, L. B. Does estrogen prevent skin aging? Results from the First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I). Archives of Dermatology. 133:339-342, 1997.
Bones and Progesterone
·Prior, J. C. Progesterone as a bone-trophic hormone. Endocrine Reviews. 11:386-398, 1990.
Cancer and Progesterone
·Cowan, L. D., et al. Breast cancer incidence in women with a history of progesterone deficiency. J Epidemiol. 114:209-217, 1981.
Cardiovascular Diseases and Progesterone
·The Writing Group for the PEPI Trial. Effects of estrogen or estrogen/progestin regimens on heart disease risk factors in postemenopausal women. Journal of the American Medical Association. 273:199-208, 1995.
Chaste Berry and Progesterone
·Losh, E. G., et al. Diagnosis and treatment of dyshormonal menstrual periods in the general practice. Gynakol Praxis. 14 (3):489-495, 1990.
·Propping, D., et al Treatment of corpus luteum insufficiency. Zeits Allgemeinmedizin. 63:932-3, 1987.
Hair Loss (Female) and Progesterone
·Barnard, N. Natural progesterone: Is estrogen the wrong hormone?, Good Medicine, Spring 1994;11-13.
Heart Attack and Progesterone
·Miyagawa, K., et al. Medroxyprogesterone interferes with ovarian steroid protection against coronary vasospasm. Nature Med. 3:324-327, 1997.
Osteoporosis and Progesterone
·Barnard, N. D. Natural progesterone: Is estrogen the wrong hormone? An interview with John R. Lee, MD. Good Health. Spring, 1994.
·Lee, J. R. Is natural progesterone the missing link in osteoporosis prevention and treatment? Medical Hypotheses. 35:316-318, 1991.
·Prior, J. C., et al. Progesterone and the prevention of osteoporosis. Canadian Journal of Obstetrics/Gynecology & Women’s Health Care. 3:178-84, 1991.
·Lee, J.R. Osteoporosis reversal: The role of progesterone. Intern Clin Nutr Rev. 10:384-91, 1990.
·Lee, J.R. Osteoporosis reversal with transdermal progesterone (letter). The Lancet. 336:1327, 1990.