HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy - Hormone Treatment

caroline_cd9 asked:


i am crossdresser and i am more into becoming a fem so like to start hormones but some said taking birth control pills can also feminize me and it also cheap .at moment i am little like fem , but like to transform more as fem.

Maria

Cathy Taylor asked:


Most women recognize that a hot flash is a sign of menopause, even if they aren’t sure what one feels like. But what about all of those other uncomfortable symptoms such as un expected migraines, or mood swings that cause you to weep uncontrollably at the site of a newborn baby? How can we be sure what we are experiencing is menopause, and what can we do to make ourselves more comfortable?

First of all, know that you are not alone.

Menopause currently affects more than 50 million women in the US. As a result, we are finding more and improved ways to cope with the numerous physical symptoms that can appear during the mid-life transition. This time can also come with a plethora of emotions we aren’t necessarily accustomed to dealing with. The good news is that when a woman enters the second half of her life, the change can be beautiful if we become aware of what is happening to us on a physical, mental and emotional level.

In some ways, menopause feels like a rush to the finish line which can be fun for some and too much pressure for others. It often comes at the same time we are facing huge life challenges such as an empty nest, losing loved ones, shifting marital roles, and/or taking care of elderly parents. Is it any wonder many of us find it overwhelming?

One thing is for certain, if you have any unfinished business that you have been sweeping under the carpet, it’s going to rear its head during menopause. As Dr. Christiane Northrup says in her book, The Wisdom of Menopause, “menopause puts your life under a microscope. It’s a time when we reflect on our life lived, and decide what we want to do with the rest of it. A time of getting to know you, all over again as well as of self care and healing.

Let’s address some of the changes your body might be going through and what can be done about them. The debate remains between traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the new bio-identical and alternative therapies. The intent here is to just lay out options so you can make an intelligent decision for yourself as well as review ways to find some practical help.

 

Menopause is a natural process in every woman’s life, but because of the way it is treated like an illness by some doctors, women often feel confused and devalued. On the other hand, many women find a renewed sense of vigor at menopause. This transition brings the chance to accomplish all of those things that we have put on the back burner. It can be a sweet time because women are much smarter at this stage of life and know how to relax and enjoy themselves better.

Being aware of the signs of menopause is crucial in being able to help yourself. Menopause is defined by our cycle’s cessation for at least 12 consecutive months. As a result, in a lot of cases, what women refer to as menopause is really perimenopause.

 

Perimenopause occurs as our reproductive function begins to wind down. It generally hits in the late 40s or early 50s and lasts for 2 to 4 years. During this time, our body makes less and less estrogen as we lose the ability to become pregnant. You may experience skipped periods or they could even stop for a while and then restart. You may have hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, weight gain and mood swings. You might begin having trouble sleeping. Vaginal dryness can start to play havoc with your sex life.

 

Remember, menopause symptoms are caused by an imbalance of female hormones. Symptoms can last a few months, while others may persist for years. Some women are bothered greatly by the symptoms of menopause, while others have very few complaints.

 

It’s important to note that natural menopause is different from what women who have surgery experience. Women who have had a hysterectomy can undergo what is labeled “surgical menopauseâ€? and the symptoms are experienced instantly post surgery. This type of induced menopause can also occur if the ovaries are damaged by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Here are some general survival tips that you can do right away that will make a significant difference in dealing with your menopause symptoms:

              

·         Make healthy food choices- eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid fatty, fried voids and drink plenty of water.

 

·         Get 30 minutes of exercise every day it doesn’t have to be strenuous! Walking is perfect as are dancing, swimming or cycling.

·         Maintain a healthy weight range if you do these first two tips, you don’t have to worry about this one.

 

·         Keep magnesium handy some women find relief from headaches, palpitations and constipation by taking magnesium.

·         If you smoke, STOP! It’s never too late.

·         Avoid caffeine, alcohol and excess salt and sugar.

 

·         Find ways to reduce stress like getting plenty of sleep, keeping your sense of humor and learning how to pamper yourself (this can be the fun part of getting older).

          

Last but certainly not least, find a doctor that will work with you on whatever treatment you choose. Keep in mind that most western doctors, unless they specialize in endocrinology, did not spend a lot of time studying hormones. Nor can a man know what you are going through because he hasn’t been there. But many doctors are now learning more about integrative medicine and there are lists available of these practitioners across the US.

Some women still believe in and continue to take HRT. With the advent of the recent Women’s Health Initiative report that indicated women taking HRT suffered from more heart attacks, strokes and blood clots, you may want to seek out alternative treatments. Find a good news source to keep up to date on these research studies.

 

There are plenty of natural options that can soothe symptoms. Read up on bio-identical hormones. I have been able to balance out declining progesterone levels with an over-the-counter cream. Within days I was relieved of debilitating mood swings, irritability and the occasional hot flash. I also fight depression with 5HTP.

 

There are great forums on the internet where women talk about their issues and what they tried that did and didn’t work. Join an online discussion group so you don;t feel alone. With so many alternatives available to women today, there is no need for any of us to suffer through menopause.



Michael

mahraja asked:


every thing was going good & my high became normal but when i get to the step in which they gave me the female hormones (progestron & estrogen because there amount are very little ) since one year ago until now i didn’t see much improvement.so how many years it need to finsh the HRT do you think?note i’m taking the medicines according to the doctor description

Sasha

intheerlystages1 asked:


I am a male wanting to transition to female and was wondering how long it would take to see some results on hormones. I know it is not a quick or simple fix, nor should it be. Any help that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

Diana

Dawn M. Olsen asked:


In a blow to certain drug makers, the FDA has sent letters warning seven pharmacy operations that the claims they make about the safety and effectiveness of their so-called “bio-identical hormone replacement therapy,” or “BHRT” products are unsupported by medical evidence, and are considered false and misleading by the agency. According to the FDA, they are concerned that unfounded claims like these mislead women and health care professionals.

Bioidentical hormones are custom-mixed formulas containing various hormones that are designed to be chemically identical to those naturally made by your body. These prescription and over-the-counter products are marketed as being superior to other FDA-approved HRT regimens, and are tailored to a woman’s individual hormone needs, typically determined through saliva hormone testing. Manufacturers claim that bioidentical hormones are even safer than standard, FDA-approved hormone therapy.

The FDA states that the pharmacy operations in question improperly claim that their drugs, which contain hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and estriol (which is not a component of an FDA-approved drug and has not been proven safe and effective for any use) are superior to FDA-approved menopausal hormone therapy drugs and prevent or treat serious diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and various forms of cancer.

The FDA is concerned that the claims for safety, effectiveness, and superiority that these pharmacy operations are making mislead patients, doctors and other health care professionals. Compounded drugs are not reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness, and the FDA encourages patients to use FDA-approved drugs whenever possible. The warning letters issues by the FDA state that the pharmacy operations violate federal law by making false and misleading claims about their hormone therapy drugs.

“We want to assure that Americans receive accurate information about the risks and benefits of drug therapies,” said Dr. Janet Woodcock, FDA’s chief medical officer and acting director of the agency’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “In addition to today’s regulatory action, FDA is publishing an informational article for women on its consumer health information web page that provides the facts to make informed decisions about these unapproved therapies. Women taking these drugs should discuss with their health care providers the drugs’ risks and whether they’re getting effective treatment.” (see http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/bioidenticals010908.html for more info on the FDA’s stance on BIO HRT.)

So, what does this mean to your menopause symptoms treatment options? The most important thing to consider is that no drug product containing estriol has been approved by FDA and the safety and effectiveness of estriol is unknown. There are, however, many natural and alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms that ARE proven safe and effective.

Herbal menopause treatment, for example is a natural and increasingly popular alternative, since it is gentle and works in harmony with the woman’s body. However, it is important that a woman taking herbs should tell her doctor because just as with prescription drugs, herbs can also present possible interactions with other drugs or herbs, thus causing side effects. Additionally, there are a number of foods and herbs that include natural plant estrogens, known as phytoestrogens, which are hormone regulators of natural progesterone and estrogen. These too can be very beneficial in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

“Menopause Formula” is herbal-based and an all-natural nutritional supplement that contains phytoestrogens. Soy products also contain phytoestrogens and may be helpful in reducing hot flashes and osteoporosis, along with treatment of vaginal dryness. It is important to remember that the effects of soy protein, which is found in whole foods, soy protein isolates, and products containing isoflavone isolates, may not all be the same. Some other alternatives for herbal menopause treatment include black cohosh, which relieves menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, and chaste tree, which has a calming and soothing effect along with noted relief of headaches and tenderness of the breasts.

Wild yam is yet another option to herbal menopause treatment, containing compounds that are similar to progesterone and very helpful in relaxing muscle spasms while also reducing inflammation associated with menopause-related symptoms. Last but not least is rosemary. This particular herb is excellent for treating headaches and circulatory problems, while also fighting free radicals in the body and relaxing the stomach for better digestion. These and other natural alternatives have not been scientifically proven but have been used by many healthy women for years. Therefore, for the woman tired of taking prescription medication or just dealing with the symptoms of menopause, these and other natural remedies are highly recommended.



Jacob

cmlr asked:


Can a woman still be vital and happy with out HRT? I get strong vibes from my Doc. and the media that I will shrivel up and die if I don’t. Is it a fast, slippery slope down hill if I don’t replace my hormone?

Shaun

Sharon Bell asked:


Don’t let menopause ruin your sex life

By Sharon Bell

There’s no reason why you can’t have a happy and satisfying sex life during and after the menopause. According to UK’s Jubilee Report, a study into the attitudes and lifestyles of women born when the Queen came to power, life begins at 50 for many British women.

They have more fun, more freedom, more energy and better sex than previous generations who were more likely to dread the onset of middle age, noted the Social Issues Research Centre.

The research found 65 percent of women felt they were happier now than before the menopause. Some 66 percent said they were more independent, while 64 percent said their sex lives had gotten better or had not changed since the menopause. Another 59 percent of women said their relationships with partners and families had improved.

Celebrity role models like actress Joan Collins have already shown women that reaching the menopause does not necessarily mean the end of an active sex life. Collins got married in 2001 for the fifth time at the age of 69 to a husband over three decades younger.

While it is also true that sex drive (libido) tends to naturally fall as we get older, physical contact need not diminish at all. With some treatments, a woman can even increase her sex drive.

Menopausal women can always try hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It consists of natural or synthetic female sex hormones that replace the hormones a woman loses during the menopause. It comes in the form of tablets, patches or gels and always contains estrogen, either in a natural or synthetic form.

Kate Fox, a social scientist and co-director of the Social Issues Research Centre, which undertook the study, said the use of HRT has changed the lives of modern women.

The survey further revealed that women on HRT get more benefits after the onset of the menopause. Half of those surveyed reported improvements in their sex lives since the onset of the menopause compared with 18 percent of those who were not taking the drugs.

HRT can improve many symptoms of the menopause that can hinder a satisfactory sex life. Vaginal dryness, loss of lubrication, soreness, irritation, and vulnerability to bacterial infections and thrush may all be vastly improved by HRT. Hot flushes and night sweats may also be banished.

Another alternative is Zalestra. It provides proven, natural relief for the symptoms of menopause. It is the most complete hormonal balancing pill available today. Check out www.zalestra.com for more information.



Ella