What are Bioidentical Hormones?

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06/30/2011 by MelissaDean - Tags: ,

In Dr. Melissa Dean’s last blog post, “Natural Hormone Replacement,” Dr. Dean cited a study from Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial of combined estrogen and progestin for preventing menopausal symptoms. In 2002, The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) shut down the research study because participants taking hormones had a higher risk of breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke. Even though the increased risk was marginal, researchers concluded that they had to stop the study and discontinue hormone therapy. Many of the participants found that the symptoms of menopause: sleeplessness, hot flashes and discomfort returned with intensity. However, NHLBI failed to disclose that their researchers did not use bioidentical hormones in the treatment.
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Natural Hormone Replacement

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06/30/2011 by MelissaDean - Tags: , , ,

Menopause affects every woman. Fortunately, women do not have to suffer through the discomfort of menopause any longer. Women are educating themselves on the different treatment options for menopause. More women are interested in learning more about natural hormone replacement.
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Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy Treatment Options

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04/21/2011 by JamesBass - Tags: , , ,

In our previous article titled, “Hormone Therapy: Is it right for you?” we defined hormone therapy and discussed important questions about the procedure. In this article Dr. Melissa Dean of Dean Wellness Institute in Vero Beach, FL will discuss menopause and what treatment options are available. Are you considering menopause and hormone replacement therapy? Read this article and contribute to the conversation in the comments section below.

Menopause At A Glance

- Menopause defined. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the functions of the ovaries cease. A decline in the natural hormone estrogen leads to the absence of menstrual periods.

- The process of menopause commonly referred to as “The Change” does not happen immediately, but rather it is a gradual process.

- The average age of menopause is 51 years old, but menopause occurs at different ages for different women. Some women may experience menopause as early as their 30s or as late as the 60s.

- The age at which a woman starts having her periods does not related to the age of menopause onset.

- Symptoms of menopause can include hot flashes, bone loss, lack of energy and minor depression.

- Menopause is linked to heart disease and osteoporosis.

- Treatments for menopause are customized for each patient.

- Treatments are directed toward alleviating uncomfortable or distressing symptoms.

What are the most common Treatment Options?

It is important to understand that menopause is a naturally change in a women’s body. Menopause occurs in women during their late 40’s and early 50’s. Changes in the hormone levels of the body can cause uncomfortable symptoms. Symptoms of hormonal change during menopause can be difficult. If you are struggling from hot flashes, high cholesterol, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, heavy menstrual periods or other menopause symptoms, treatment options can help you manage this transition more comfortably. As you consider your options always consult a health care professional like Dr. Melissa Dean. The Dean Wellness Institute can help tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs. Some women do not need treatment for menopause. Below are some of the common treatment options available.

1. Healthy Lifestyle: Eating well, exercising and living an overall healthy lifestyle can reduce menopause symptoms. Nutritional analysis to determine if you’re eating a balanced diet; exercising regularly; reducing stress; and avoiding alcohol and smoking are all lifestyle choices that can help reduce the discomfort of menopause symptoms.

2. Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy (HT) is used to help replace or supplement the hormones that are naturally diminishing due to menopause. Hormone therapy my also be referred to as estrogen and progesterone therapy. The replacement of these natural hormones can alleviate the discomfort of the symptoms. After menopause, hormone therapy can be used as treatment for moderate to severe symptoms when taken in an appropriate dose. Hormone therapy has been used to control the symptoms of menopause related to declining estrogen levels. Estrogens or a combination of estrogens and progesterone (progestin) are administered to supplement a decline in natural hormones. Dr. Melissa Dean’s website provides further explanation for bio-identical hormone therapy.

3. Natural alternatives. According to Journal of the British Menopause Society, some nutritional supplements and vitamins can help relieve the symptoms of menopause. Here is a brief list of supplements and vitamins thought to help with menopause. Dr. Melissa Dean recommends to always consult an experienced doctor before self-medicating.

- Red clover isoflavone supplements

- Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidus

- Vitamin E , Calcium (MCHC) or calcium citrate, Magnesium, Vitamin C

- Black Cohosh

You may find it challenging to decide which treatment option is best for you because of the different choices available and possible side effects. You may only need a specific treatment for certain symptoms, such as hot flashes or bone loss. To see a list of common symptoms read our previous article, “Hormone Therapy: Is it right for you?”.

What to discuss when talking about menopause treatment options with your doctor:

- Explain your symptoms and how they affect you.

- How long have you been experiencing your symptoms?

- Your personal risks based on your preexisting health, overall health, and your risk for disease such as cancer and heart disease.

- What other, if any treatment options have your tried before.

Our next article will discuss, “Natural Hormone Replacement”. Dr. Melissa Dean of Dean Wellness Institute has many years of experience diagnosing and treating women and men coping with menopause and andropause. You should consult your doctor to determine what treatment options are right for you. Dean Wellness Institutes’ mission is to work with each patient in a team approach and to provide the most up to date information in an integrative manner that empowers each patient to be the best they choose to be. Dr. Melissa Dean and the team at Dean Wellness Institute, in Vero Beach, Florida are available to answer any questions you have. Feel free to comment on this article below or contact Dr. Melissa Dean directly to schedule an appointment at (772) 567-1500.

References

- Women’s Health. Menopause. http://www.womenshealth.gov/menopause/treatment/ Accessed Sep. 28, 2010

- WebMD. Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause. http://www.webmd.com/menopause/guide/menopause-hormone-therapy. Accessed Sep. 6, 2009

- The National Institutes of Health.
The Journal of Women’s Health, January/February 2006 issue.
WebMD Medical Reference provided in collaboration with The Cleveland Clinic: “Is Hormone Therapy Helpful After All.”

Is Hormone Therapy Right For You?

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04/21/2011 by JamesBass - Tags: , ,

To understand if hormone therapy is right for you, it is important to first discuss some basic questions: What is hormone therapy? How does hormone therapy work? Are you a candidate for hormone replacement therapy? And, what are the benefits of hormone replacement therapy? Dr. Melissa Dean of Dean Wellness Institute in Vero Beach, FL answers these important questions so that you can determine if hormone therapy is right for you. Please provide your comments at the bottom of this article to join the conversation.

What is hormone therapy?

A broad definition of hormone therapy is the use of hormones in medical treatment. Hormone therapy is used for many different medical treatments, such as: cancer, aging, psychological and hormonal deficiency treatment. Hormone therapy is most commonly associated with anti-aging for women coping with the symptoms of menopause. However, did you know that hormone therapy is also used for men coping with symptoms of andropause? Andropause is the male equivalent of menopause. Hormone therapy is used to help replace or supplement the hormones that are naturally diminishing due to perimenopause, menopause or andropause. Below we discuss the benefits of hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy.

How does hormone therapy work?

Hormone therapy for anti-aging in regenerative medicine consists of medications containing female or male hormones to replace the ones the body naturally stops making after menopause and andropause. The specific hormone that the female body stops producing or diminishes producing is Progesterone also known as P4. The specific hormone that the male body stops producing or diminishes producing is Testosterone. Progesterone is a C-21 steroid hormone meaning its a progestagen, produced directly from pregnenolone and secreted from the corpus luteum, responsible for changes associated with luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, differentiation factor for mammary glands. More simply put, progesterone is involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans. In men, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as the testis and prostate as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle, bone mass and the growth of facial-hair.

As men and woman age we naturally slow production of hormones that were in abundance during our youth. The female hormone progesterone levels in the body that regulates your menstruation and ovulation begin to decline. These hormones are responsible for signaling to your body when it is time to menstruate and ovulate. As these hormones naturally decline, your body slowly starts to stop ovulation and menstruation all together. When this occurs it is commonly referred to as “The Change” and you have entered the menopausal phase of life. If you would like a more detailed explanation consult experts like Dr. Melissa Dean who specializes in regenerative medicine.

Who is a candidate for hormone therapy?

Women approaching midlife, during their late 40s and early 50s, menopause typically, but not always begins. Menopause signals the end of a woman’s fertile phase of life. If you begin to experience the symptoms of menopause, hormone therapy might be right for you.

According to the Mayo Clinic here is a list of the symptoms of menopause:

  • Irregular periods
  • Decreased fertility
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Hot flashes
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Mood swings
  • Increased abdominal fat
  • Thinning hair
  • Loss of breast fullness

Men in their late 40s and early 50s experiencing energy loss, depression, loss of libido and sexual dysfunction may be experiencing andropause. Some doctors are recommending that men of a certain age experiencing these symptoms are just as much candidates for hormone replacement therapy as women dealing with menopause.

Always talk with your doctor about your personal health decisions and risks.

Benefits of Hormone Therapy

For women who undergo menopause, estrogen is typically prescribed along with progestin, a man-made version of progesterone. This is because estrogen without progestin can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Women who undergo menopause as the result of a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone.

Women who take estrogen for relief of menopausal symptoms may gain some protection against the following conditions:

  1. Discomfort. It can ease symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and irritation
  2. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone density. Studies show that hormone therapy can prevent the bone loss that occurs after menopause, which decreases the risk of osteoporosis-related injuries in older age.
  3. Cancer. Studies show that hormone therapy can decrease the risk of certain types of cancer.
  4. Heart disease. Decreased risk of heart disease when taken early in your postmenopausal years.
  5. Hot flashes. The relief of hot flashes is the most significant benefit you will perceive soon after starting hormone replacement therapy. Estrogens are remarkable effective in eliminating this annoying symptom. Hot flashes can occur during the day or at night, as “night sweats,” and can cause sleeping disturbance up to and including the need to shower, change night clothing, and change bedding. Hormone replacement therapy brings relief from hot flashes and an improvement in sleep.
  6. Reduce minor depression. Estrogen reduces the minor depression that some women experience after menopause due to changes in hormone levels.

The Bottom Line

Dr. Melissa Dean’s next blog post will discuss, “Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy: Treatment Options”. Dr. Melissa Dean of Dean Wellness Institute has many years of experience diagnosing and treating women and men coping with menopause and andropause. You should consult your doctor to determine if hormone replacement therapy is right for you. Dr. Melissa Dean and the team at Dean Wellness Institute in Vero Beach, Florida are available to answer any questions you have. Feel free to comment on this article below or contact Dr. Melissa Dean directly to schedule an appointment at (772) 567-1500.

References

-  Wikapedia. Hormone Therapy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormone_therapy. Accessed Mar. 4, 2011.

-  Wikapedia. Menopause. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause. Accessed Apr. 4, 2011=

- Wikapedia. Andropause. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andropause. Accessed Apr. 4, 2011.

- Martin KA. Postmenopausal hormone therapy: Benefits and risks. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 22, 2009.

- Questions and answers about the WHI postmenopausal hormone therapy trials. National Institutes of Health. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/whi/whi_faq.htm. Accessed Dec. 22, 2009.

- Mayo Clinic. Hormone Therapy for Women, Neither All Good or All Bad. http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2009-mchi/5206.html. Accessed Mar. 10, 2009.