 Menopause & Hormone
Replacement Therapies
By Dr. Antonio Jimenez, M.D. of Hope4Cancer Institute One of the most frequently discussed topics in health care
today is menopause. The common perception of the ‘change of life’ is that it is
a disease, which could not be further from the truth. Menopause is defined as “the
end of menses,” and is merely a change that occurs in the female reproductive system
as it naturally transitions from the child birthing function. The body no longer requires
as many reproductive hormones and begins reducing their production. As a result, a
woman’s body ‘rewires’ itself to adjust. The years just prior, during and
after menopause are the most crucial years in the health of a woman and should be looked
at carefully.
As the ‘mothering’ stage of a woman’s life ends and the
body begins to program the hormonal changes, symptoms of hormonal imbalances such as hot
flashes, muscle aches, and anxiety may occur. These symptoms can occur years before
menopause, during what is commonly known as pre- or perimenopause. Some of these symptoms
have been known to last throughout the transition. However, women addressing their health
can reduce, relieve and eliminate these symptoms. A field of medicine known as Hormone
Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been developed to address these concerns and to help prevent
diseases that are of an increased risk during this time, such as hormone related cancers,
heart disease and osteoporosis.
One thing is clear: a woman needs to take a long look at her health.
She will need to be aware of her family’s predisposition to menopausal diseases and
discuss her options with her physician. She will also need to look at how her lifestyle
can affect her goal of health and wellness in the post-reproductive years. We now know
that attention to diet and exercise can naturally reduce problems associated with hormonal
transitions.
Hormonal Balance - The body uses a delicate balancing
system to properly utilize its hormones. Menopause can cause a ‘tweak’ in this
balance as reproductive hormonal production occurs. When the imbalance occurs, it usually
is related to a deficiency of estrogen or progesterone, a competition for these hormones
at the receptor site, or problems in the elimination of the hormones.
As ovarian hormone production ends, other organs in the body continue
to produce hormones for other bodily functions. Estrogen, for example, is important for
the maintenance of the skeletal structure and muscles. Osteoporosis is a deterioration of
skeletal tissue, but has its roots in muscle and hormone imbalance. It is important that
we are healthy and that our stress levels are low so that our body can continue in this
process of bone and muscle strengthening.
Since the heart is the most important muscle, it can be directly
affected by hormone imbalances. Knowing how to properly treat our heart can help offset
any concerns from menopause, and studies already show that exercise is the single most
effective way of reducing menopausal symptoms. Further, the relationship between healthy
eating and heart health is well known. Providing the body with adequate vitamins and
minerals is as important as exercise in maintaining energetic muscle and healthy tissue.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - Both synthetic and
natural approaches to HRT exist; both have created controversy. HRT is designed to help
balance the hormones, alleviate the symptoms and maintain strength. However, HRT is not a
necessity for all women. Studies suggest there are elevated dangers related to some types
of HRT and women should consider this.
Physicians are taking a more targeted look at bio-individual HRT, in
which prescriptions are created based on your physician’s tests for hormone
imbalances. Often progesterone creams are employed to aid in negating the competition at
the receptor site, reducing excess estrogen activity and aiding with many symptoms. In a
woman’s body, the majority of progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum, which
forms in the ovary following ovulation. During the second half of each monthly cycle,
progesterone is the dominant hormone, but not all women produce sufficient amounts during
this time.
Perimenopause - Prior to menopause, cycles frequently
occur where a woman does not ovulate, known as an anovulatory cycle. This period leading
to menopause is referred to as perimenopause. Anovulatory cycles that begin in
perimenopause can lead to hormone changes that may result in hot flashes, PMS-type
symptoms, and many other symptoms. While progesterone levels fall close to zero due to
anovulatory cycles, estrogen levels may only decline to about 40-60% of premenopausal
levels.
Progesterone has a number of important roles relative to menopause. It
is the natural balancer to estrogen and necessary for optimum estrogen utilization.
Research has also revealed other vital roles of progesterone on the heart, blood vessels,
nerves and brain. Many women find that supplementing with progesterone allows them to
achieve a balance once again.
Natural Approaches to Supporting the Menopausal Transition -
Many physicians and pharmacists are looking at what is termed Natural HRT, which are
botanical products that show positive results in balancing hormone levels and aiding with
the symptoms of transition. Certain phyto-hormones, such as soy isoflavones and botanical
agents, can be effective in reducing the symptoms without resorting to traditional HRT.
Other products are also available without a prescription such as black cohosh, wild yam
and Indole-3-carbinol.
It is important to consider that the least invasive strategy of hormone
replacement is the safest manner to approach the transition. Look closely at your
lifestyle and dietary influences on your hormonal health and talk to your physician about
all these potential therapies. Knowing the best options for your health empowers you to
make the right choices to safeguard it.
Dr Tony Jimenez is one of the leading authorities in
alternative cancer therapies. His clinic, the Hope4Cancer Institute, uses more than 20
cutting-edge alternative therapies that treat the root of chronic degenerative conditions.
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