Tag Archives: estrogen

What is Estrogen Replacement Therapy?

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Since I’ve been on a roll with hormone replacement therapy information lately, I thought I’d add one more. Hormone replacement therapy often means a combination of estrogen and progestin — estrogen replacement therapy only means one kind of hormone. Estrogen replacement therapy is used to increase estrogen levels in postmenopausal women who have no uterus. Women who do have a uterus usually need a combination therapy to prevent the estrogen hormone from causing the uterine lining to over-grow (which can lead to uterine cancer). Candidates for estrogen replacement therapy include: Women who experience early menopause after having their ovaries removed … Continue reading →

Hormone Replacement Therapy: Side Effects

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If you are considering hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopause symptoms, you might want to know a little bit about the possible side effects. Not all side effects occur in all women, but the following side effects have been reported. In general, side effects are more frequent when taking oral forms of estrogen therapy. With any form of estrogen therapy, you could experience: Irregular vaginal bleeding and other discharge. Headache. Nausea. Fluid retention and weight gain. Breast tenderness. Darkening skin or spotting on the skin, especially on the face. Asthma — newly diagnosed asthma seems to be more common in … Continue reading →

How Hormones Affect Your Body

Hormones do more than influence your reproductive system. Hormone levels can increase your risk of an exercise injury. A study from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center found that women in the first half of their menstrual cycles (when estrogen is the dominant hormone) tend to have less neuromuscular control than women in the second half of their menstrual cycles (when progesterone is the dominant hormone). In other words, the muscle timing is different. Hormone levels can affect your response to addictive behaviors. The brain seems to be more responsive to pleasure and reward when estrogen levels are high … Continue reading →

Hormone Basics

Hormone levels are more than just a “that time of the month” joke. Studies have shown that changing hormone levels can affect your mood, worsen chronic health issues, and even make you more susceptible to injury! Hormones have an impact on your entire body, not just your reproductive system. There are four types of hormones: Estrogen: a class of hormones that is necessary for sexual development and a healthy reproductive system. Also affects brain function, bone health, and cancer risk. Oxytocin: a hormone responsible for contractions during labor, milk production during breastfeeding, and the nurturing instinct. Progesterone: a hormone produced … Continue reading →

Should a Severely Disabled Girl Be Allowed to Grow Up?

It’s a question I would never have considered possible. But today I read an article that was both fascinating and troubling. PEOPLE magazine reported the heart-wrenching story of a nine-year-old girl with severe disabilities, and her parent’s controversial decision to use hormones to halt her growth and physical maturation. (PEOPLE, “Girl, Interrupted,” January 22, 2007, by Macon Morehouse.) Ashley, from Seattle, has static encephalopathy, a condition of the brain which has left her developmentally like an infant. She is unable to walk, speak, and is typically seen propped with pillows, because she dislikes being strapped to her wheelchair in an … Continue reading →

Black Cohosh

There are lots of plants out there that have been used for centuries as remedies for common problems. Black cohosh has gotten a lot of attention thanks to preliminary evidence that suggests the herb may help relieve symptoms of menopause. Black cohosh is a member of the buttercup family common in North America. It is commonly known as black snakeroot, bugwort, rattletop, and rattleweed. The plant tends to be avoided by insects, which is probably how black cohosh earned some of its names! The roots and rhizomes (underground stems) are the parts of the plant that are used medicinally. Native … Continue reading →