by Wendy on June 8, 2008
If you’re suffering from moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes you may want to ask your doctor about an estrogen spray that is applied once daily to your forearm. It’s called Evamist and it was approved by the FDA last summer and reported in the June 2008 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. You can read a summary of the article here. It’s made from 17-Beta estradiol, a compound made from plants to be similar to the estrogen hormone that we produce from puberty to menopause and is involved in over 400 functions of the female body. (See my March 11th blogpost for an explanation on the three types of Estrogen). The metered spray delivers low-doses through the skin, thus bypassing the liver. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on May 31, 2008
The first global summit of 40 “menopause experts” convened last week to review the current evidence, risks and benefits of using hormone replacement therapy for women in early menopause. They concluded that HRT is indeed safe for healthy women entering menopause, despite what the 2002 government-sponsored WHI study showed. They went so far to state that women should “have no fears” about its use.” I don’t know about you, but I find that statement quite startling in light of all the research that has concluded that HRT poses a number of significant health risks. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on April 10, 2008
Researchers have uncovered another risk for HRT users. In this case, post-menopausal women who are taking Estrogen only (only women who have had hysterectomies can take this type of therapy) are actually doubling their chances of getting non-cancerous breast lumps. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on February 29, 2008
Remember “Our Bodies Ourselves” ? I was still a teenager when the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective published this landmark book. It was the beginning of the feminist movement and it was the first book that talked about women’s health, reproduction and sexuality openly and honestly. It was a big deal and everyone I knew had a copy on their bookshelf. It has since been translated and/or adapted into 20 languages. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on January 28, 2008
In previous posts, I’ve written about my decision to forego synthetic hormone replacement therapy and try instead, a natural approach. Both my general internist and gynecologist told me that for most women, natural, botanical products don’t alleviate menopausal symptoms, but I had heard enough anecdotal evidence from friends and friends of friends to want to try it. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on January 21, 2008
I recently had an opportunity to interview Dr. Marsha Nunley, a San Francisco-based physician, about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and her opinion about the FDA’s recent action against certain compounding pharmacies. She made several compelling points that I want to share with you on this blog. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on January 10, 2008
by Wendy on November 6, 2007
There are 43 million women of menopausal age (45-54) in this country alone and if my conversations with friends on both coasts are any indication, the collective hot flashes of this demographic group must be contributing to global warming. Now that I’m one of them, I’m noticing other “members” of this tribe wherever I go. [click to continue…]
by Wendy on October 31, 2007
Last weekend, my husband insisted that I visit Pharmaca to look for some natural, over the counter products to alleviate my insomnia. (Poor guy, my insomnia keeps him up too). Pharmaca positions itself as an integrated pharmacy, combining traditional prescription services with natural remedies. Elephant, which offers an herbal pharmacy, is another chain in this category. [click to continue…]
