Are you going through the change naturally or with assistance?
- Thread starter Fach
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pink_fortitude
Banned
I will admit to being a bit dense at times, so what are we talking about here? I am thinking of about five things that you could be referring to but am not really quite sure. 
ETA, okay! I just saw the thread, I get it now!
Missy
ETA, okay! I just saw the thread, I get it now!
Missy
toastythemosty
Cathlete
Missy,
LMAO! :7 :7
LMAO! :7
:7 I guess what I really wanted to know is if anyone has actually made it through naturally. Is it possible? And still be married LOL! I'm getting the feeling that taking different products just prolongs the discomfort. I have no proof. Just info from family and friends who do take a multitude of different things. I just began the transition this year so have no personal basis for this theory.
candi
Cathlete
Everyone is different and so is the way each one of our bodies will respond to the change.
I have been diagnosed as very estrogen sensitive, meaning that my body not only needs estrogen to function normally, it actually craves it. If I were not taking estrogen I would not be able to think clearly, get the required amount of sleep, function without anti depressants or have normal sexual relations with my husband.
I have finally made it to menopause this year and what I have done is to make sure I am at the lowest possible dose of bioidentical hormones. These hormones are plant based but I would not qualify them as natural because they are synthesized in a lab. According to the experts, in a couple of years my body will adjust to the lower levels and I will be able to slowly wean myself off the hormones.
Many women are not as sensitive and can breeze through this phase of their life without any intervention. Some women use Black Cohosh or Estroven which has Black Cohosh as well as some other medication.
Just keep in mind that none of this is truly natural because is is chemically altered.
I have been diagnosed as very estrogen sensitive, meaning that my body not only needs estrogen to function normally, it actually craves it. If I were not taking estrogen I would not be able to think clearly, get the required amount of sleep, function without anti depressants or have normal sexual relations with my husband.
I have finally made it to menopause this year and what I have done is to make sure I am at the lowest possible dose of bioidentical hormones. These hormones are plant based but I would not qualify them as natural because they are synthesized in a lab. According to the experts, in a couple of years my body will adjust to the lower levels and I will be able to slowly wean myself off the hormones.
Many women are not as sensitive and can breeze through this phase of their life without any intervention. Some women use Black Cohosh or Estroven which has Black Cohosh as well as some other medication.
Just keep in mind that none of this is truly natural because is is chemically altered.
Calico
Cathlete
Since I got migraines from birth control and they are mostly estrogen, I am not even sure I can take a supplemental estrogen so I think I will wing it naturally until I am told I need something. They say the more fat you have the more estrogen you hold since it is held in fat cells, so technically I should be fine for some time to come with my estrogen stock pile, LOL!!!:+
pink_fortitude
Banned
I will do whatever prevents me from killing my husband. }( }( }(
Missy
Missy
endorphin_junkie
Cathlete
RE: Are you going through the change naturally or with ...
I voted for going through it naturally, easy for me to say as except for a little less predictability in my cylce not much has changed yet (I'm 44). I've been trying to ask some relatives how their menopause was but just about every female relative I have over 60 has had a hysterectomy. Glad they don't lop all of that out as quick as they used to, like I said on another thread, we don't systematically 'manage' out children's puberties and it doesn't make sense to me to do it with menopause either. I understand that with some women it has to be managed but my fingers are crossed that I can keep it natural.
Take Care
Laurie
I voted for going through it naturally, easy for me to say as except for a little less predictability in my cylce not much has changed yet (I'm 44). I've been trying to ask some relatives how their menopause was but just about every female relative I have over 60 has had a hysterectomy. Glad they don't lop all of that out as quick as they used to, like I said on another thread, we don't systematically 'manage' out children's puberties and it doesn't make sense to me to do it with menopause either. I understand that with some women it has to be managed but my fingers are crossed that I can keep it natural.
Take Care
Laurie
allwildgirl
Cathlete
I know my mom didn't use anything and I have a family history of cancer and breast cancer, so I'm going to try to go without, as HRT tends to increase your risk of breast cancer, and I don't think I need my risks increased anymore than they already are.
RE: Are you going through the change naturally or with ...
I had a hysterectomy at the age of 51 because of an ovarian cyst that the doc wasn't quite sure about, as well as numerous fibroids. (They were all benign.) After the operation, I was prescribed a very low dosage estrogen patch and so far I've not had any problems at all. I have continued to use the patch for the last five years and don't really know what would happen without it. B/f the hysterectomy my biggest problem was very heavy periods, so having the operation was a big relief in that respect.
My younger sister, OTOH, had a hysterectomy at the age of 48 and after three years they have still not been able to find the right HRT dosage for her. We call her madconnie.}(
MissL
I had a hysterectomy at the age of 51 because of an ovarian cyst that the doc wasn't quite sure about, as well as numerous fibroids. (They were all benign.) After the operation, I was prescribed a very low dosage estrogen patch and so far I've not had any problems at all. I have continued to use the patch for the last five years and don't really know what would happen without it. B/f the hysterectomy my biggest problem was very heavy periods, so having the operation was a big relief in that respect.
My younger sister, OTOH, had a hysterectomy at the age of 48 and after three years they have still not been able to find the right HRT dosage for her. We call her madconnie.}(
MissL
When I get there, it will be natural along with chocolate that I use now for my PMS. From working out intensly over the past 15 years or so, my change hasn't happened and shows no signs of it.
My doctor is stunned and happy at the same time. And, I will be 45 this Thursday, Dec. 21st.
Fitness does have its benefits.
My doctor is stunned and happy at the same time. And, I will be 45 this Thursday, Dec. 21st.
Fitness does have its benefits.
candi
Cathlete
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/women/public.htm
Many women do not realize that the type of estrogen used in the Womens Health Initiative study was conjugated equine estrogens. The basic ingredient for this type of estrogen is horse urine. The type of estrogen that was in Premarin and Prempro. The thought is that a plant based estrogen, since it is bio-identical to a woman's own estrogen is safer.
I've attached the study findings. It's a lot of information but very interesting.
Many women do not realize that the type of estrogen used in the Womens Health Initiative study was conjugated equine estrogens. The basic ingredient for this type of estrogen is horse urine. The type of estrogen that was in Premarin and Prempro. The thought is that a plant based estrogen, since it is bio-identical to a woman's own estrogen is safer.
I've attached the study findings. It's a lot of information but very interesting.
I must amend my vote - I am not going to take hormones - the plummet in Breast CA that coincides with the plummet in HRRT is sobering...so I'll be carrying a fan with me....BUT I do take zoloft to combat the bitchies....truly think, in evolution that women become bitches in their 40's with the hormone changes to push men away so they don't get pg - whereas men are their most distiguished in their 40'
s and prime to be driven to continue to spread their seed among the adoring 20 somethings.....just a thought!...Having once been a 20 something who married a 40 year old!
s and prime to be driven to continue to spread their seed among the adoring 20 somethings.....just a thought!...Having once been a 20 something who married a 40 year old!
candi
Cathlete
Deb (dmd),
Regarding your question, here is how I decided in bio identicals.
My journey started when I was 45,I started having perimenopause symptoms, long story short, my gyno put my on low dose birth control pills which alleviated all my symptoms, pretty much! I didn't know anything about perimenopause so I read and read and read on the subject. Bio identicals were just coming out and I read that even though this type of hormone was synthesized in a lab, it comes closest to what our body makes naturally. I couldn't start on the HRT right away because I was still having periods, sporadically mind you, and didn't qualify as menopausal. Meaning, if I took HRT while my body was still producing a higher level of estrogen I would be getting too much. The birth control pill actually works by taking total control of your cylce, shutting off the body's production of estrogen and progesteron and replacing it with the synthetic form.
So, last year when I pretty much stopped having a period, I transitioned from the low dose birth control pill to Estradiol (estrogen) and Prometrium (progesterone). This was not an easy transition by any means because my body had to adjust to the lower strength of estrogen. So, from April of this year until last month, my gyno and I struggled to get me to the right dosage. This usally qualifies as the least amount of estrogen required to alleviate menopausal symptoms. This is different for every woman. My dosage is 1.5 MG Estrodial and 100 MG Prometrium per day. Plus, a bit of vaginal estrogen cream evening so I won't get yeast infections. Evidentely, for some women, Estradiol doesn't reach the vaginal tissue so it can't alleviate vaginal dryness that some experience. We found by adding the cream, this symptom went away.
Sorry so long but I could write a book on the subject
P.S. Interesting to note that even though low dose, according to my doctor the synthetic estrogen in it is actually 100 times stronger than what's in Estradiol.
http://www.lionrx.com/hormone.html Additional reading!
Regarding your question, here is how I decided in bio identicals.
My journey started when I was 45,I started having perimenopause symptoms, long story short, my gyno put my on low dose birth control pills which alleviated all my symptoms, pretty much! I didn't know anything about perimenopause so I read and read and read on the subject. Bio identicals were just coming out and I read that even though this type of hormone was synthesized in a lab, it comes closest to what our body makes naturally. I couldn't start on the HRT right away because I was still having periods, sporadically mind you, and didn't qualify as menopausal. Meaning, if I took HRT while my body was still producing a higher level of estrogen I would be getting too much. The birth control pill actually works by taking total control of your cylce, shutting off the body's production of estrogen and progesteron and replacing it with the synthetic form.
So, last year when I pretty much stopped having a period, I transitioned from the low dose birth control pill to Estradiol (estrogen) and Prometrium (progesterone). This was not an easy transition by any means because my body had to adjust to the lower strength of estrogen. So, from April of this year until last month, my gyno and I struggled to get me to the right dosage. This usally qualifies as the least amount of estrogen required to alleviate menopausal symptoms. This is different for every woman. My dosage is 1.5 MG Estrodial and 100 MG Prometrium per day. Plus, a bit of vaginal estrogen cream evening so I won't get yeast infections. Evidentely, for some women, Estradiol doesn't reach the vaginal tissue so it can't alleviate vaginal dryness that some experience. We found by adding the cream, this symptom went away.
Sorry so long but I could write a book on the subject
P.S. Interesting to note that even though low dose, according to my doctor the synthetic estrogen in it is actually 100 times stronger than what's in Estradiol.
http://www.lionrx.com/hormone.html Additional reading!