One of the problems with the news media is their tendency towards sensationalist headlines and their coverage of studies with all of two sentences. For example, “Coffee is better for you than tea.” However, when one studies the article itself, it would appear that wasn’t really the conclusion at all. Yes, coffee drinkers were healthier than tea drinkers in a small group of people studied, but it was pointed out that this meant nothing as the tea drinkers were older and poorer in this particular group. There are also poorly designed studies which stumble across an odd piece of information in a group of people who are being tracked across the years. This odd piece of information is then studied from all different angles.

Each study is like a little snapshot and it's only by putting all the snapshots together that you have a good sense of the picture. The news media announce each snapshot as if it’s the “whole truth.” But, of course, it’s contradictory.

A good example is osteoporosis and the pile of “snapshots” that surround it. Estrogen does prevent it if you start taking it soon after or before menopause. The most effective treatment is estrogen and a bisphosphonate. If, however, you already suffer with it (you can lose up to 50% of bone density in the first year without hormones) you will need something stronger. Everyone (on or off hormones) should take calcium and magnesium, and everyone should exercise. Osteoporosis is a serious disease, causing pain and immobility. However, not all women have the same risk of developing osteoporosis. There appears to be a genetic link, so a look at your family history can tell you how hard you’ll have to work at it.

The heart situation is also a pile of snapshots right now, and most of the snapshots point to benefits of HRT. But researchers are trying to figure out why all snapshots don't all point to benefits. They know why estrogen would help and they also know that big population studies, of thousands of women followed across decades, have shown a clear benefit. However, two big recent studies have shown real problems in the first year of use. The best guess right now seems to be that if you already have heart disease, you should approach HRT very carefully. There is an increased risk for some women during the first year but there is also long-term benefit. Other piles of snapshots include memory/concentration problems and libido.

To make it even more frustrating and complicated is the fact that HRT studies (taking it vs. not taking it) don’t seem to take into account any differences between menopausal women. They lump all women into one category ~ menopausal. There is no way of tracking women who have been through menopause naturally and still have their ovaries, and comparing them with women without ovaries.

Women with ovaries have gone through menopause naturally and still have those ovaries conducting business on a much smaller scale (dribbling hormones) being beneficial, albeit on a limited basis. It is very hard to compare no HRT/with HRT from naturally menopausal and surgically menopausal women.

Surgical menopause is just now being looked at as a different concern, as the loss of ovaries tends to govern more than HRT. Adrenal glands secretion, thyroid function, hair loss/growth, energy, weight gain/loss, bone loss, heart conditions, blood concerns, and more are areas that can deteriorate without the ovaries, thus making the replacement of HRT a hard thing to balance.

There are obviously non-hormonal alternatives, but it’s probably correct to presume that hormonal balance across the board is far more beneficial.

At the end of the day, discuss your feelings and concerns about hormones with your doctor. He/she can also help you sort through the risks/benefits for your particular health history.

Some women have little to no side effects during menopause, while others suffer through the side effects. Lifestyle changes can help relieve hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. As a bonus, these lifestyle chanes can also reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.

Here they are.....these WILL improve your health.

Stop smoking

If you smoke, one of the best things you can do for yourself now is to STOP! Cigarette smoking is known to increase a woman's risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, and menopausal women are already at risk for both diseases because of reduced estrogen levels. Smoking can bring on menopause as much as two to three years earlier than it would naturally occur, putting a woman at even greater risk because she spends fewer years with the protective benefit of estrogen.

Exercise

Women who have active lifestyles seem to experience fewer hot flashes than women who are inactive. You need two different types of exercise: weight-bearing exercise (like strength training...this helps slow bone loss) and aerobic exercise (like walking or swimming, which can help lower the risk of heart disease).

Control your weight

Being overweight puts you at increased risk for heart disease, arthritis, and diabetes. It's not only excess weight that matters, but where you carry that extra weight. Fat around the waist and stomach is particularly dangerous for your heart.

Eat healthy

Eating right is always important, but it can become more difficult as you reach menopause. First off, because of a slowing metabolism, you have to get more nutritional punch from your calories, or you're likely to gain weight. One way to do this is to follow the portion sizes and food choices in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dietary guidelines. Choose lower fat meat and dairy products and eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

Make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D, as a way to help stave off osteoporosis. After menopause, women on estrogen replacement therapy are advised to get 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day. This jumps to 1,500 milligrams if they are not receiving hormone replacement therapy. The best sources of calcium are low-fat dairy products -- such as cheese, yogurt, and milk -- because they contain vitamin D and lactose, two substances that aid calcium absorption. Calcium is also available in canned fish with edible bones, such as salmon and sardines; dark-green leafy vegetables, such as kale, collard, and broccoli; and calcium-fortified foods, such as orange juice and breads made with calcium-fortified flour.

Other foods, like those containing soy, can have great benefits: Soy contains naturally occurring chemicals called phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), which the body converts into hormone-like substances. They are thought to have the same beneficial effects as estrogen and offer another way to combat some of the annoying symptoms caused by menopause, as well as potentially reducing the risk of developing heart disease and osteoporosis. Foods believed to contain phytoestrogens include oilseeds, particularly linseed or flaxseed oil, and soybeans.

There are some foods that are known to induce hot flashes: caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, hot drinks, and chocolate. You may find it helpful to avoid them.

Drink plenty of water

Eight glasses of water a day is recommended.

Reduce stress

Learning to cope with stress can help alleviate hot flashes for some women, as well as aid overall well-being. Some options for stress reduction include massage and exercise.

Posted at 10-29-2011 - 12:35 PM I am using a transdermal HRT. Should I be concerned about my family members and pets coming in contact with me after I apply it? Hormone replacement therapy comes in a wide variety of forms including transdermal choices which can include gels, creams, lotions, and sprays usually applied to the arm or leg. There have been some reported incidences of family members, especially small children, and pets experiencing adverse reactions after having been exposed to transdermal hormones that had been applied to the skin. When using a transdermal HRT, children and pets should not have contact with the area where the hormone was applied until it has thoroughly dried. If avoiding contact is not possible, one should wear clothing that covers that area of the skin. Also, hands should always be washed thoroughly after applying the transdermal product and before coming in contact with food, clothing, bedding, etc. As always, all medications and hormones should be stored where they are not accessible to children or pets. If a family member or pet comes in direct contact with the area where the hormone has been applied before it has dried, their skin should be washed carefully with soap and water as soon as possible. Pets should also be prevented from licking the area of the body where the hormone has been applied. Premature puberty may occur in children unintentionally exposed to excessive transdermal estrogen. Young girls may experience breast development and nipple swelling while young boys may experience breast enlargement. Female dogs may experience swelling of the vulva, mammary glands, or nipples. Male dogs may exhibit underdeveloped penises or testes as well prostate issues. Dogs of both sexes may experience a loss of fur. Overexposure of topical hormones can be toxic to both dogs and cats. Symptoms usually resolve once exposure to the transdermal hormones have ceased though a suppression of bone marrow in dogs and cats can lead to irreversible health concerns. Any concerns should be discussed with one's own doctor, a child's pediatrician, and a pet's veterinarian. This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

Posted at 09-29-2011 - 04:00 PM I had my hysterectomy about three months ago. I kept my ovaries because they were fine, but I think I'm having mini hot flashes. They happen throughout the day, but mainly at night. I've always been a "cold" person, but now I'm pretty warm most of the time. Is this normal? Sometimes the ovaries stop working temporarily as a result of a hysterectomy. It’s as if they go into a bit of a shock and stop producing hormones for some time. Or, damage may occur to the ovaries’ blood supply, causing them to malfunction. When your ovaries are not producing enough estrogen, you’ll experience mild menopausal symptoms until the ovaries normalize again. Temporary ovarian shutdown usually lasts for a few weeks to a couple of months. Occasionally, the ovaries will shut down permanently after a hysterectomy, even in younger women, for no apparent reason. If this happens, you’ll go through surgical menopause now. Surgical menopause can hit a woman harder and faster than natural menopause, and it can be particularly difficult to deal with for a woman who kept her ovaries in the expectation that she would avoid menopause altogether for some time to come. Some studies suggest as many as 50% of women who undergo a hysterectomy, and retain their ovaries, will have them cease to function within five years. The good news with that is that even if they do shut down, they will continue to provide us with small amounts of those much-needed hormones, easing the transition into menopause to some degree. If you suspect that this is what is happening, ask your doctor to check your FSH levels. You can manage menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, vaginal dryness, etc. with prescription or over-the-counter remedies in the short term. If your ovaries don’t come back, though, you may want to explore the idea of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There are positives and negatives associated with HRT, so do your research and get a second opinion before proceeding if that’s the direction you decide to go. This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

Posted at 09-27-2011 - 07:33 PM Does the process of going through surgical menopause last the same amount of time as a natural menopause? I know women who have "gone through" natural menopause, meaning their symptoms are gone and they have moved on to the next phase of life. Will this eventually happen after a surgical menopause, and will it necessarily be any longer or shorter, harder or easier? I know that everybody is different, but I'm just curious if I should expect something different if my ovaries are removed. Many women who have their ovaries removed go abruptly into menopause soon after their procedures. It can take a little time as residual hormones fade away, but there is a good chance that menopause symptoms will hit you a great deal faster and harder than someone going through natural menopause. A person going through natural menopause, on the other hand, is more likely to have a gradual shutdown of her ovaries over some time, with the ovaries still producing some hormones for a while. The process of natural menopause is usually more erratic than surgical menopause and can be slow or fast, difficult or relatively easy. There is a great deal of variation in women’s experiences. Know that even if you keep one or more ovaries, they may shut down anyway. Sometimes they do not reestablish their hormone production after the shock of surgery, and you will experience surgical menopause despite having kept an ovary or two. When going through menopause, whether surgical or natural, discuss your hormone replacement options with your doctor. Some women choose not to use hormone replacement therapy due to family history and risk factors. Others will find significant relief of their symptoms through HRT. Seek a second opinion, ask the HysterSisters, and research until you are satisfied that you are choosing the right course for you. This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.

A HysterSisters Response to FDA Hearing for Intrinsa®
Anxiety and Menopause
Assessing and Minimizing the Risk of Breast Cancer
Bio-identical or Natural?
Black Cohosh - Natural Alternative?
Breast Cancer and HRT
Burning Up?
Can Sex Really Be Better After Hysterectomy?
Cream Not Absorbing
Creepy-Crawly Skin
Estrogen - Is It Important?
Estrogen Choices - Bio-Identical Estrogen
Estrogen Choices - Compounded Estrogens
Estrogen Choices - Conjugated Estrogen
Estrogen Choices - Esterified and Estropipated Estrogens
Evening Primrose
Feeling Cold? Is it My Thyroid?
Going Gray?
Headaches Post Hysterectomy? Hormonal?
Hormones - Who Needs Them?
Hormones Affect Anxiety/Depression
Hot Flashes and Other Signs
How Can I Keep My Estrogen Patch On Until It's Time To Change It?
How Do You Cope With Hot Flashes?
How to Find a Compounding Pharmacy
How to Tell if Ovaries Are Working?
HRT - Why You Should Use a Natural or Bio-Identical Hormone Regimen
HRT and Heart Disease
Hrt? No HRT? How to decide?
I Hurt All Over
Insomnia and Menopause
Is Brain Fog Real?
Is This Menopause?
Janie's Thyroid Story
Kept Ovaries but Discovered Hot Flashes
Natural Menopause vs. Surgical Menopause
Necessary Supplements if You're Taking Estrogen
Ovaries Shut Down Post Hysterectomy?
Patches - Adhesive Removal
Progesterone - Do I Need It?
Progesterone Benefits
Red Clover - Natural Alternative?
Saliva testing
Sexual Desire - Sexual Response
Should I Consider Natural HRT?
Soy - Natural Alternative?
Supplements - Experimenting for Menopause Relief
Surgical Menopause and Hysterectomy Recovery
Take Charge of Your Health!
Testing for Menopause?
Thyroid and HRT
Too Much Estrogen, Too Little
Transdermal HRT - Do They Affect Family and Pets?
Transdermal Transfer - Estrogen Spray?
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginitis after Intercourse
Weight and HRT
Weight and Menopause
When Should I Start HRT after My Hysterectomy?
Where to Apply Compounded Hormone Creams
Why Progesterone?
Why Testosterone?

Browse all Menopause Articles

Central Menopause Forum Discussions

How long after surgical menopause before symptoms start occurring???

Would anyone know... How long after surgical menopause do symptoms start? Hubby is wondering when I am going to turn into a raging menopausal person. His mother was raging... and still having symptoms (hot flashes being the worse) close to 14 years after starting menopause. Agh. The day after surgery she sat here telling me that I will be begging for HRT before the year is over because everything is that bad. I don't want HRT. Everything I am seeing and what the doc is telling me that HRT prolongs the symptoms and extends everythin ..... [Read more of this discussion]

Do I need hormones?

I'm 5 weeks out from my hysterectomy. All was removed except the R ovary. I'm 52. I was doing ok until 6 days ago. Sunday i RAN out of my Bible meeting feeling like i was going to die! And its gotten worse. These are my symptoms which are increasing: 1- extreme bloating after I eat 2- severe depression 3- extremely severe anxiety which is causing me a great deal of fear 4- sensitivity to noise (associated to anxiety) 5- great irritability 6- irrationality 7- extreme body chills I did some googling and it appears it's due to a dec ..... [Read more of this discussion]

TAH hysterectomy

It's been 3 years and I'm not taking HRT drugs and I'm in total hot flash and aniety torture. I am going to talk to my doctor about using the patch with estirol only. Any advise? I am 52. ..... [Read more of this discussion]

No Ovaries - Yes HRT Forum Discussions

i'm at my end with not finding the right BHRT.

my initial dose n form of BHRT worked great for about 5 months then the vaginal atrophy started then it all went to HELL. I've tried so many forms n doses, though not all. I am now seeing a new Dr again for 2 weeks now. said my estrogen level is 55 and i should be fine. 4 months ago it was 350 and i felt horrible and now still feel horrible. i know it's not just about the numbers, but just curious what number everyone feels good at? he also said i have way too much candida in my blood...anyone know about that? ..... [Read more of this discussion]

Emotions Gone Wild (thank you Premarin)

Hi Sisters, It's been a while. I'm 4 years post op. Was doing well without HRT until about the middle of last year. That's when the hot flashes and nightsweats got intense. There were days I had to change shirts in the middle of the day I sweated so much. I couldn't take it anymore, so I asked the doc what we could try. Wednesday I started the lowest dose (.03) of Premarin and my emotions have gone completely haywire. I cry ALL THE TIME, I yell at drivers, I see red when I get mad, and I feel very, very jittery inside. Is this nor ..... [Read more of this discussion]

Combipatch - Yikes!

Hi. I had my ovaries removed in November of 2010. For the past 14 months I've been on compounded hormones and have done - at best - ok. I wanted to try something new, something that is more ....steady. So I called my doctor and assumed she'd call in Vivelle Dot and Prometrium, but instead she called in Combipatch. My initial reaction was of panic because PROGESTIN! but then took a breath and started researching. While I didn't find my "no, you'll be golden, stop being a wussy" answer, the transdermal aspect has me feeling a little better. ..... [Read more of this discussion]

No Ovaries - No HRT Forum Discussions

Estrogen Cream

I am 45years old and had a TAH BSO 4 weeks ago. I elected to have my ovaries removed due to a strong family history of breast cancer, although I have not had breast cancer myself. I have chosen not to take any oral estrogen and my symptoms have been very minimal -- so far. My doctor seems ok with my decision. But she is insisting that I use Premarin vaginal cream. She said that my vagina will become very narrow and I will have difficulty with sexual intercourse in the future. I am opposed to taking any type of estrogen. What are you ..... [Read more of this discussion]

no overies!age57

Wish I could communicate with you.Sounds you can answer my questions on hormones etc ..... [Read more of this discussion]

Very bad calf pain

Hi there everyone, Had TAH/BSO Jan 2009, was on hormones (Evamist and 200 mg of Prometrium), then diagnosed with breast cancer, so taken off HRT 2 weeks ago. Now I am getting extremely bad charley horse in my right calf. I was checked out by doc, :doctor: no blood clots, but no explanation for the pain. He basically told me to keep my leg elevated. Could this be an hormone imbalance issue? If so, any suggestions for the pain. I have tried hot baths, heating pad, Tylenol, elevation. It just feels like a constant cramp in my calf. Thank ..... [Read more of this discussion]

Natural Menopause Forum Discussions

Vivelle Dot losing its effect.

I use Vivelle Dot, started last March, it seems like they are not working as well as they did in the beginning. In the first few months, my breasts would get tender about 24 hours after I changed the patch, now for the past 4-5 months, that doesn't happen. My blood work shows that my levels have dropped, 3 months after I started my levels went up to 97, now my checkup in November has me back down to 40. Has anybody noticed the patch losing its effectiveness? ..... [Read more of this discussion]

PH and going insane 6 months later????

:new: I had a partial hysterectomy six months ago and I'm only 32. They took everything but my ovaries. For the past couple of months especially around the time of my normal monthly period it's worse, but I'm extremely mooding, horrible night sweats, hot flashes, no sex drive, anxiety worse than normal, cry about stupid crap and then angry because I don't know really why I'm crying. Went to a MALE dr today only for him to tell me I'm depressed and I need to communicate better with husband (like he knows my wonderful marriage that I have) and my ..... [Read more of this discussion]

Vaginal Estriol in clear capsule /Vitamin E base...

Had hysterectomey 9 years ago and kept both ovaries. The surgery was for endometriosis and adenomyosis etc. issues with bleeding. Now, have had ripping/tearing fissures after intercourse. No STD's, been checked, so my doctor determined I am low on estrogen. Well, I tried Estrace. See post below. I was sensitive to something in the base cream, ballooned up from it all tissues "down there". It stung as well and I tried it 3 times including a small skin test. Then, got a raging yeast infection which had to stop the Estrace cream and tre ..... [Read more of this discussion]

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