Menopause is a natural transition in a woman’s life, which typically occurs between the ages of 40 and 55. When the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, menstruation ceases and fertility is no longer possible. Menopause is typically confirmed when there is no period for 12 consecutive months. For some women menopause can occur as early as the late 30s, or as late as 60s, however, the average age of onset is 52 years of age. When menopause occurs before 40, it is considered premature menopause. Medically induced menopause refers to menopause brought on suddenly as a result of surgery (removal of the ovaries), chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. For most women menopausal symptoms diminish during the initial two to five years, although for some it may take more than ten.
Women’s hormone levels begin to change in their middle to late 30’s. Perimenopause is the process of change that leads up to menopause and usually occurs 2- 10 years prior to the onset of menopause. During perimenopause, progesterone and estrogen levels (as well as other sex hormone levels) decline, however, progesterone declines more rapidly than estrogen. These fluctuating and declining hormone levels cause menstrual cycle changes, such as irregularity, or heavier or lighter cycles.
Eventually progesterone and estrogen levels drop enough that the menstrual cycle stops and menopause begins. The decline in hormones causes many of the well-known physical and emotional symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause. Excessive or chronic stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and exposure to environmental toxins all contribute to the decline in hormone levels.
Most common physical signs and symptoms of menopause and perimenopause:
· Heart pounding (heart palpitations)
· Rapid, irregular heartbeats
· Vaginal dryness
· Dry eyes
· Painful intercourse
· Sleep disturbances & insomnia
· Hot flashes and/or night sweats
· Abdominal weight gain
· Urine leakage
· Cravings for sweets or carbohydrates
· Brain fog (difficulty concentrating, memory problems)
· Weight gain, especially around the middle
· Stiffness and joint fatigue
Emotional symptoms:
· Depression
· Mood swings
· Irritability
· Anxiety
Optimizing and balancing hormones with Bio-identical hormones not only helps ease menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, but may also decrease the risk of osteoporosis, colon cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
If you are suffering from menopause or perimenopause, call Southern California Center for Anti-Aging today at 424.247.4962 for a comprehensive appointment.
Estrogen dominance is a phrase used to describe what can happen when estrogen and progesterone get out of balance. It is a relative excess of estrogen −it doesn’t mean there is too much estrogen, but that there is too much estrogen relative to the level of progesterone. As a woman reaches the age of menopause, her body continues to produce estrogen in her muscle and fat cells. She may typically produce 40-60 percent of the estrogen made before menopause but only very little progesterone.
Over-stimulation from estrogen of the breast tissue can cause unpleasant symptoms and lead to health issues for example, breast tenderness, swelling, and fibrocystic breasts. In the uterus, excess estrogen stimulation may lead to endometriosis, cervical dysplasia, increased risk of uterine cancer, heavy or irregular menses, menstrual cramping and uterine fibroid tumors. Excessive estrogen (dominance) can also cause weight gain, constipation, cyclical headaches and migraines, depression, mood swings, fluid retention, low libido, and anxiety.
Causes of Estrogen Dominance
Women can become estrogen dominant for many reasons. Lack of exercise, impaired elimination of estrogen, not taking in enough dietary fiber, lack of adequate amounts of progesterone to balance estrogen, using birth control pills, and environmental exposure. Estrogen mimickers are everywhere in the environment in the form of chemicals (xenoestrogens), and foods and plants (phytoestrogens). Pesticides are perhaps the biggest source of xenoestrogens followed by plastics, fuels, drugs, cosmetics, non organic meats and some dairy products.
Ways to Reduce Estrogen Dominance
- Do not heat food in plastic
- Reduce stress
- Avoid chemical sources of estrogen (xenoestrogen)
- Avoid food sources of estrogen (phytoestrogens)
- Cleanse the liver
- Balance hormones with bioidentical estrogen and progesterone
- Metabolize excess estrogen using a supplement like DIM or Calcium D glucarate
- Drink out of glass containers, not plastic or Styrofoam
- Exercise regularly
Call Southern California Center For Anti-Aging today for a comprehensive consultation at 424.247.4962.
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. Too little hormone slows down chemical reactions in the body. The thyroid gland, which is about the size of a walnut, is located in the lower front of the neck. This gland takes iodine from the food you eat to make hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The hormones control metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, appetite, and digestion. If too little hormone is produced, it can cause many physical and mental symptoms such as those below.
- Tiredness
- Depression
- Muscle weakness
- Constipation
- Weight gain
- Feeling cold a lot of the time
- Heavy and long menstrual periods
- Coarse, dry hair
- Thick, dry skin
- Swollen eyelids, puffy
- Deep, hoarse voice
- Thick tongue
- Thickened facial features
- Slowed heart rate
- Less interest in sex
- Loss of hearing
- Numb and tingling hands
Some of the more common causes of hypothyroidism are:
- Hashimoto’s disease (thyroiditis): This condition is an irritation and swelling of the thyroid gland. It is caused by a problem with the immune system.
- Complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland with surgery.
- Viruses: They can infect the thyroid gland and cause it to make too little hormone.
- Radiation: Radioactivity can destroy the thyroid gland and its ability to make thyroid hormone. Radioactive iodine is a common treatment for an overactive thyroid gland, but often the treatment leads to an underactive thyroid gland. Also, X-ray treatment for cancer of the head or neck may expose the thyroid gland to radiation and damage it.
- Overdosage of medicine used to treat hyperthyroidism.
Anyone can have hypothyroidism, but it happens most often in women over age 40. Some thyroid problems are inherited or present at birth.
Call Southern California Center For Anti-Aging located in Torrance, California today for a complete consultation at 424.247.4962.
Progesterone is a hormone of the reproductive system. This hormone prepares the lining of the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg and helps to maintain pregnancy. Progesterone is also a precursor hormone, meaning it transforms itself to create other hormones…especially estrogen and testosterone. Another very important function of progesterone is to “oppose” estrogen. It works synergistically with estrogen and together they balance each other in the body. When estrogen is present without progesterone, the estrogen properties are not kept in check and may eventually lead to conditions associated with too much estrogen in the body. It is therefore, critical to balance estrogen with progesterone for maximal health benefits of each hormone.
Progesterone is often confused with Progestin. Progestins are synthetic hormones made to mimic the actions of progesterone but they are dangerous and cause many unwanted side effects. For example, Progestins have been associated with blood clots, fluid retention, acne, weight gain, depression, and an increase in heart disease and diabetes. In addition, Progestins have been linked with an increase in the symptoms of hormone imbalance and deficiency. Bio identical progesterone (also sometimes referred to as natural or human identical progesterone) is made from soy or yam and has the exact molecular structure as progesterone made in the human body. Only Bio-identical Progesterone has the properties necessary to appropriately balance Estrogen.
Symptoms of Progesterone Loss
- Depression
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Insomnia
- Pain and inflammation
- Osteoporosis
- Decreased HDL
- Excessive menstruation
Some Causes of Low Progesterone
- Impaired progesterone production
- Increased prolactin production
- Stress
- Antidepressants
- Decreased thyroid hormone
- Low Luteinizing hormone
- Sugar
- Saturated fat
Benefits of Progesterone
- Helps build bone
- Helps thyroid hormone function
- Protects against fibrocystic breast disease
- Protect against endometrial cancer
- Normalizes zinc and copper levels
- Some anti-epileptic activity
- Helps balance estrogen
- Helps sleep
- Natural calming effect
- Lowers high blood pressure
- Helps the body use and eliminate fats
- Lowers cholesterol
- May protect against breast cancer
- Increases scalp hair
- Normalizes libido
- Helps balance fluids in the cells
- Increases the beneficial effects of estrogens on blood vessel dilation
- Increases metabolic rate
- Natural diuretic
If you believe you may be suffering from hormone loss, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy can help. Call the Southern California Center For Anti-Aging today for more information at 424.247.4962.
