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A Woman's Guide to Natural Hormones » (Revised Edition)

Book cover image of A Woman's Guide to Natural Hormones by Christine Conrad

Authors: Christine Conrad, Leo Galland (Foreword by), Jesse L. Hanley
ISBN-13: 9780399531033, ISBN-10: 0399531033
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Date Published: December 2005
Edition: Revised Edition

Author Biography: Christine Conrad

Christine Conrad, co-author of Natural Woman, Natural Menopause, is the founder of the Natural Woman Institute, a non-profit organization offering women guidance on resources and practitioners who provide natural hormone therapies.

Book Synopsis

More doctors are recommending natural (also called bio-identical) hormones-because they offer all the advantages of synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) without the negative side effects or long-term health risks. Unlike synthetic HRT, natural hormones are bio-identical: they match a woman's own hormones exactly and don't interfere with the body's normal hormone production. They are safer and more effective, providing protective benefits that range from alleviating unpleasant symptoms of menopause, perimenopause, and PMS to protecting against osteoporosis, endometrial cancer, and other diseases.

Topics covered include:

- What are natural hormones and how do they work?
- Why are natural hormones better and safer than synthetic HRT drugs?
- Do natural hormones increase the risk for breast cancer?
- Can natural hormones control midlife weight gain?
- Does natural progesterone help alleviate PMS?
- Will natural hormones improve skin?
- How to find the right doctor
- The latest on the recent NIH study

	Acknowledgments	xii
	Personal Note from Christine Conrad	xiii
	Foreword	xix
	Foreword	xxii
	Foreword	xxiv
Part 1	Understanding Natural Hormones
1	What Are Natural Hormones?	3
2	Using Natural Hormones	19
3	Diet, Supplements, and Exercise-Keys to Hormonal Health	29
4	Finding Your Hormonal Profile	37
	PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) and Hormone Imbalance	37
	Perimenopause	46
	Surgical Menopause	50
	Menopause	53
	Postmenopause	56
Part 2	Your Questions Answered
5	Hormones and Your Body	61
	What are hormones?	61
	How do hormones work?	62
	What is a natural hormone?	64
	What is a bio-identical hormone?	64
	What's the difference between a synthesized hormone and a synthetic hormone?	64
	What is a precursor hormone?	65
	What is estrogen?	65
	What's the difference between natural plant-derived estrogen and synthetic estrogen?	68
	My doctor says Premarin is natural because it's made from horse urine, which comes from nature. Is he right?	69
	What are the possible side effects of Premarin?	69
	I've heard the phrase estrogen dominance. What does it mean?	70
	What is tri-estrogen?	70
	What is bi-estrogen?	71
	What is a phytoestrogen?	71
	What are isoflavones? Are they hormones?	73
	I've been told that estriol protects against breast cancer. Is this true?	73
	What is progesterone?	74
	What is the difference between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins?	76
	What are the possible side effects of progestins such as Provera?	77
	Does natural progesterone protect against endometrial cancer?	79
	Does natural progesterone carry the same cancer risks as Provera?	79
	Do natural hormones lower "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL)?	80
	What is testosterone?	81
	What is DHEA?	81
	What is pregnenolone?	82
	What is cortisol? Is it a hormone?	82
	What is a xenoestrogen?	82
	How does diet affect my hormones?	83
	How does digestion affect hormone levels?	84
	What are the benefits of natural hormones?	87
	Can hormone replenishment prevent Alzheimer's disease?	88
	Will natural hormones improve my skin?	89
	My hair is thinning. Will natural hormones help?	91
	When I look in the mirror, I see the beginnings of middle-age spread. Do hormones have anything to do with this? Can taking natural hormones help?	91
	Can taking hormones give me more energy?	93
6	Using Natural Hormones	95
	How can I get natural hormones?	95
	How do I take natural hormones-or what's a "delivery system"?	95
	What's a compounding pharmacy?	99
	If I want to use an over-the-counter natural hormone, how do I choose among them?	100
	How much do natural hormones cost?	102
	Will my insurance company pay for natural hormones?	103
	What does it mean to individualize hormones?	103
	If I use natural hormones, will my periods continue?	104
	I'm on Premarin/Provera, but I want to quit taking them because of side effects. Before I switch to naturals, I'd like to get my hormone levels tested. Should I stop taking the Premarin/Provera altogether before I get tested? If so, for how long?	105
	Are natural hormones FDA-approved?	106
	I have a friend who is very happy with the Climera patch. How does a hormone patch work, and are there any risks involved?	107
	What about the brand-name oral natural estrogens such as Estrace and Estratest?	107
	Are there any brand-name natural progesterone products?	108
	When I asked my doctor about naturals, she suggested I try Ogen or Ortho-Est, which she said are plant-derived. Are they the same as naturals?	109
	Are there side effects with naturals?	109
	Will natural hormones make me gain weight as Premarin does?	110
	Will taking natural hormones help normalize my sleep patterns?	111
	My doctor says that despite the 2002 NIH study repudiating Prempro, he won't consider prescribing bio-identical hormones, as he says there are no long-term studies to support their use. How do I answer him?	112
	My doctor says that taking hormones transdermally doesn't work. She says that you would have to slather your whole body with them to get any absorption. Is she right?	112
	Since the results of the NIH study of 2002, my doctor has switched me to the patch, Climera-Pro. When I asked him if it was a natural/bio-identical hormone, he said yes. Is he giving me the right information?	113
7	PMS, Hormone Imbalance, and Natural Hormones	115
	Does progesterone help alleviate PMS?	115
	My periods can be very irregular. Can naturals help me?	116
	I have excessive bleeding and my doctor has prescribed Provera. Will this help? Can I take natural progesterone instead?	116
	I have fibrocystic breasts. Can natural hormones help me?	117
	I have fibroids. My doctor has recommended a hysterectomy. A friend said she eliminated her fibroids by taking progesterone. Is this possible?	117
8	Fertility, Birth Control Pills, and Natural Hormones	119
	I'm trying to get pregnant, and I've heard that fertility clinics use natural progesterone as part of their treatment plan. Can I do it myself with progesterone cream?	119
	I'm 35 and still get PMS like a 14-year-old. I use a diaphragm for birth control. If I take natural progesterone to control my PMS, will it make me more fertile?	120
	My sister had horrible postpartum depression. Can I take natural hormones after I deliver my baby to avoid this condition?	120
	Do birth control pills "mask" symptoms of perimenopause?	121
	When I told my gynecologist I was beginning to feel as if I'm in perimenopause, he prescribed the contraceptive pill Loestrin to keep my bones strong and reduce my mood swings. I'm not even in a relationship! Does this make sense?	122
	I'm 42 and have been on birth control pills for five years. I'd like to get off, but my gynecologist told me I should keep taking them because they protect against endometrial and ovarian cancer. Is he right? What are the natural hormone alternatives to the Pill in terms of cancer protection?	122
	I'm 44 and am taking birth control pills, but I'm curious as to whether I'm in perimenopause. Can I get my hormone levels tested even though I'm on the Pill?	123
9	Perimenopause and Natural Hormones	125
	I'm 46. About a year ago I noticed a drastic change in my emotions-I cry at the least provocation. My doctor suggested Prozac, but that seems extreme. Can I treat my blues with natural hormones?	125
	I'm in perimenopause and have started to suffer from severe headaches and anxiety attacks. Can natural hormones help me?	127
	I seem to be losing my sex drive. Help!	128
	I'm in perimenopause and my doctor gave me Estrace. It didn't help at all-in fact, it made me feel worse. Why is that?	129
10	Menopause and Natural Hormones	131
	Since menopause began, I could swear my brain cells are dying off. I'm getting really scattered, and it's beginning to frighten me. What's going on, and can natural hormones help?	131
	I entered menopause about two years ago, and my mood swings are driving me (and my family) crazy. Will natural hormones help stabilize my emotions?	132
	My hot flashes have become a nonstop source of embarrassment to me. Can natural hormones provide some relief?	133
	I'm experiencing a lot of vaginal dryness since I stopped my periods. It's seriously interfering with my sex life. Can hormones help?	134
	I've been on Premarin/Provera for five years and I feel fine. Why should I switch to natural hormones?	134
	How do I switch from Premarin/Provera (also Prempro and Premphase) to the naturals?	135
	I hear that soy contains phytoestrogens. Can I control my menopausal symptoms by just eating lots of tofu?	136
	I've heard about taking black cohosh for menopausal symptoms. Is this a natural hormone?	137
	Can traditional herbal remedies such as dong quai relieve my menopausal symptoms?	138
	I'm 55 and feel fine. My doctor just prescribed Premarin/Provera because he says I have to protect myself against heart disease and osteoporosis. What should I do?	139
	There is heart disease in my family. I have no real menopausal symptoms, but should I take estrogen for prevention?	141
	I'm taking Provera along with Premarin to protect against endometrial cancer. Will it?	142
	I've had breast cancer. What can I do for menopausal symptoms?	143
	Do women in menopause need to supplement testosterone?	143
	A friend in menopause is taking only progesterone to control her symptoms. She says her doctor told her she doesn't need estrogen. Can I do this too?	144
	I see DHEA advertised in magazines for "mature" readers. What is it? Should I take it?	145
	I hate the idea that I'm still bleeding at age 58 while taking Premarin/Provera. Will the same be true on naturals?	146
11	Hysterectomies and Natural Hormones	147
	I've had a complete hysterectomy. My doctor has prescribed estrogen, but do I also need to take progesterone?	147
	I've had a hysterectomy but my ovaries are still intact. How do they affect my hormones? Do I need hormone replacement?	148
	My doctor tells me that after my hysterectomy I will be in "surgical menopause." How is this different from regular menopause?	149
	A year ago I had a hysterectomy and was prescribed Premarin. I've already gained twenty-five pounds and can't exercise it off. Why?	150
	I'm 70 and just had a hysterectomy. Do I need to replace hormones?	151
	Since my hysterectomy I have no interest in sex, Will natural hormones help?	152
12	Healthy Bones and Natural Hormones	155
	I've just had a bone mineral density test and it says I'm at high risk for osteoporosis. What does that mean?	155
	Why do bones lose their mass?	156
	Which naturals should I take for osteoporosis?	156
	My friend, who is 70, is taking Evista for her osteoporosis. She says it's a designer estrogen. What does that mean?	157
	My doctor has prescribed Fosamax for my osteoporosis. What is it?	158
	Can I just take Tums with calcium for my bones?	159
	Can I just exercise and improve my diet to increase bone mass?	160
	Looking Forward	161
	How Do the Recent NIH Study Results Relate to Natural/Bio-identical Hormones?	165
	Resources	176
	Doctor Referrals	176
	Resources for Hormone Testing	177
	Recommended Products	178
	Compounding Pharmacies	179
	Bibliography	181
	Index	183