List Books » What Your Doctor May Not Tell You about Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Hormone Balance
Authors: John R. Lee, Virginia Hopkins, Virginia Hopkins
ISBN-13: 9780446614955, ISBN-10: 0446614955
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Date Published: August 2004
Edition: Revised and Updated
Women considering hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause symptoms and health benefits should read this controversial, provocative book first. "Advertising and research dollars are spent trying to convince women that estrogen will cure everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's," writes John R. Lee, M.D., "but there is scant evidence for any of these claims and reams of evidence that synthetic estrogens are highly toxic and carcinogenic." Lee has studied the research and concludes that estrogen is not the magic bullet for protection against heart disease and osteoporosis, nor does it retard aging. Natural progesterone, instead, puts postmenopausal women's hormones in balance, says Lee. He cites study after study that indicates that natural progesterone, obtained in cream form, delivers what the usual HRT only promises. "Menopause as a disease has been largely fabricated by physicians and the pharmaceutical industry," says this leader of a "quiet but powerful revolution" regarding HRT. <I>What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause</I> covers the benefits of natural progesterone, the history and politics of the medical and drug establishment, the biochemistry and dynamics of hormones and how they get out of balance, and how to prevent hormone imbalance and stay healthy. Lee empowers you to ask hard questions of your doctor.
Foreword | xi | |
Introduction | xvii | |
Part I | The Inner Workings of Hormone Balance | 1 |
Chapter 1 | The Crux of the Matter: Menopausal Politics and Women's Hormone Cycles | 3 |
Menopausal Politics | 3 | |
What Is Menopause? | 5 | |
The Rise and Fall of Hormones During the Menstrual Cycle | 5 | |
Premenopause | 7 | |
Chapter 2 | The Dance of the Steroids | 10 |
The Cast of Major Players | 11 | |
Choreographing the Dance | 13 | |
The Journey Along the Steroid Hormone Pathway | 14 | |
The Dance of the Steroids | 15 | |
Four Movements: The Flow of Steroids in Our Bodies | 16 | |
Chapter 3 | The History of Hormone Replacement Therapy and the Estrogen Myth | 19 |
Menopause Becomes a Disease | 20 | |
The Truth Behind the Hoopla | 22 | |
Perpetuating the Estrogen Myth | 26 | |
The HRT Chickens Come Home to Roost | 30 | |
Chapter 4 | What Is Estrogen? | 35 |
How and Where Estrogens Are Made and Used in the Body | 38 | |
Estrogen and Cell Division | 39 | |
How Estrogen Affects a Woman's Body | 40 | |
Estrogen Dominance | 41 | |
The Myth of Estrogen in Hormone Replacement Therapy | 43 | |
What Are "Normal" Estrogen Levels? | 46 | |
Chapter 5 | Hormone Balance, Xenobiotics, and Future Generations | 50 |
Turning on the Hormone Switch | 51 | |
The Canary in the Coal Mine? | 53 | |
The Impact on Future Generations | 54 | |
Safe Living in a Sea of Estrogens | 56 | |
Pesticides and Plastics | 58 | |
Solvents | 59 | |
Xenoestrogens and Future Generations | 63 | |
If You Want to Know More | 65 | |
Chapter 6 | What Is Natural Progesterone? | 67 |
The Discovery and Use of Progesterone | 68 | |
Exactly What Is Progesterone? | 72 | |
The Cycle of Progesterone Production | 75 | |
Progesterone and Procreation | 75 | |
How Progesterone Affects the Body | 77 | |
Progesterone and Steroid Synthesis | 77 | |
Progesterone and the Brain | 79 | |
Progesterone and Sex Drive | 81 | |
Progesterone in Men | 83 | |
Chapter 7 | The Dramatic Difference Between Progesterone and Progestins | 85 |
The Difference between Synthetic Drugs and Natural Compounds | 87 | |
What Is a Progestin? | 90 | |
Progestins Gave Birth to the Sexual Revolution | 95 | |
Chapter 8 | Sex Hormones and the Brain | 98 |
The Basics of Brain Communication | 98 | |
How the Inner and Outer Brains Regulate the Body | 100 | |
Estrogen and the Brain | 101 | |
Progesterone and the Brain | 103 | |
Progesterone and Fetal Brain Development | 103 | |
Progesterone and Brain Injuries | 104 | |
Progesterone and the Elderly | 105 | |
Progesterone and Libido | 105 | |
Postpartum Blues | 106 | |
Progesterone and Sleep Patterns | 107 | |
Chapter 9 | What Are Androgens? | 108 |
DHEA | 111 | |
Testosterone | 112 | |
Androstenedione | 113 | |
Chapter 10 | Hormone Balance and the Menstrual Cycle | 115 |
The Rise and Fall of Hormone Levels | 116 | |
Anovulatory Cycles | 120 | |
Part II | Hormone Balance and Illness | 123 |
Chapter 11 | Progesterone and Menopause Symptoms | 125 |
The Mystery of Menopause | 127 | |
A Brief Look at Premenopause | 128 | |
Falling Estrogen and Progesterone, Rising GnRH, and Hot Flashes | 128 | |
Progesterone Deficiency | 130 | |
Menopause and Estrogen | 131 | |
Androgens and Menopause | 132 | |
What Can Be Done for Menopausal Symptoms? | 134 | |
Chapter 12 | Hormone Balance and the Adrenal and Thyroid Glands | 135 |
Premenopause and Stress | 135 | |
Follicle Burnout | 138 | |
Estrogen Excess | 139 | |
The Adrenal Glands | 141 | |
The Adrenal Cortex | 142 | |
Progesterone and Thyroid Hormone | 151 | |
Chapter 13 | Hormone Balance, Nutrition, and Osteoporosis | 154 |
Debunking the Osteoporosis Myths | 155 | |
What Is Osteoporosis? | 156 | |
A Bit About How Bones Are Built | 156 | |
Osteoporosis and Estrogen | 158 | |
Osteoporosis and Progesterone | 162 | |
Other Osteoporosis Treatments | 171 | |
Keeping Your Bones Strong | 174 | |
How Bones Are Depleted | 183 | |
What Your Doctor May Not Know About Bone Density Measurement (BMD) | 192 | |
Chapter 14 | Women and Cardiovascular Disease | 198 |
Estrogen and Heart Disease | 199 | |
Progesterone and Heart Disease | 200 | |
Only Half of Heart Attack Deaths in Women Are Caused by Blocked Arteries | 200 | |
Insulin and Heart Disease | 202 | |
What About Cholesterol? | 207 | |
High Blood Pressure | 208 | |
Iron Overload | 209 | |
Homocysteine | 212 | |
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) | 214 | |
Nutrition and Lifestyle | 214 | |
What About Aspirin? | 216 | |
Strokes and Hormone Balance | 218 | |
The Bottom Line | 223 | |
Chapter 15 | Hormone Balance and Cancer | 224 |
Reestablishing Cellular Communication | 225 | |
How Cancer Develops | 226 | |
Estrogen Stimulates Cell Growth | 228 | |
The Cancer-Protective Benefits of Progesterone | 234 | |
Hormone Receptors in Breast Cancer | 239 | |
What About Mammograms? | 240 | |
Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors | 244 | |
Endometrial Cancer | 245 | |
Transcultural Factors in Breast and Uterine Cancer | 248 | |
Chapter 16 | Getting Off Conventional HRT and on to Natural Hormones | 251 |
Questions and Answers About Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy | 252 | |
Chapter 17 | Natural Hormone Balance and Pelvic Disorders | 255 |
Vaginitis | 256 | |
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | 257 | |
Ovarian Cysts and Mittelschmerz | 258 | |
Endometriosis | 259 | |
Fibroids | 261 | |
Endometrial Cancer | 263 | |
Hysterectomy | 263 | |
Staying Naturally Healthy | 265 | |
Chapter 18 | Hormone Balance and Other Common Health Problems | 266 |
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) | 267 | |
Hypothyroidism (Low Thyroid) | 271 | |
Fibrocystic Breasts | 277 | |
Migraine Headaches | 278 | |
Skin Problems (Acne, Seborrhea, Rosacea, Psoriasis, and Keratoses) | 279 | |
Candida | 281 | |
Allergies | 282 | |
Arthritis | 283 | |
Autoimmune Disorders | 284 | |
Urinary Tract Problems | 284 | |
Gallbladder Disease and Bile Flow | 288 | |
Part III | Creating and Maintaining Hormone Balance | 293 |
Chapter 19 | How to Use Progesterone Supplementation | 295 |
Types of Progesterone Supplementation | 295 | |
Testing Hormone Levels | 299 | |
Not All "Wild Yam Extract" Is Progesterone | 301 | |
How and When to Use Natural Progesterone | 303 | |
Possible Side Effects of Progesterone | 304 | |
How to Get the Most Out of Progesterone Cream | 308 | |
When During the Month to Use Progesterone Cream | 309 | |
Where to Find Natural Progesterone | 320 | |
A Final Reminder | 321 | |
Chapter 20 | How to Use Estrogen, DHEA, Pregnenolone, the Corticosteroids, Testosterone, and Androstenedione | 323 |
Estrogen | 324 | |
DHEA | 325 | |
Pregnenolone | 326 | |
The Corticosteroids | 327 | |
Testosterone | 329 | |
Androstenedione | 331 | |
Chapter 21 | Nutrition for Healthy Hormones | 332 |
Refined Carbohydrates | 333 | |
Excess Calories, Not Just Excess Fat | 334 | |
Good Fats and Bad Fats | 335 | |
Whole Foods Are Best | 338 | |
Eat Organic Foods Whenever Possible | 341 | |
Is Vegetarianism Protective? | 341 | |
Opt for Free-Range Meats, Eggs, and Poultry | 342 | |
Are Dairy Foods Right for You? | 343 | |
Eat Your Phytochemicals | 344 | |
Eat More Fiber | 345 | |
Drink Plenty of Clean Water | 346 | |
Take Your Multivitamins | 347 | |
Minerals | 350 | |
Your Ideal Diet | 353 | |
Get Some Exercise | 354 | |
How Are Your Adrenal Glands Working? | 355 | |
Digestion | 356 | |
Herbs for Hormone Balance | 360 | |
Chapter 22 | Commonly Asked Questions About Using Natural Progesterone | 364 |
Glossary | 373 | |
Resources | 377 | |
Recommended Reading | 389 | |
References | 393 | |
Appendix | The Structure of Steroid Hormones | 425 |
Index | 431 |