Tags: Dr Oz, Hormones, libido, sex, vaginal dryness
Dr. Oz Takes on Libido Posted on October 25th, 2010
If you’re female and over 40 chances are libido could be an issue. Declining hormones account for 40 percent of women complaining about vaginal dryness (sandpaper sex)vaginal yeast infections and a general lack of spice in the bedroom. Today Dr. Oz focused on three low-cost strategies. For vaginal dryness, a silicone lubricant was suggested. A probiotic insert Pro-B Capsules insures healthy vaginal bacteria thus eliminating odor and discharge. Finally “Vagifem” vaginal estrogen inserts help to improve the elasticity of vaginal tissue and increase vaginal moisture. Now just find the right partner and enjoy!
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/libido-boosters-revamp-your-sex-life
Tags: birth control pill, Hormones, sex
More Women Are Ditching the Pill Posted on April 2nd, 2010
As more women become conscious about eating organic and going pesticide, hormone and chemical free, they are having second thoughts about using the Pill. A recent study by Texas A & M University showed that more women are making the choice to scrap the pill which suppresses ovulation and are looking for chemical-free birth control options. Ovulation is a powerful time for many women who claim they have more energy and libido when estrogen levels peak, according to Jerilyn Prior M.D., of the University of British Columbia. They are also more attractive to men during this time. Studies showed that lap dancers got more tips just prior to ovulation and that the cycles of women on the pill stayed relatively flat impacting their tastes in men. Estrogen from birth control pills is passed through the urine and ends up in sewage treatment plants, affecting fragile ecosystems and in some areas, turning male frogs into female. What are the solutions to this age-old dilemma for women worldwide? George Bush said abstinence – perish the thought! IUD’s are gaining popularity but these too can have negative side effects – heavy bleeding, pain at the insertion site and the problem of becoming dislodged and traveling to other parts of the body. Condoms and spermicidal foams are a more reliable but unromantic option. I recommend that women test their vaginal mucous, chart their cycles and use a nifty testing device that shows when a woman is fertile.
Tags: anti-depression, depression, Hormones, Women
Study Shows Placebo as Effective as Anti-Depressants Posted on January 7th, 2010
If you think that taking an anti-depressant to banish your winter woes would be a good thing, think again. Latest study by the University of Pennsylvania shows that for mild to moderate depression, a placebo (sugar pill) may be just as effective as antidepressant drugs. The study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA reviews data from previous trials. Industry-supported trials have generally found that anti-depressants reduce symptoms whereas the new study showed no significant benefits compared with placebos.
The study also showed that antidepressants inability to out-perform placebos against moderate symptoms was due to sustained attention that patients received during the drug trials. Could it be that discussions about coping strategies, lifestyle changes, being heard and understood by the therapist or doctor was really what made the difference? Study participants that took the anti-depressants and not the placebo showed marginal if any difference in mood when taking the anti-depressant drugs.
Readers of the study are reminded not to adjust medication in any way without a doctor’s approval. Anti-depressants are life-saving in cases of severe depression.
Depression in my opinion is the opposite of “expression” or lack of a positive, creative outlet. Isolation from one’s peer group or society can also affect one’s state of mind. Depression can also be caused by hormonal imbalances. Low progesterone in women accounts for depression, anxiety and post-partum depression. It is always worth having hormone levels checked before considering antidepressants. Psychotherapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Re-Patterning) can also be useful. There are almost as many causes of depression as there are people. All this is worth noting considering that over 170 million prescriptions for antidepressants are filled in the United States annually.
No Mammograms Till 50 – Government Task Force Says Posted on December 3rd, 2009
The latest word from a government task force suggests that women under age 50 do not need mammograms. This is concerning a lot of people including the American Cancer Society who has taken the position that mammograms are the best early detection screening for breast cancer. Not only are mammograms discouraged by the task force, but breast self-examinations performed routinely by millions of women world-wide are also discouraged. Imagine not getting to know your breasts and the personal detection of any irregularities until the age of 50 – madness.
I am very medical. I grew up in a medical family, my father was a doctor. I have had routine mammograms every second year for the past 20 years. Yes, there is radiation from mammograms and there is a risk of a “false positive.”
I AM in favor of mammograms as a screening procedure but ONLY after Thermography (digital imaging) has detected heat changes in the breast area. Then an ultrasound or mammogram should be scheduled to confirm that an abnormality does indeed exist.
Breast cancer risks increase in women after the age of 50 because of declining hormones. Therefore having balanced hormones could be a protective strategy against all kinds of cancers. Women under the age of 50 usually have a full complement of hormones but this does not preclude them from being pro-active, doing routine breast self-exams, having the Thermography procedure done and being aware of their health on every level.
Mammograms are controversial but they are also life-saving.
For more information on thermography Discover Screening
Cost of Hormones Rises Posted on June 6th, 2009
If you are taking traditional HRT or horse-urine-derived hormones, get ready for a cost hike. Big pharma giant Wyeth has announced that their hormones made of horse pee are going to cost you a lot more money. Why? Well, women got scared off taking synthetic HRT when the Women’s Health Initiative Study (using Premarin and Provera) was halted in 2002 because of increased risks for cancer, heart disease and stroke.
Now women are investigating BHRT or bio-identical hormone balancing which is derived from plant-based oils and not pregnant horse’s urine. Consequently drug sales of Premarin have dropped significantly over the last few years.
The way Wyeth plans to recoup this loss is to increase the drug cost. I am really quite supprised that there are still women out there using these products. Maybe it is time for women to listen to their bodies and use hormone replacement that is identical and more in tune with their own hormones and not those made from a horse. Many women get relief from menopausal symptoms by using herbs and supplements which are readily available without prescription.
I felt so strongly about the subject that I interviewed a “compounding pharmacist” and created The Body Knows about Hormones – a 4 CD set which describes bio-identical hormone balancing in detail.