What You Must Know About Women's Hormones: Your Guide to Natural Hormone Treatments for PMS, Menopause, Osteoporosis, PCOS, and More

by Pamela Wartian Smith

Overview

Hormonal imbalances can occur at any age—before, during, or after menopause—and for a variety of reasons. While most hormone-related problems are associated with menopause, fluctuating hormonal levels can also cause a variety of other conditions, and for some women, the effects can be truly debilitating. What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones is a clear guide to the treatment of hormonal irregularities without the health risks associated with standard hormone replacement therapy.

This book is divided into three parts. Part I describes the body’s own hormones, looking at their functions and the problems that can occur if these hormones are not at optimal levels. Part II focuses on the most common problems that arise from hormonal imbalances, such as PMS, hot flashes, and endometriosis. Lastly, Part III details hormone replacement therapy, focusing on the difference between natural and synthetic hormone treatments.

Whether you are looking for help with menopausal symptoms or you simply want to enjoy vibrant health, What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones can make a profound difference in your life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780757053078
Publisher:	Square One Publishers
Publication date:	04/10/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Pamela Wartian Smith, MD, MPH, MS, is a diplomate of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Physicians and past co-director of the Master's Program in Medical Sciences, with a concentration in Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, at the Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida. An authority on the subjects of wellness and functional medicine, she is also the founder of the Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine. Dr. Smith is the best-selling author of ten books, including What You Must Know About Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & So Much More; What You Must Know About Women's Hormones; and What You Must Know About Memory Loss.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction

Part I: Hormones
Introduction
Estrogen
Progesterone   
Estrogen/Progesterone Ratio   
Testosterone
DHEA
Cortisol   
Pregnenolone       
Insulin   
Thyroid Hormone       
Melatonin
Prolactin

Part II: Ailments and Problems
Introduction
Acidity
Acne
Adenocarcinoma               
Age Spots                   
Allergies                   
Anxiety
Arteriosclerosis               
Back Pain                   
Bladder Problems               
Bloating                   
Blood Clots                   
Bone Fractures
Breast Cancer               
Breast Swelling/Tenderness           
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Toxicity       
Calcium Deficiency
Cancer
Carcinoma-in-Situ               
Cardiovascular Disease       
Cervical Cancer               
Cervical Dysplasia (Abnormal Pap Smear)   
Cholesterol Issues               
Copper Deficiency               
Coronary Artery Disease           
Cramps                   
Cystic Acne               
Cysts                   
Depression                   
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Babies       
Diabetes                   
Dysmenorrhea               
Dyspareunia               
Endometriosis               
Fatigue                   
Fibrocystic Breast Disease
Fibroids
Food Cravings               
Headaches                   
Heart Attack               
Heart Disease               
Heavy Periods               
High Blood Pressure           
Hot Flashes                   
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)       
Hypertension
Hypoglycemia
Hysterectomy
Incontinence
Inflammation
Insomnia
Iron Toxicity
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Irritability
Kidney Failure
Low Blood Sugar
Magnesium Deficiency
Malnutrition
Menopause
Migraines
Mood Swings
Nausea
Night Sweats
Obesity
Osteopenia
Osteoporosis
Ovarian Cancer
Painful Intercourse
Painful Menstrual Cycles
Pelvic Pain
Perimenopause
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Postpartum Depression
Premature Ovarian Decline (POD)
Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Rosacea
Skin Problems
Stress
Stroke
Strontium Deficiency
Surgical Menopause
Urinary Leakage
Uterine Cancer
Vaginal Issues
Vaginitis
Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin D Deficiency
Vomiting
Vulvodynia
Weight Gain
Zinc Deficiency

Part III: Hormone Replacement Therapy
Introduction
What is HRT?               
Hormonal Testing Methods           
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
Birth Control Pills
Nutrition and HRT

Conclusion
Summaries
Resources
Recommended Reading
References
About the Author
Index

Preface

How would you like to live to be 100 years old? Well, perhaps you can. We now have the scientific means to help you live to be at least 100 years of age, if not older. However, in order to live to that age, you need to be hormonally and nutritionally sound. I hope that my book will help you to achieve this. It was written to provide you with the hormonal aspects of staying healthy, along with a few nutritional aspects.

All the hormones in the body are a symphony. Much like an orchestra must play in tune, your hormonal symphony must be in tune throughout your life in order for you to have optimal health. Hormonal dysfunction can occur at any age—it is not exclusive to older people. For example, if you have PMS, postpartum depression, fibroids, or fibrocystic breast disease, there is a good chance that your progesterone-to-estrogen ratio is too low.

Treatment for these kinds of ailments (or any hormonal abnormality, for that matter) may involve hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In the past, no matter what the symptoms or hormonal levels were, every woman would receive the same one-size-fits-all treatment. Today, things are different.

This brings me to my second reason for writing this book: to herald a new age in medicine. With the completion of the Genome Project, a thirteen-year study completed in 2003 that was designed to identify the over 20,000 genes in human DNA, we now have the medical capability to develop and customize a treatment plan for each patient.

Medicine is at a crossroads. Now, instead of just treating the symptoms of a disease, a new model of medicine is emerging that looks at the cause of the problem. For example: why might a person suffer from depression? Antidepressants are wonderful medications—if you need them. Their purpose is to treat the symptoms of depression—not to uncover the cause of depression. In the new specialty of Metabolic/Anti-Aging Medicine, the reason why a person has depression would be looked at. Depression may be a symptom of hypothyroidism, which is low thyroid function. Or, it may be a result of the sufferer’s body no longer making enough estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone. There are many different factors that can cause depression, and Metabolic/Anti-Aging Medicine aims to find and alleviate the cause instead of just treating the various symptoms. Just because two people are suffering the same symptoms does not mean they should receive the same treatment. Metabolic/Anti-Aging Medicine recognizes this and treats patients accordingly. To find a Metabolic/Anti-Aging specialist, see the Resources section.

The pages of this text will explore the intricate web of your body’s hormonal system, tying together my reasons for writing the book by explaining the hormonal aspects of staying healthy and examining how individualized HRT can prevent some ailments from occurring.

Part I of the text looks at the different hormones in your body, their functions, and the different side effects that can occur if these hormones are not at optimal levels. Additionally, the importance of hormonal levels and the ratio between them will be revealed. You will also learn the different etiologies that can cause hormonal imbalances, which may help you eliminate a problem before it gets too serious. The correct levels of all of your hormones are needed for you to achieve optimal health.

I have organized Part I, the hormones, in the order I felt would be most useful to women. While the order of importance for every woman may be different, understanding each hormone is key.

Part II focuses on the most common ailments and problems that arise from hormonal imbalances, such as perimenopause and menopause, PMS, postpartum depression, and endometriosis, to name a few. You’ll learn that even diseases that seemingly have nothing to do with hormones—like heart disease and osteoporosis—can be affected by a hormonal imbalance. Keeping your hormones at optimal levels is beneficial in preventing an array of ailments, even the ones you wouldn’t suspect.

Part III focuses on HRT. You’ll learn the difference between synthetic and natural HRT, and how to get started should you decide HRT is the option for you. Different ways to have your hormone levels measured are discussed, along with a few different examples of HRT. Finally, you will learn how proper nutrition can benefit and boost the effects of HRT.

Fortunately, we do not have to suffer in silence like our mothers did! Science can help us. Not only can we have our symptoms resolved, but we now have a better chance of helping maintain our vision, memory, and mobility. This is not “Star Trek” medicine. It is here and available now. You too can have individualized and customized care. This book will help you discover how.