Hormones and neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that relay vital instructions throughout our entire bodies. All of our hormones were designed to be in harmony with each other and nature’s circadian rhythms (night and day cycles and seasons). Even one hormone out of balance will send the whole system into dysfunction. Hormonal dysfunction can lead to weight gain, insomnia, depression, uncontrollable appetite, fatigue, mood swings, inability to think or remember, see, hear and make decisions.

You Can Now Close Your Synaptic Gaps Properly With BHRT; Especially When Going Through Menopause!

CLICK HERE - Be sure to follow us on Facebook and obtain all of our special offers, discount packages and much more. Simply hit the like button and you’re in!!!

Simply Go To Our Website Home Page http://www.thehealthychoice.net and click on the FREE Hormone Analysis.

Treatment Options for Vaginal Atrophy:

What Do the Newer Studies Show?

As women enter the menopausal age, hormones start declining, and without therapy, symptoms of menopause become exacerbated. With this hormone loss, the vaginal epithelium becomes atrophic and physiological lubrication is reduced. This can lead to physical discomforts such as vaginal dryness, irritation, itching, burning, dyspareunia, all which can lead to decreased libido, causing sexual distress both to the patient and her partner.

Conventional treatments include intra-vaginal conjugated estrogen or estradiol; however, other studies have provided compounders with alternative choices. Vaginal moisturizers can improve the balance of intracellular fluids in the vaginal epithelium. Vaginal lubricants have more of a short-term action as they act as a mechanical barrier between the vaginal epithelium and the external environment, improving the dryness related to sexual activity.

In 2008, Constantino and Guaraldi published a study that utilized a vaginal suppository containing hyaluronic acid sodium salt 5 mg, vitamin E acetate 1 mg, and vitamin A palmitate 1 mg. Dosing was a suppository intravaginally every night for 14 nights, then tapering to every other night for 14 nights. Of 150 women, 126 women completed the study in full. The study assessed efficacy of the study medication in the areas of burning, itching, dyspareunia, inflammation and irritation. Results showed that any symptom that was reported as severe initially was resolved to either mild or absent at the end of four weeks.¹

Hyaluronic acid helps to form an extracellular water film, which moisturizes the skin, maintaining a water balance aiding in skin elasticity. It also facilitates the healing process and tissue regeneration. Vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties, also acts as an anti-inflammatory and healing agent. Vitamin A has been shown to increase the function of the immune local cells and the epithelium of the vagina.

Chollet et al evaluated the safety and efficacy of a vaginal suppository compound for vaginal atrophy. Estriol 1 mg and progesterone 30 mg was given daily for two weeks, then three times weekly for a total of six months. In a study group of 19 women, results showed improvement in vaginal pH, vaginal dryness, and libido. Follow-up endometrial biopsies were performed, and no hyperplasia or carcinoma were noted at six months of treatment. Serum estriol concentrations were taken at baseline, preinsertion of the dose, five hours post-dose, at week two, and at months three and six. What is interesting to note is that the estriol serum level did not differ statistically from the baseline to preinsertion dose, at week two, or months three or six, suggesting that estriol has minimal systemic accumulation, as reflected in the study.

Serum progesterone levels increased at all time points, with a median serum level that was less at month six when compared at month three. Also, preinsertion serum levels were higher at week two than at month three, indicating that absorption of intravaginal progesterone 30 mg dose during maintenance phase does not gradually increase. Side   effects noted were early vaginal spotting (which resolved, no recurrence), and vulvar and vaginal irritation.²

Although many groups have stated their positions regarding the use of progestin in women with a uterus while taking estrogen, Chollet et al mentions that other studies utilizing unopposed intravaginal estrogen had increased endometrial thickness. While the patient population was small in the estriol and progesterone intravaginal study, it confirms that the medications were well tolerated, and endometrial hyperplasia did not occur at these doses of hormones.² Estriol 1 mg/progesterone 30 mg vaginal suppository formula.

Lastly, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been studied for libido and sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Intravaginal doses studied include 3.25 mg, 6.5 mg, and 13 mg versus placebo. A parameter of this study considered the benefit of intravaginal DHEA on vaginal atrophy, dryness, and itching. Results showed that at the end of 12 weeks, all three doses had an equal benefit on vaginal dryness and no adverse events were reported. On the domain of arousal lubrication, the 13 mg dose achieved the best score, although all three doses showed tremendous benefit at 12 weeks.³ Serum steroid levels were evaluated in a separate study and found to be within the normal postmenopausal range.⁴

The Constantino and Guaraldi study provides a non-hormonal treatment for some women, in addition to intra-vaginal Vitamin E. These studies provide great marketing material for some practitioners, and you can obtain them from PUBMED (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/) for a fee.

Contact: The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy for more information at: (914) 238-1700

Like The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy on facebook

References:

1.         Constantino D, Guaraldi C. Effectiveness and safety of vaginal suppositories for   the treatment of the vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: an open, non-    controlled clinical trial. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2008 Nov-Dec;12(6):411-6.

2.         Chollet JA, Carter G, Meyn LA, Mermelstein F, Balk JL. Efficacy and safety of    vaginal estriol and progesterone in postmenopausal women with atrophic          vaginitis. Menopause. 2009 Sept-Oct;16(5):978-83.

3.         Labrie F, Archer D, et al. Effect of intravaginal dehydroepiandrosterone    (Prasterone) on libido and sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.         Menopause. 2009 Sep-Oct;16(5):923-31.

4.         Labrie F, Archer D, et al. Serum steroid levels during 12-week intravaginal             dehydroepiandrosterone administrtion. Menopause. 2009 Sep-Oct;16(5):897-906

Synthetic estrogens are used to make medicine, to fatten animals before slaughter, to get cows to give more milk, to kill bugs on our fruits and vegetables, and to produce industrial plastic and petroleum products. Over-exposure to environmental estrogens affects the balance between estrogen and progesterone – another female hormone. When progesterone levels drop off during menopause, the over-abundance of estrogen caused by the intake of chemical estrogen-like compounds increases the incidence and severity of menopause-related symptoms.

Estrogen dominance can also occur when progesterone production drops. This can occur during periods of high stress, and at any time in a woman’s reproductive life, from the time of her first period, after childbirth and especially during menopause. Estrogen dominance can cause thyroid problems, breast disease or tenderness, heavy or irregular periods, water retention, moodiness, weight gain and insomnia. Treatment can be as easy as adding Progesterone.  Some symptoms of estrogen dominance include:

Mood Swings
Irritation and Nervousness
Headaches
Breast Tenderness
Anxiety
Uterine Fibroids
Water Retention
Fibrocystic Breasts
Feels Cold
Menstrual Bleeding Changes

If you are concerned that  you may be experiencing Menopausal symptoms please click on this Link http://www.thehealthychoice.net/survey.htmand take our Free Hormone Assessment Analysis and within 48 hours we will contact you with your results and our recommendations.

Phil Altman, R.Ph.,

Compounding Pharmacist

Like The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy on facebook

Estrogen is produced in several places in the body, including the ovaries, adrenal glands and fat cells. Even if your ovaries have been removed or you have gone through menopause, estrogen is still being produced in low but measurable amounts by these other tissues. There are multiple steps needed to help ensure safe excretion of estrogen from the body. These steps produce different end products or “metabolites” along the way. There are some metabolites that are “bad” because they are toxic and damage DNA, as opposed to the “good” estrogen metabolites that behave safely and are preferable. Although our genetics influence how easily we make the good and bad estrogens, it turns out (big surprise!) that food and other lifestyle factors have an enormous effect on the kinds of metabolites the liver will make. These are what we focus on for breast cancer prevention at BCH and Nutrition@BlumKitchen.

Genetic and urine testing can also be done to evaluate one’s risk for making bad estrogens. With these test results, we can determine how to use food, supplements and behavior modification to increase good estrogen levels and lower bad ones. For example, foods which support estrogen detoxification pathways include: cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli and cauliflower; fiber from fruits and vegetables; soy; dried beans; and ground flax seeds. Let us help you understand what you need by reviewing your personal health history and conducting one of these tests if needed. Or, go directly to Nutrition@BlumKitchen for one of our Cancer Fighting Foods classes. See Chef Marti’s list of breast-cancer-fighting foods below, along with a delicious recipe.

Supplement of the Month

Di-indolylmethane, or DIM, can be taken in supplement form to improve the good:bad estrogen ratio and decrease the risk of breast cancer. We also recommend it to reduce symptoms of too much estrogen. Research supports the use of DIM as a supplement because of its safe activity in the body and low side effect profile. DIM is poorly absorbed into the body unless it is bound to oils and fat-soluble nutrients in the same capsule. We use DIMAvail, made by Designs for Health, due to superior absorption and bioavailability in the body. DIMAvail is 10% off for the month of October.

Blum Center for Health

34 Rye Ridge Road Plaza

Rye Brook, NY  10573

Contact Us: (914) 652-7800

www.blumcenterforhealth.com

The Healthy Choice’s Second Annual BHRT Seminar

Thank you to everyone who attended The Healthy Choice Compounding Pharmacy’s  second annual BHRT Seminar.  This Seminar was for Doctors and Staff interested in learning how to better incorporate Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy into their practice.

This years presenter was Dr. Pamela Smith, MD, MPH, Author of “HRT, The Answers” . 

Dr. Smith  has been featured  on CNN & PBS. 

Click Here to Learn More!

Follow us on facebook