Risk for DISEASES of Menopause & The Estrogen Window of Opportunity - 83
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ก.ย. 2024
- Do you know which three dreaded diseases you can prevent by understanding the estrogen window of opportunity? Do you know how much of a difference you can make in your future by learning about them? Most women would answer, "No" to both questions. Don’t waste this opportunity to make one of the biggest differences you’ll ever make in your life. Watch this video.
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Thank you very much for closing the window of ignorance in my brain.
🤣🤣🤣
I thank you, too, Dr. Taylor!
You're so very welcome, my dear.
I want to thank you. I’m 53. Went through menopause at 48. I was found to have minimal plaque in my aorta and coronary arteries. It was an incidental finding from a chest ct. I’ve worked hard this passed year to lose almost 60 lbs. I’m longer obese. I’m only 5 lbs from a normal BMI. My lipids, glucose, cmp, CBC, A1C all perfect. My TSH was 8. So the endo is following that. I see my gynecologist next week. I want to discuss HRT now. I never knew all these things. I haven’t slept since menopause. Anxiety is through the roof. And since I’ve already got arterial plaque, I’m terrified. I’m so glad I lost the weight or it would have surely disqualified me from HRT. I’m already approaching my 6 year window. It’s time to act now! Thank you for caring about us women. ❤️ and putting this information out there!
Thanks Dr. Taylor for all this helpful information
Please please make some videos in Spanish, my community is suffering with so many doctors stuck in WHI study
and not prescribing HRT.
My friends and family are so afraid of estrogen
ir makes me sad.
we need you in spanish.
Gracias Gracias.
I am working on subtitles in various languages for my videos. But this takes time. My Spanish is okay, but not good enough to be fluent or to be absolutely sure you understand.
@@MenopauseTaylor Thanks for the quick response.
I'll wait for the subtitles to share your videos with my familie and friends.
Be well my dear Dr.
@@sandrad9815 I'm sorry that it will be a long wait.
Thanks so much for your videos. Today I'm seeing my dr to Rx Estrogen and Progesterone. My Menopause date will be May 2018, so my window is about to begin. Bought Dr. Mache Seiel's book, "The Estrogen Window" you mention in your last video. My dr suggested low dose birth control pills but they contain synthetic progesterone which I want to avoid. Instead I'm suggesting to my dr. to take transdermal estrogen and Prometrium. I feel much more informed and empowered by your videos.
So saw the Dr. She gave me the lecture how dangerous estrogen is and it will increase my incidence of heart disease and stroke. Plus she wants to get me off of it within a year. I suggested she read Dr. Seibel's book since it sounded she's referring to the 2002 WHI study. She's a young Dr I thought by now they would have taught up to date material. She's paranoid I'm going to develop an emboli.
I love knowing that you're learning enough to make wise choices for yourself. Don't you love the confidence you have in assessing what's best for you?
The younger the physician, the less they know about hormones in general or the estrogen window in particular. Here's why: The WHI study was reported in 2002. That's when patients flushed their hormones down the toilet, and physicians completely stopped prescribing them for fear of litigation. So, every physician that was trained since then has had NO education or experience with HRT. They've all been under the cloud of the negative WHI reports. Now, after 16 years of additional study, we know that the WHI data was flawed. And we know that HRT is more beneficial than risky. But it's been very difficult to erase the public's fear or the physicians' lack of education. Your physician is still;; practicing what she learned, but hasn't incorporated the new data.
Dear doctor not only your videos are very valuable but your comments as well, I am starting a notebook to write some of them down. I just turn 44 and I am having changes in my period once in 3 months I had with very bright red blood, kind of unusual... Doctor wanted to do biopsy to see if something else is going on but I was scared to do that,, I had night sweats and hot flushes for about 6-7 months , I didn’t pay attention much ( I have a small child and very busy to pay attention to myself) but after I came across your videos I guess I am in peri menopause..
Do I start estrogen replacement now? I am scared what can do to us. I went plantbased 4 year ago to prevent heart diseases and never heard of heart problems caused by menopause.Osteoporosis .. make perfect sense! And still people think they need to get more and more dairy to prevent it, so sad .. Anyway;)! Thank you very much for all you do! English is my 2d language and visuals are very helpful:)
Dr Taylor. Thank you for for taking the time to respond to my questions. It feels like a big warm comforting hug! I will continue to follow and learn from you. I am so grateful that my daughter and grand daughters will have this knowledge early in their lives so that they can make informed decisions when their menopause arrives. You truly are a blessing to many!
Thank you for your kind words, my dear. I answer all questions here on TH-cam daily. If I can answer a question sufficiently in a comment box, I do. If I can't, I suggest a consultation.
My maternal grandmother had Alzheimer’s Disease. She never took hormone therapy. This video made so much sense. I thank you for keeping all of us educated. Best regards Dr.
I always say, "Everything should make sense. If it doesn't start asking questions." I will always give you facts. I have no agenda, uno hormone product to sell you, and have nothing to gain by how you manage your menopause. All I care about is that you have all the facts with which to make good decisions for yourself.
Love the way you teach .
I love doing the teaching. I hope it shows.
I’m so happy I started estrogen within 4 years of becoming post menopausal. I was afraid to take estrogen. I am so thankful for this information.
It warms my heart to know that I've given you some peace of mind.
Thank you so much for all your amazing knowledge. I have been watching in order and have your book.. I’m slightly worried now by this video... I am going through treatment for oestrogen and progesterone positive breast cancer and have temporarily come off my HRT as advised by my breast surgeon.. and then I found you and have read Avrum Blumings Oestrogen Matters! I’m post menopausal and very fit and healthy , a fellow plant based vegan for the last 8 years, and had the small 7mm tumour taken out and there’s no spread into lymph or Her2., i'm thinking of going back on HRT (or trying to convince my doctor that its ok - we have a good few pro HRT doctors in my area including Louise Newson who is trailblazing for women) as my sleep has been rubbish and i feel so tired and the night sweats and low mood is back. I felt great on HRT and was only on it for 9 months before the cancer diagnoses after suffering for a couple of years before then. i've not discussed hormone therapy (aromatase inhibitors) with my oncologist yet as that is the next phase but really reluctant to make these symptoms even worse for such a low risk of return of the cancer
as far as i can see...
So mad! I didn't discover your videos and education until I was 57, six years past menopause for me. Fortunately, I began taking estrogen right away at 57, but unfortunately, I had already gotten my first unnecessary wrist bone break. But, at least from now on I am protected though I have to fight my doctor every single year to keep the estrogen. He keeps telling me I am putting myself at risk of breast cancer. This DOES NOT run in my family.
This is precisely the kind of thing for which I do one-on-one consultations. You definitely need one. I cannot tailor things specifically to you in a comment box. It requires much more information than you can give me here, and you deserve much more information than I can give you here. No two women are alike, and addressing your situation requires tailoring all the facts specifically to YOU. I do them all via online video conferencing. You can schedule at MenopauseTaylor.ME. I look forward to meeting you and helping you.
You are pretty in pink or blush again!
This make sense to me! At age 45 I had an MRI of my brain. They said they I had the brain of a 21 year old. I have not had one since menopause but I dread the results!
Shrinkage being permanent is terrifying!
The body aging and becoming damaged I saw it and the little but of time and the dose I am taking is kind of small to start I am loving it!
Thank you for this informative video!
Each video gives you just one piece of information. But, it's hardly ever the whole story, There's just no way to present everything in one video. But, as you watch them, you'll get the whole picture.
My dear Dr taylor, i'm following you in the latest months. I am 48 years and I am right now in my post menopause, and already have ostheoporosis, and other stuff. I have ovarian cysts also. So I decided to take my ovary off, cause I want to start a hormone replacement therapy in safety. Thank you for your videos . They were so powerful to’ make my decision
I'm not sure I follow what you're saying here. It may be because you just started watching my videos without starting at the beginning. But, some of what you wrote isn't quite logical.
Let me see if I understand:
You have ovarian cysts. So, you're going to have your ovaries removed.
So, you will begin hormone replacement once your ovaries have been removed.
Is that right?
I want to do anything I can to help you.
Menopause Taylor Menopause Taylor yes barbie it is right. But, I have to say also, that I’ve been following you from the beginning, when you were introduced from Dominique Sachse here on yt. I missed some videos of course 😜 but you were , and are, so precious to me. Thank you!
I love being able to help you. Be sure to pose any questions you have. I'm always happy to answer them.
Thank you so much for all of the information!! I will follow up with my gynecologist. My primary care doctor prescribed Climara. The pelvic pain went away pretty quickly after I stopped taking the hormones.
We are so blessed to have you ❤
You are very welcome, Kimberly.
Knowledge is power 👍🏻🫶🏻❤️👊🏻💪🏻 thank you Dr Taylor
You are so very welcome, my dear.
Wow! A lot of great information. My brain feels like 🤯
I know this is a lot of new information. But, I assure you that it will all make sense as the dots connect.
I remember filling hundreds of scripts daily for premarin and prempro back in 2002 and before and it all came to a screeching halt with literally (and I mean literally) women crying because their doctor refused to write for anymore HRT/ERT....it was so sad and for WHI to test on the wrong age of women altogether.....simply catastrophic to say the least.....and hear you are today trying to clarify the confusion....thank you...you always explain so simply and it makes sense....glad I will have time with you soon so I can also discuss the questions I have :)
I am very eager to meet you Mona. It's just so wonderful to know that this education is helping you connect all the dots.
Hi Barbie, I have been post menapausal for 6 years. I suffered symptoms for 5 years, due to fear of HRT. After taking your advice I started taking HRT a year ago and the results were very quick and very positive ( I wish I had started years ago and spared myself the absolute misery of sleepless nights etc!). I started on Kliofem 2mg/1mg and took this for about 8 months with great success. I then decided to try the patches to lessen my risks and found them to be equally successful. (FemSevenConti 50 microgrames/7 microgrames 24 hour patches. I had been on the patches for about for about 4-5 months when I took a full period, I was a bit concerned and made an appointment with my doctor. I had a biopsy and hysteroscopy and the results came back clear, however I have had 3 more periods since and some bleeding in between. I'm not sure what I should do next, can you advise me please?
Your bleeding indicates that the balance between your estrogen and progesterone isn't quite right for you. Usually, adding a little extra progesterone to your current regimen will settle things down. Don't let this induce you tp stop your hormones altogether. That would be forfeiting the benefits of hormones for inconvenient bleeding.
Of course, you might just want to go back to the hormones you were using before you switched to patches. The reason there are so many choices is because different women prefer different regimens.
I so appreciate your generosity in sharing your experience and knowledge. Before finding you, it was a struggle to find facts, as opposed to world views, opinions or sales pitches. I watch all your videos and tell other women to as well. I'm 53 and postmenopausal for just over a year. About 2 years ago extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pains made me feel I'd turned 92 overnight. This and a bone density test a year ago that diagnosed 'advanced osteopenia' persuaded me to begin HRT, adhering to the 'as little and as short as possible' slogan.
The menopause clinic I visited in June is very laid-back and told me to come back in a year.
I have two questions: since I learnt that a minimal dosage may not be effective for prevention of all the diseases you speak about, I recently increased my oestrogel dosage from 0.75mg (1 pump) to 2.25mg (3 pumps) estradolium, so would I have to increase the progesterone too? I currently take 100mg utrogestan (progesteronum) but suspect it's causing acne (lovely!).
Also, is it true that it is possible to rebuild bone density through diet, lifestyle, weight-bearing activities, etc, and can estrogen assist this? Thanks again for everything.
Kate
Be careful using "the lowest dosage for the shortest period of time." That's a mantra that induces women to use dosages that are completely inadequate for gaining any of the benefits of preventing disease. You HAVE to prevent further bone loss. Estrogen loss causes bone loss. So, take enough estrogen to prevent bone loss.
Alternatively or in addition to estrogen, you should consider taking SERM (videos 34 & 35). These are NON-HORMONAL estrogen imposters that have some of the same benefits as estrogen. Please, please focus heavily on your bones.
Nothing in the diet, lifestyle, or alternative & complementary realm can do anywhere near as much as estrogen or SERMs. So, definitely do the things in those categories, but realize that they can't compete with what estrogen and SERMs can do.
For exercise, work on you BALANCE. It's the most important thing for avoiding a fall that breaks your hip.
You should get my book or the DVD of my two-day seminar. You need this information now.
Calcium is important for your bones, but it does not do the same thing as estrogen. Estrogen is responsible for your bone QUANTITY. Calcium is responsible for your bone QUALITY. So, estrogen prevents bone loss. Calcium just makes whatever bone you have stronger. It can't prevent bone loss.
Videos 80 - 90 are all on the estrogen window. Video 85 is on dosage. 86 is on what happens if you don't take estrogen. 87 is on when to start. 88 is on when to stop. 89 is what determines how long you should take it. And 90 is about progesterone's role.
As to your question about dosage, here's the shortcut answer:
The critical factors for an estrogen to provide the benefits of the estrogen window are:
(1) It has to travel throughout your entire body (not remain only in your vagina).
(2) There is a minimal necessary dosage for preventing diseases.
Many women take dosages that are too low to relieve their symptoms completely or permanently. Worse than that, many women take a dosage that relieves their symptoms but is NOT high enough to prevent heart attack, osteoporosis, or Alzheimers.
ESTROGEN is the hormone that is critical for prevention of these disease. Progesterone has nothing to do with it. Its only purpose is to protect your uterus from uterine cancer.
Here are the minimal necessary dosages of estrogen to accomplish prevention of these diseases, depending on the type of estrogen you're taking:
Conjugated Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Estradiol 1.0 mg / day
Estradiol Patches 0.5 mg / day
Estropipate 1.25 mg / day
Esterified Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Ethinyl Estradiol 0.01 - 0.015 mg / day depending on the source of the estrogen
Compounded Bi-Est or Tri-Est 2.5 mg / day
There are standard dosages of progesterone to balance these dosages of estrogen, depending on whether you take the progesterone every day (continuous) or just certain days (cyclic). Here are the standard dosages:
Medroxyprogesterne Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone 0.35 mg continuous or 0.7 mg cyclical
Micronized Progesterone 100 mg continuous or 200 mg cyclical
Progesterone Gel Twice weekly continuous or every other day for 12 days cyclical
Oh, and the younger you are the higher the dosage you'll need. If you're just peri-menopausal, you probably WILL NOT be relieved of your symptoms with dosages designed for women much older than you are. That's why birth control options are so popular for women during peri-menopause. Birth control dosages of estrogen and progesterone are much nigher than the ones in HRT.
I hope this helps!
Menopause Taylor Thank you. Will keep reading and watching.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about menopause.
You are so very welcome, my dear.
So informative!
It helps to know this stuff, doesn't it!
Hello Dr. Barbie,
I had estrogen based breast cancer and have been taking Tamoxifen for the last five years. The Tamoxifen forced me into menopause and after watching your very informative video, I am wondering what someone that cannot take estrogen do? I would love to get your thoughts on this. Thank you for all the time and passion you invest in keeping us informed.
Jill,
Tamoxifen is a SERM (Videos 34 & 35). It is not a hormone, and decreases your risk for recurrent breast cancer. It also decreases your risk for osteoporosis and heart attack. So, you're doing a lot of good things for your self by taking it.
The risk with Tamoxifen is that it can thicken the lining of your uterus and increase your risk of uterine cancer. So you have to monitor how thick your uterine lining gets.
You're covering all your bases for preventing the diseases of the estrogen window except Alzheimer's Disease. The most important risks for it are (1) aging, (2) being female, and (3) family history. Now you can't change any of those things. But what you can do is challenge your brain. Go back to school, learn a new language, or learn to play an instrument. You have to chapping your brain with NEW things, not the things you already know.
The other thing that can reduce your risks for nearly every disease is eating a 100% plant-based diet. I mean, becoming vegan, and eating nothing from an animal. I know it sounds drastic, and it is. And so are the phenomenal positive effects it has on everything.
Next is getting regular exercise, maintaining normal body weight, not smoking, and avoiding alcohol. (Alcohol increase your risk of breast cancer, period.)
I hope these things help. Consider getting my book. Chapter 30 is all abut breast cancer.
Dr. Taylor,
I really appreciate your reply, thank you. It so happens that I registered for an Algebra class at our local college and will be starting that real soon. I am so challenged when it comes to mixing numbers and letters so, it will definitely get my brain fired up!
I started watching your videos and lost count of which ones I watched so, I started skipping around. I will definitely go back and watch 34 and 35.
Once again, thank you for all the love and energy you share with us all.
I'm so proud of you! I guarantee that if you watch my videos in order, you'll understand absolutely everything.
Whenever someone tells me they're going to school, I feel jealous! Can you believe it? I'm such a nerd. I must love school. And no matter what the subject is, I want to be in the classroom!
Hi lovely’s I just wanted to say Thank you all very very much for all the prayers and support and sympathy, I am so so great full to me a member this Chanel and get so much information and love , wishing you all a happy, healthy new year and my 2018 bring you all health, happiness and wellbeing, love you all ❤️❤️😘😘
You are such a sweetheart, Nicole. Thank you.
Thank you Dr. Taylor.
Mwah (that's supposed to sound like a kiss.)
Thank you once again for such a informative video, i thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And I make these videos from the heart. I love doing this for you.
I am now post menopausal thanks to surgery at almost 51. I have high blood pressure, am now type 2 diabetic, I'm overweight thanks to PCOS (I lost 80lbs between 2012-2016, in 2019 another 20lbs, and 9lbs when a grapefruit size mass was removed with my girl parts. Thus, 110lbs weight loss. I know I need something to protect the heart, bones, and brain...now to hope I can find a gyno who'll give me them, even low dose
Now you're learning what you need & will know what to request.
Thank you once again, Dr.Barbie. I did my research, guided by you, and started an over the counter estrogen cream- plus progesterone cream...as I still have my uterus. I was feeling amazing for the first time in years, it nearly brought me to tears, however I have once again stopped, because I’m so far out of the window...64, 12 years post menopausal- and since I’ve missed the window, now fear I’m doing harm to my body if I continue the creams, or do you think I can go back on the creams safely, using them to at least alleviate my symptoms. Thank you for understanding us as you do. Sending love.
Cindy Brown may I ask which over the counter brand you were on? All the best!
Joanne, I was using Life-flo-BiEstro-Care, (with Estriol and Estradiol.) Emerita-Pro-Gest (The original balancing cream)...in dosing packets. I can only speak to my experience, I was amazed after only a week of using them, how much more "like me" I felt. I am anxious to read Dr. Taylor's thoughts on this. Best of luck to you. xo
Cindy Brown thanks and to you as well!
Over-the-counter hormonal products are very, very weak. Remember the tutorials I gave you waaaaaay back on phytoestrogens? They were videos 25, 26, & 27. In them, I explained that phytoestrogens are s much weaker than your natural estrogen or pharmaceutical estrogen that it's not able to make a big difference. Just how much of a difference it makes depends on how much estrogen you have already. So, if you have very little estrogen, weak phytoestrogens and over-the-counter estrogens will make a little difference. But the strengths of these products pale in comparison to pharmaceutical products.
It's very much like all the hype about avoiding tofu because it contains estrogen. The estrogen in tofu is minuscule compared to what's in a pharmaceutical. So, I leave it to each woman to answer for herself whether the estrogen is significant enough to warrant avoiding it, or whether it's so insignificant it can't harm you.
Call you physician just to pose the question. most physicians think that over-the-counter products don't amount to a "hill of beans" as they say.
Menopause Taylor .....Thank you! Oh, I sincerely appreciate you taking your precious time to respond to each of us. I often feel I should send you some form of compensation! I did run it by my gynecologist, she shuns any, and all forms of HRT for women my age, so I’m going to make the choice myself, as you’ve taught us, my menopause, my way. ❤️❤️❤️
Very informative. Thank you!
You're absolutely welcome!
You're absolutely welcome!
So my question is - how long do you take the estrogen for? During the entire window of 5-10 years ? Or just for a while? I don't have a uterus just ovaries /cervix. I have asked my dr to read the book on the estrogen window so we could discuss my options. (Still waiting for my book to arrive). Sure she loves me giving her homework. Again thanks for the info. You're always so informative!
You're a very good student, my dear!
In order to avoid inundation with too much material at once, I've divided up the information into individual videos. That way, you'll get a mini-review with each and a new piece of information with each.
Video 84 will be on the kind of estrogen necessary to accomplish the goals of the estrogen window.
Video 85 is on how much estrogen is necessary to accomplish the goals of the estrogen window.
Video 86 is on what happens if you don't take estrogen.
Video 87 is on when to start taking estrogen.
Video 88 is on when to stop taking estrogen.
Video 89 is in how to decide how long to take estrogen.
And video 90 is on progesterone's role in the estrogen window.
Your question relates to videos 86, 88, snd 89.
The short answer is that there is no specific time frame. The 5 - 10 years refers to when you can still START taking estrogen. It is NOT about how long you can take estrogen. You'll find that many doctors misinterpret the 5 - 10 years as a time limit on how long you can take it.
That makes no sense. Just think: Would you stop taking insulin or thyroid hormone after 5 - 10 years?
How long you take estrogen is an individual matter for each woman. It depends on your health status, preferences, other meds, etc. There are women who take it for the rest of their lives. As with everything else I teach you, there is NOTHING that is right for all women. Applying rules as if we're a bunch of robots is a big mistake.
Now, that makes sense, doesn't it!
Thank you!
You are absolutely welcome, my dear.
Such an important video!!
I'm so glad you realize how important it is. Be sure to keep watching in order to get the whole story.
@@MenopauseTaylor I have & have shared with others!
@@ginni333 Thank you for doing your part to help other women. I really want to start a menopause revolution! I know you would be right alongside me.
I am going to call you Bad News Barbie....I'll be able to pass this info to my daughters....however, I believe my window has closed and I am hoping that there is still something we all can do to make up for missing the mark on getting our estrogen. You did sound like there may be a little something in your dr. bag that can help us ???
You're NEVER out of options, my dear Rosemarie. There are options in every category: diet, lifestyle, vitamins, minerals botanicals, herbs, hormones, non-hormonal medications. And while you might have to do a lot more of them to match what estrogen can do, there's always a way.
For instance, there is a whole slew of non-hormonal medications for preventing bone loss. They're called SERMs. I covered them in videos 34 & 35. Watch those. You'll value that information.
And you can prevent a heart attack and almost all the cancers by simply eating a 100% plant-based (vegan) diet. Most people don't choose to do that. But the fact is, it works. It's not convenient socially, but it works.
And you can prevent Alzheimer's by challenging your brain. Go to school, learn a language, or learn to play an instrument. You know, all the stuff you USED to do when you were a kid. The problem is that adults stop challenging their brains. And their brains deteriorate as a result.
I love it that you said you would pass this on to your daughters. That's one of my goals. I want every woman who has daughters to send them to this education when they're in their 20s or 30s. Imagine a world in which all women learned all of this long before they needed it. We'd all be so much better off! Every woman who comes to my two-day seminar makes her daughters come right away. And, by so doing, she literally saves her daughter's life.
Thank you for your reply and thank you so very much for everything that you for us all on this channel.
Dr Barbie, I am so grateful for your education to us meno women. I am healthy 50yr old of Asian origin who have excellent health due to disciplined eating and consistent workout since childhood. Could you clarify that I also need to compensate the loss of estrogen from meno to alleviate the future heart, bone or brain disease? I have mild symptoms and thought to tough it out before I see your video. I would appreciate your answer for the group of women who just had meno and in great health and are willing to do workout and diet.
Thank you.
You need a consultation for this. You seem to think that the rules of basic physiology are different for certain women. They aren't. In a consultation, I'll make sure you know all the facts, help yo tailor all the information to YOU, and help you consider all your options.
I'm in the business of educating you about everything you need to know and do in order to get exactly what you want for managing your menopause your way. So, here's how a consultation works:
1) You would schedule a one-on-one consultation at my website, MenopauseTaylor.ME, choosing a time that is convenient for you. I do consultations on Skype, FaceTime. Facebook Messenger, What’s App, and the phone.
2) I would send you an email to confirm that you are scheduled for the stated time, and invite you to send me as much information about yourself as you please. You can make it brimming with details and tell me about your reproductive life, any gynecologic problems you've had, your symptoms of peri-menopause, and your symptoms of post-menopause. You can include all your fears, concerns, and goals for your menopause management. You may also send me any labs, mammogram results, bone density results, etc. that you would like me to include in designing your protocol. For instance, if you want to adhere to a certain category of management options (herbs or diet & lifestyle, or whatever), you should tell me that. I will give you a deadline for sending all materials, and will not accept anything after that date.
3) I'll get busy creating a document that gives you all the education you need to understand absolutely everything, points out the pros and cons of each option, and tailors it all to YOU, using the information you have provided. The document will be loooooong. Most are over 30 pages.
4) I will send you the document by email 48 hours before your consultation. You will benefit greatly by reading it in advance. Light bulbs will go off like crazy, and if you're like most women, you'll feel that you've already gotten your money's worth.
5) During your consultation, we will review the document and address any issues you want in order to fine tune everything and determine your best options. I'll tell you exactly how to find the right kind of professional, how to have the conversation in order to get what you want, and the nuances of things like guidelines and insurance. I leave nothing unaddressed.
6) You will go to a professional of your choosing in order to get the actual hormones or whatever you choose to use.
7) After the first consultation, I'll hold your hand (forever if you want me to). In other words, you'll be able to schedule mini-consultations (15-minute or 30-minute, in addition to full consultations) whenever you need to. I'll keep records of your situation. Most women schedule mini-consultation whenever they go to the doctor and don't understand what he or she said, or why. I translate. I make sense of everything. Most schedule mini-consultation whenever they have a new test and they want me to explain the results. And all schedule mini-consultation whenever their situation changes and they need to re-weigh and re-balance their options.
The time you spend with me will make everything about working with any other professional so easy. And they will love the fact that you have an actual education rather than a bunch of misconceptions that you got from the Internet. If your initial hormone regimen is not right, you'll want to consult with me before going to your doctor. I can prepare you for what to expect and what to request.
So, that's my role. And nobody else on earth does this kind of thing but me. So, I hope you schedule a consultation and let me hold your hand (figuratively).
I hope to meet you soon!
Thank you so much for these videos. I’m taking charge of my health. Making an appointment today to discuss things with my doctor! 😊 THANK YOU
You make me so happy. I love my "job!"
It's not estrogen I don't want to take- it's progesterone. Looking forward to those next best options.
You're smart, Kelly. Few women realize that progesterone is the yucky one. It creates all the symptoms we dislike, such as bloating, weight gain, acne, depression. Think pregnancy & PMS. That's progesterone!
There are progesterone options that do not send progesterone throughout your body. Consider the Mirena IUD. It's progesterone. It's bioidentical. And, it remains confined to your uterus.
Goodmorning dr Taylor. Thank you so much for al your information. I have seen all your vlogs but can you let me know in wich vlog you are helping with dhea hormone?
Thank you so much
How much Estrogen should I take and for how long? I just went into post Menopause. I’m lean and healthy. Thank you soo much!
Grace,
Your question begs for a simple answer. But, it doesn't work that way. If at all possible, schedule a one-on-one consultation at menopauseTaylor.ME. That way, I can get all your personal information and really educate you about absolutely everything you need to know in order to make great decisions for yourself.
No two women are alike. We are not robots. So, it will never do for anyone to answer your question as you've posed it.
I'm in the business of educating you about everything you need to know and do in order to get exactly what you want for managing your menopause your way. So, here's how a consultation works:
1) You would schedule a one-on-one consultation at my website, MenopauseTaylor.ME, choosing a time that is convenient for you.
2) I would confirm that you are scheduled for the stated time, and invite you to send me as much information about yourself as you please. You can make it brimming with details and tell me about your reproductive life, any gynecologic problems you've had, your symptoms of peri-menopause, and your symptoms of post-menopause. You can include all your fears, concerns, and goals for your menopause management. You may also send me any labs, mammogram results, bone density results, etc. that you would like me to include in designing your protocol. For instance, if you want to adhere to a certain category of management options (herbs or diet & lifestyle, or whatever), you should tell me that. I would need all these things at least 1 week before your consultation with me.
3) I'll get busy creating a document that gives you all the education you need to understand absolutely everything, points put the pros and cons of each option, and tailors it all to YOU using the information you have provided. The document will be loooooong. Most are 25 - 30 pages.
4) I will send you the document by email at least 24 hours before your consultation. You will benefit greatly by reading it in advance. Light bulbs will go off like crazy, and if you're like most women, you'll feel that you've already gotten your money's worth.
5) During your consultation, we will review the document and address any issues you want to fine tune everything and determine your best options. I'll tell you exactly how to find the right kind of professional, how to have the conversation in order to get what you want, and the nuances of things like guidelines and insurance. I leave nothing unaddressed.
6) You will go to a professional of your choosing in order to get the actual hormones or whatever you choose to use.
7) After the first consultation, I'll hold your hand (forever if you want me to). In other words, you'll be able to schedule mini-consultations (15-minute or 30-minute, in addition to full consultations) whenever you need to. I'll keep records of your situation. Most women schedule mini-consultation whenever they go to the doctor and don't understand what he or she said, or why. I translate. I make sense of everything. Most schedule mini-consultation whenever they have a new test and they want me to explain the results. And all schedule mini-consultation whenever their situation changes and they need to re-weigh and balance their options.
The time you spend with me will make everything about working with any other professional so easy. And they will love the fact that you have an actual education rather than a bunch of misconceptions that you got form the Internet. If your initial hormone regimen is not right, you'll want to consult with me before going to your doctor. I can prepare you for what to expect and what to request.
So, that's my role. And nobody else on earth does this kind of thing but me. So, I hope you schedule a consultation and let me hold your hand (figuratively).
Of course if you start at my very first video and watch them all in order, you will deduce a lot (but not all) of whaat you need to know. But that means watching 139 videos this far. In a consultation, I'll cut to the chase on all those videos and more. You'll be well-equipped for good.
Interesting how you mentioned that since you have been vegan for so long you don't have the enzymes to digest meat....do you know if it works the same way for people on a gluten free diet? My daughter in law is sensitive to gluten so as a result has put her self, my son, and my grandchildren on a gluten free diet. Will it work the same way for them in the future if they choose to eat gluten? Looking forward to some good news for those whose window has closed for estrogen....I have reversed some damage to my bones through exercise and supplements but would love some more aids to help ;) Thank you for your service to all of us!! Truly appreciate you!! xo
Donna,
You are such a good student! I love your great questions and comments.
There are really 3 gluten-related conditions:
(1) Wheat allergy
(2) Celiac Disease
(3) Gluten sensitivity
Both Wheat Allergy and Celiac Disease occur in about 1 out of 100 people (1%). That means that 99% of people digest gluten with no difficulty.
The reason doctors don't recommend that everyone be on a gluten-free diet is because whole grains (many of which contain gluten) promote good health. They actually decrease the risk of heart disease cancer, diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases.
It's kind of like peanut allergy. Just because some people are allergic to them does not mean that no one would eat them.
Some studies have shown that a gluten-free diet can be harmful by altering the bacteria in the intestine. The very components in wheat that cause problems for those who are gluten-sensitive (in any of the 3 gluten-related conditions) are the very things that feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut.
With time, avoidance of any food substance can create an intolerance of that substance.
Thank you so much for all this information...I will certainly pass this along to my DIL. One more quick question....Is there a time limit to how long you can take Bazedoxifene or can you take it indefinitely?
Bazedoxifene hasn't been around long enough to know. But, most likely, you'll be able to take it indefinitely.
I would love to reduce these health risks! With a mother who had breast cancer I am now doing regular mammograms they have me back every six months now because my breasts are so dense they can’t really see and I have so many cysts! After my hysterectomy and ovaries removed I will be in surgical menopause . Weighing the risks is scary but being without estrogen sounds worse!
You should definitely schedule a consultation with me. I'll make things much easier for you.
I think Dr Barbie said yes even for extremely otherwise healthy women, estrogen compensation helps reduce the risks of the long term diseases. I need to see a meno Dr or specialist. I think about patch might be good to try as my first preference plus a form of progesterone which I haven’t decided a specific form to take
Consider having a consultation with me. I'll help you balance all the benefits and risks of different options as they apply to YOU.
Menopause Taylor Hi Dr Barbie I’m 49 and having progesterone cream I’m still getting irregular periods so I gather I’m still peri menopause. I feel awful though my moods and bloating and feeling PMS most of the time. Would I benefit from Estrogen now even though I’m not post menopause. Thank you 🙏
@@nicoledefontaine6144 You can start HRT any time. You don' that to wait until post-menopause.
Menopause Taylor thank you so much . You are a gem 💎
@@nicoledefontaine6144 It's my pleasure!
Hi Dr Barbie, Thank you so much for your reply. I think I will go back to my original tablets, as I had no problems with them. Could you tell me if 2mg/1mg is a high dosage? Would it be okay if I took a tablet every other day, as although I said I had no problems with original tablets, I think they made me sleep too much!! There seems to be a huge difference in strength between the tablets and the patches I was prescribed. Keep up the good work, I have learned so much from you and I tell everyone about your fabulous videos. Lynne
Your dosage of estradiol and norethindrone is a standard one. You should take one pill every day, If you take one every other day, you will NOT get the benefits of preventing the diseases associated with the estrogen window, and you will cause a rollercoaster effect. Your hormones will be normal on the days your take it an slow not eh days you don't. You'll probably feel miserable.
I always say "Don't dissect a rose." These tablets were working just fine, so why change them? Go back on them and smile.
Great information, I just got the news that I started my menopause and I am scared, I am only 48 and are scared about my memory and bones and 8 months ago lost my beautiful 24 years old daughter to brain tumour and I am depressed and now menopause 😒😒😒😒😒😒
Nicole ...I just read your post. I’m so very sorry for your loss. I do so hope that you will go ahead, and start some form of HRT, what an opportunity for you to prevent illness down the road. My best to you.
Nicole sorry for your lost I started at 47 Ian 53 now .
Nicole, so sorry for your loss. I cannot begin to imagine what you’re going through);
Dear Nicole I am very sorry to hear about your daughter this is so so sad. I just don't know what to say to you but I will keep you in my prayers X
I am so sad to hear about your daughter's death, Nicole. I know you feel your world is turned upside-down.
The last thing you need now is for your menopause to be problematic. I will do everything I can to make that part of your life as smooth as possible. Learn as much as you can about it, and you'll know how to manage it in the most efficient way. I really feel for you, my dear.
Dear dr. Taylor, I would like to know the real risks associated with taking estrogen and breast cancer. I am considered at high risk because of family history even though my gene testing was negative or did not indicate any mutation. My doctors don’t even want to talk about it. I’m only 49 and became post menopausal at 48. Could you elucidate this for me, can I or cannot take estrogen? I really appreciate if you could start a conversation about it.
Hi Luciana.
I'll be happy to tell you the facts about breast cancer.
There are so many misconceptions about estrogen and breast cancer that confuse women. Here are the facts:
Your breasts have ALWAYS responded to hormones. They grew at puberty because of hormones. You had breast pain and breast growth during pregnancy because of hormones. You had breast swelling and breast pain with PMS because of hormones. So, your breasts are supposed to respond to hormones.
Few women know the real risk factors for breast cancer. Here they are:
1) Personal history of breast cancer
2) Family story of breast cancer ... BUT, the ONLY relatives that contribute in any way to this risk are your MATERNAL, FIRST-DEGREE relatives. That means, only your mother, your sister, and your daughter. That's it. No one else matters. And your sister has to have your same mother. None of your father's relatives have anything to do with your risk for breast cancer.
3) Age: Your risk increases with age, period!
4) Age at the time of your 1st full-term pregnancy. The older you were, the greater your risk.
5) Number of pregnancies. The fewer you've had, the greater your risk.
6) Age at which you had your first period. The younger you were, the greater your risk.
7) Age at which you began post-menopause. The older you were, the greater your risk.
NOTE: Factors 4 - 8 are all about only one thing: The number of menstrual periods you've had in your lifetime. The more you've had, the greater your risk, period! Now, think about how ironic that is. The women who have had the highest levels of estrogen are the women who have had the most pregnancies. Yet, they are the women with the lowest risks of breast cancer. If estrogen caused breast cancer, the reverse would be true.
8) Smoking
9) Activity level. The less active you are, the higher your risk.
10) Body weight. The heavier you are, there greater your risk.
11) Diet. The more fat (animal fat) in your diet, the greater your risk.
12) Benign breast disease. This is simply because it makes it more difficult to diagnose breast cancer.
13) Alcohol consumption. Those 2 glasses of red wine per day that decrease a heart attack increase your risk for breast cancer.
14) Exposure to intense radiation, like radiation therapy.
15) Dense breasts, which are characteristic of women who have not had children.
Okay, so putting this into perspective, most of what you'e heard about estrogen causing breast cancer is untrue.Not only do women spread that misinformation among themselves, the WHI study that came out in 2002 had findings that you never heard about.
Here's what you did not hear about the WHI study: The women who took estrogen all by itself (because they did not have their uteri) had lower rates of breast cancer.
That's another piece of evidence that supports the fact that it's the CYCLES of estrogen AND progesterone that increases your risk for breast cancer, not estrogen all by itself.
Knowing these facts can help you so much. Here's what you're left with:
Taking HRT will help prevent (1) heart attack, (2) osteoporosis, and (3) Alzheimer's.
Taking HRT does not cause breast cancer.
If you don't take HRT, and you get one of these other diseases, as well as all the symptoms of menopause, will that make you happier, or not? Thinking about this will help you arrive at your answer.
I think knowing the facts and being able to weigh them for yourself is the most important thing of all. You CAN take estrogen. NO one ever said YOU can't take estrogen if SOMEONE ELSE in your family had breast cancer. That's one of those things that has been extrapolated by fear.
Find a doctor who WILL talk about it. Not having the conversation in a factual manner is unacceptable. The choice is entirely yours. But you deserve the facts.
Dr. Taylor I understand now how important estrogen plays a role on the female brain and alzheimers but can you further explain further on the male brain with regard to alzheimers? Thank you for your expertise!
Sure, Denise.
It turns out that Alzheimer's is more directly linked to estrogen than it it to testosterone.The male to female ratio for Alzheimer's is 2:1. The women with the highest levels of estrogen have the lowest incidence of Alzheimer's.
Age is another factor. By virtue of the fact that we live so long, both males and females get Alzheimer's. But more women than men get it. And it starts earlier for women because of the sudden loss of estrogen.
Even if Alzheimer's were related to testosterone levels (and it isn't), men would not be affected as drastically as women are. That's because men lose their testosterone slowly and gradually. Our sudden loss of estrogen at menopause has a lot to do with our higher risk.
Dr. Taylor, have you done any videos on estrogen and breast cancer risk? Here's my story ... In 2001 (about 6mo before that 2002 report came out that seemed to change our worlds in regard to hormone replacement) at 51 I went into menopause. My dr. at the time put me on premarin which my body quickly rejected and I felt awful. So I started doing my own research and liked what I was reading about bio-identicals. So I went to a hormone specialist at a compounding pharmacy and he told me what I should have my dr. prescribe for me which was bi-estrogen (80% estriol, 20% estradiol) progesterone in troche form. My experience with family practitioners is that they really have little knowledge about hormones or replacement. At least they didn't have then, and have tried to talk me out of taking them. I have done great on this prescription for 15 years, I am 66 now, and have never changed the percentages of my prescription. I had planned to stay on the bio-identicals for life. But here's my dilemma. I have always considered my risk of breast cancer low because I have no family history of it. But last year a sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at 63 and her dr. said it was more than likely estrogen driven because she was on bio-identicals too. So my dr. basically told me I need to weigh the risk and benefit. Do I want to continue feeling (and looking) great or do I want to lessen my risk of breast cancer and go off of them. I am in totally great health, never any health problems and am in great shape physically. I tried to quit cold turkey (which I know isn't the thing to do) and had terrible heart palpitations so have been starting to slowly taper by cutting down the dose slightly. But honestly, I don't want to quit. Any advice?
There are so many misconceptions about estrogen and breast cancer. Here are the facts:
Your breasts have ALWAYS responded to hormones. They grew at puberty because of hormones. You had breast pain and breast growth during pregnancy because of hormones. You had breast swelling and breast pain with PMS because of hormones. So, your breasts are supposed to respond to hormones.
Few women know the real risk factors for breast cancer. Here they are:
1) Personal history of breast cancer
2) Family story of breast cancer ... BUT, the ONLY relatives that contribute in any way to this risk are your MATERNAL, FIRST-DEGREE relatives. That means, only your mother, your sister, and your daughter. That's it. No one else matters. And your sister has to have your same mother. In your case, your sister's breast cancer increases your risk form 1 in 7 to 1 in 6.
3) Age: Your risk increases with age, period!
4) Age at the time of your 1st full-term pregnancy. The older you were, the greater your risk.
5) Number of pregnancies. The fewer you've had, the greater your risk.
6) Age at which you had your first period. The younger you were, the greater your risk.
7) Age at which you began post-menopause. The older you were, the greater your risk.
NOTE: Factors 4 - 8 are all about only one thing: The number of menstrual periods you've had in your lifetime. The more you've had, the greater your risk, period! Now, think about how ironic that is. The women who have had the highest levels of estrogen are the women who have had the most pregnancies. Yet, they are the women with the lowest risks of breast cancer. If estrogen caused breast cancer, the reverse would be true.
8) Smoking
9) Activity level. The less active you are, the higher your risk.
10) Body weight. The heavier you are, there greater your risk.
11) Diet. The more fat (animal fat) in your diet, the greater your risk.
12) Benigh=n breast disease. This is simply because it makes it more difficult to diagnose breast cancer.
13) Alcohol consumption. Those 2 glasses of red wine per day that decrease a heart attack increase your risk for breast cancer.
14) Exposure to intense radiation, like radiation therapy.
15) Dense breasts, which are characteristic of women who have not had children.
Okay, so putting this into perspective, your sister's breast cancer changes your risk only slightly. The other factors have a much greater impact on your risk.
And here's what you did not hear about the WHI study: The women who took estrogen all by itself (because they did not have their uteri), had lower rates of breast cancer.
That's another piece of evidence that it's the CYCLES of estrogen AND progesterone that increases your risk for breast cancer, not estrogen all by itself.
Knowing these facts can help you so much. Here's what you're left with:
Taking HRT will help prevent (1) heart attack, (2) osteoporosis, and (3) Alzheimer's.
Taking HRT does not cause breast cancer.
If you stop your HRT, and you get one of these other diseases, as well as all the symptoms of menopause, will that make you happier, or not. Thinking about this will help you arrive at your answer.
Wow, I certainly wasn't expecting such a thorough response. Your info further proves my opinion of family physicians having very little knowledge on the subject. Or if they do they don't take the time to explain it to their patients. No wonder we're all so confused. It's a medical travesty and serious disservice to women. I'm going to address each number you posted and maybe you would be kind enough to give me another assessment of my risk level. And can you give me your opinion of my plan to stay on HRT for life. Thank you Dr. Taylor!
1. No history of breast or any cancer
2. Sister (with same mother) had breast cancer at 63
3. age 66
4. No full term pregnancies
5. 2 pregnancies
6. Started periods at 15
7. Periods stopped at 51
8. Haven't smoked in 30 years (was a very light smoker for 10yrs)
9. Moderately active. I'm retired but try to stay active and do yoga nightly
10. 5'6" and 150lbs. which sounds heavy but people say I'm thin
11. I eat relatively low fat and what I consider a healthy diet
12. I have cystic breasts
13. I very rarely drink alcohol
14. Only the normal dental x/rays, yearly mammograms and one chest x/ray and one MRI for shoulder
15. Yes, I have dense breasts
What are your thoughts on a 46 year old woman who just had a total hysterectomy along with ovaries and tubes due to stage 1 grade 1 endo? Ovaries, tubes, cervix and lymphs were all clear. I'll add I also have none of the other risk factors mentioned and am healthy otherwise.
Jenny,
This is precisely the kind of thing for which I do one-on-one consultations. You definitely need one. I cannot tailor things specifically to you in a comment box. It requires much more information than you can give me here, and you deserve much more information than I can give you here. No two women are alike, and addressing your situation requires tailoring all the facts specifically to YOU. I do them all via video conferencing. You can schedule at MenopauseTaylor.ME. I look forward to meeting you and helping you.
Hi Barbie! What can women do if they’re predisposed to genetic illnesses such as heart attack, Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis even if they are still in the estrogen window of opportunity? For instance, my mother had 2 strokes and osteoporosis (strong heart) and dad had a heart attack at age 61. The way it was put to me by a physician when talking about high cholesterol, he said it’s genetics. Such confusion :-(. I’m a vegetarian, do weight bearing exercise 4 x’s a week, cardio, etc. so would taking Estrogen be beneficial for me even tho I’m being preventative of these diseases? Or is this question the EXACT reason why I SHOULD take Estrogen?. In other words, I’m Italian...born that way, can’t change it no matter what I do. Not sure if I’m explaining my point clear enough LOL.
Genetics is a factor in your risk for every disease. But it's ONLY ONE factor. Most diseases have about a dozen factors. And genetics is the only one you can't change.
Diet affects everything. If you want to make the biggest and most positive dietary impact, eat absolutely NOTHING that comes from an animal. Nothing with a face or a mother. Vegetarians eat dairy products. And dirt products are the most detrimental in terms of heart attack and stroke. They clog your arteries with cholesterol and cause heart attacks and strokes. Meat (including chicken and fish) are equally detrimental. If you ate a 100% plant-based diet, you'd erase most of your risk for heart attack and all cancers.
You can prevent osteoporosis by continuing your exercise and either taking estrogen or a SERM. I presented the SERMs in videos 34 & 35. They're magnificent for preventing bone loss, and there are a bunch of them from which to choose. They aren't hormones, so women who can't take hormones can still take SERMs.
One of the best things you can do to prevent Alzheimer's is the very thing adults tend not to do: challenging themselves intellectually. I mean, go to school, learn a language, learn how to play an instrument. All the things kids do. It's so odd the way adults stop learning. It causes their brains to rot ... literally.
All these disease have so many options for prevention. I want you to focus on the ones you CAN change, not the ones you can't. Estrogen is the easiest and most direct way tp prevent these diseases, but it's certainly not the only option. The more you do, the lower your risks.
Menopause Taylor Thank you so much Dr. Barbie for taking such concern with addressing my question...you’re the best.
Menopause Taylor, you have been a blessing to me. I have been following you from the beginning and it was a shock to me. I'm 67 and have not been on anything except something for osteoporosis for 6 years and the Dr took me off it, that was in 2017 or 2018. I need your help 😂 Gertrude
I had a total hysterectomy when I was 42...because the migraines killed me on day 14 and day 28. So out of 4 weeks in a month I had 2 weeks of serious pain. After I had the op I was given premarin...I got went straight to ER for the pain. Same happened when a doctor gave a natural progesterone cream. So Im so sensitive to my own hormones and scared of taking anything related to my hormones because of the pain. Could you help me please❣
Glynis,
It sounds like you might have hormonal migraines. Have you ever tried non-hormonal migraine medications? There are various medications that work by adjusting your blood pressure or pain receptors.
Menopause Taylor Ive been on beta blockers before but I suffer from low blood pressure.
Menopause Taylor Im not to sure about pain receptor medication. I thought that the pain would stop after the hysterectomy but it didn't help all together. I still had a stressful job, widow at age 38 with 3 kids. 31st October 2017 I had a fusion C5-C6. Im sitting with an estrogen patch. I wanted to first recover from my op before using it. I live in Cape Town, South Africa, hope you enjoyed your stay here 🇿🇦
Menopause Taylor I should have told you. I have never been regular since the age of 13. Do you rather want me to email you?
You are smart to recover fully before starting any medications you don't HAVE tp have right now. When you change app many things at once, you tend to get confused. Keep it as simple as possible.
I'm so sorry about all the trauma you've suffered.
love your videos Dr. Taylor. I had a surgical menopause at 48 and have been on estrogen ever since. I take Premarin 0.9 and have been very pleased with it. I'm 66 now, I have been told I have osteopenia and to take calcium and vitamin D. Lately, especially with the cold weather I have some hip and knee discomfort. Any insight about that or recommendations?
You've done well for yourself by taking the estrogen, Charlotte. Because you have osteopenia, you might want to consider adding a SERM to your regimen. I covered SERMs in videos 35 & 35. You really should watch those. You'd be best off taking a SERM that you can take WITH estrogen, like one of the bisphosphonates. They're designed to prevent bone loss and rebuild bone. Watch those two videos and then let me know how I might help you further.
Usually, it's all about dosage. Many women "take estrogen," but they don't take enough tp prevent bone loss.
You need to get bone density tests every year or two to follow your bone density. If it's dropping, you need to do more tp prevent bone loss.
Beware that the ONLY score that matters when yu get a bone density test is you T-score. Pay no attention at all to the Z-score.
Here's the difference:
T-score compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30 year old.
Z-score compares your bone density that of a woman of your same age and ethnicity. In other words, it "allows" you to have lower bone density, and tells you it's still okay. It isn't. Compare yourself to the 30 year old. Demand that you're as good as the 30 year old!
Happy birthday, my dear. I would so love to meet you and hug you for your 50th!
Bisphosphonates do regrow bone but if you notice the side effect on all those type of pills happens to be bone breaks! That is because they rebuild the outside of the bone but not the inside, leaving the bone vulnerable to breaks. There has to be a better solution......
That's why there are so many different options. There's NOTHING that has NO disadvantages. The name of the game is to find the options that will work best FOR YOU.
The kind of bone breakage that occurs with bisphosphonates is characteristic to only the bisphosphonates. Raloxifene, Tibolone, and Bazedoxifene do not cause bone breakage. It's all trade-offs.
So if I am past the 10years of opportunity and are 58 jears years old it’s best not to take HRT ....the risks are bigger than the positive side....correct?
It all depends on the individual woman. Do not assume that you are not a candidate for HRT. Schedule a consultation with me at MenopauseTaylor.ME and let me tailor all the facts specifically to YOU to determine your personal benefits and risks.
Thanks again, Dr. Barbie for another informative video. I'm already 12 years past my window and my doc gave me Premarin vaginal cream to use. Now, I'm wondering if it's a waste & dangerous now because of the time frame? He gave it to me for vag dryness, muscle atrophy and having to pee a couple of times through the night. He also, said since I had scar tissue from having the walls of my vag tightened when I had a bladder suspension (about 15 years ago). This is my reg doc not my GYN - so he never checked me. I told him the info that another gyn told me when I went to get checked cause I found blood in my underwear just the one time so far. Thanks so much!
The estrogen cream is solely for your vaginal symptoms. It only works on your symptoms of vaginal dryness, prevents UTI, and helps prevent urinary incontinence. It does not travel throughout your body, and does not prevent the diseases pertinent to the estrogen window.
You should definitely continue using the estrogen cream. There is no risk, and it will keep your vagina from shrinking.
It's best to use your gynecologist for all things menopause. Non-gynecologists know only the basics, and it's shocking to hear what they say.
Thanks again, Dr. Barbie - I definitely will consult with my GYN
I have moderate congestive heart failure. Does this mean that I should not take estrogen?
This is precisely the kind of thing for which I do one-on-one consultations. You definitely need one. I cannot tailor things specifically to you in a comment box. It requires much more information than you can give me here, and you deserve much more information than I can give you here. No two women are alike, and addressing your situation requires tailoring all the facts specifically to YOU. I do them all via online video conferencing. You can schedule at MenopauseTaylor.ME. I look forward to meeting you and helping you.
i dont have ulters ,i have pelvic pain now ostopenia for 12 years ,now 66 old im tired of everything
You should seriously consider scheduling a one-on-one consultation to address these things and find solutions.
I'm in the business of educating you about everything you need to know and do in order to get exactly what you want for managing your menopause your way. So, here's how a consultation works:
1) You would schedule a one-on-one consultation at my website, MenopauseTaylor.ME, choosing a time that is convenient for you. I do consultations on Skype, FaceTime. Facebook Messenger, What’s App, and the phone.
2) I would confirm that you are scheduled for the stated time, and invite you to send me as much information about yourself as you please. You can make it brimming with details and tell me about your reproductive life, any gynecologic problems you've had, your symptoms of peri-menopause, and your symptoms of post-menopause. You can include all your fears, concerns, and goals for your menopause management. You may also send me any labs, mammogram results, bone density results, etc. that you would like me to include in designing your protocol. For instance, if you want to adhere to a certain category of management options (herbs or diet & lifestyle, or whatever), you should tell me that. I would need all these things at least 1 week before your consultation with me.
3) I'll get busy creating a document that gives you all the education you need to understand absolutely everything, points put the pros and cons of each option, and tailors it all to YOU using the information you have provided. The document will be loooooong. Most are 25 - 30 pages.
4) I will send you the document by email at least 24 hours before your consultation. You will benefit greatly by reading it in advance. Light bulbs will go off like crazy, and if you're like most women, you'll feel that you've already gotten your money's worth.
5) During your consultation, we will review the document and address any issues you want to fine tune everything and determine your best options. I'll tell you exactly how to find the right kind of professional, how to have the conversation in order to get what you want, and the nuances of things like guidelines and insurance. I leave nothing unaddressed.
6) You will go to a professional of your choosing in order to get the actual hormones or whatever you choose to use.
7) After the first consultation, I'll hold your hand (forever if you want me to). In other words, you'll be able to schedule mini-consultations (15-minute or 30-minute, in addition to full consultations) whenever you need to. I'll keep records of your situation. Most women schedule mini-consultation whenever they go to the doctor and don't understand what he or she said, or why. I translate. I make sense of everything. Most schedule mini-consultation whenever they have a new test and they want me to explain the results. And all schedule mini-consultation whenever their situation changes and they need to re-weigh and balance their options.
The time you spend with me will make everything about working with any other professional so easy. And they will love the fact that you have an actual education rather than a bunch of misconceptions that you got form the Internet. If your initial hormone regimen is not right, you'll want to consult with me before going to your doctor. I can prepare you for what to expect and what to request.
So, that's my role. And nobody else on earth does this kind of thing but me. So, I hope you schedule a consultation and let me hold your hand (figuratively).
How many years do we stay on estrogen? Love your channel!
Ahh, that's video 89. There's no hard and fast rule. Nor should there be. Every woman is different. In video 89, I'll give you the factors to consider in deciding what time frame is best for you. Be sure to watch videos 84, 85, 86, 87, & 88 before watching 89. I'll address each and every thing in order, and you'll find it all so understandable.
Sorry it takes so long with just one video each week I know you're eager to get the information faster than that. I'm giving a two-day seminar on February 10 & 11. If you can come to that, you'll get the whole banana on menopause in just two days. I guess I should have a slogan, like "Give me two days of your time and I'll give you a lifetime." You really will get everything you need for the rest of your life at my seminar. You register at my website: MenopauseTaylor.ME
Hi Dr Barbie,
Thank you for yet another informative & well presented video. I am from the UK and am 14 mths post menopausal. I see a Gynaecologist (nhs) for vaginal atrophy which I was prescribed vagifem about 18 moths ago which has really helped. However, I am now experiencing a variety of horrible symptoms and I think HRT would be beneficial for me. I am overweight but trying very hard to resolve this issue. My blood pressure became slightly raised last year and my GP put me on blood pressure medication(ramiprel 5mg) which has resolved the problem. Because I am overweight and taking blood pressure medication does this make me an unhealthy candidate for HRT and if so, what would be my other options. Thank you.
Heather,
Your weight does not disqualify you from using HRT. And you wi;; probably find that taking HRT helps you lose weight. Remember, women usually gain weight when they become menopausal. That's due to LOSS of estrogen.
Your Vagifem is a local estrogen that suffices for your vaginal symptoms, and your vaginal symptoms ONLY. It does not travel throughout your body, and does not prevent ANY of the diseases associated with the estrogen window. (Be sure to watch the next 2 videos, 84 & 85.)
To put things into perspective for you, get this. One whole year of your Vagifem contains the same amount of estrogen as 1 to 2 birth control pills. So, one full year is equivalent to the estrogen in 1 to 2 DAYS of birth control. That's a very, very tiny quantity of estrogen in Vagifem.
To get the benefits of the estrogen window, (1) The estrogen has to travel throughout your body (Video 84), and (2) You have t take a designated minimum daily dosage (Vide 85).
Call your gynecologist and discuss your goals. Be sure to tell your gynecologist that you want HRT "to alleviate your symptoms of menopause." DO NOT say you want it for the primary purpose of preventing diseases associated with menopause. Video 100 will present this as "the politically-correct" way of requesting hormones. It's all because of the careful wording of guidelines since the WHI freaked everyone out needlessly.
Hi barbie, I have a cardiac stent (I was diagnosed after my only sister had a heart attack) so on blood pressure pills and aspirin.
I'm 56 and had no periods for 11 months but had one at Christmas so have to wait for 12 clear months for menopause. I have joint pain and brain fog but the worst is the cravings ( I seem unable to stop eating) is it ok for me to start hrt. I'd like to keep my bones ok and get some brain function back, love your videos.
I've noticed your not wearing your wedding ring! I hope your not putting all your work for us before your relationship. You of all people deserve to be happy.
You should be able to take HRT. You should discuss it with your cardiologist and your gynecologist. And make sure you use a GYNECOLOGIST for you menopause management, not a Family Practitioner, General Practitioner, or Internist.
As for cravings, just think about puberty (craving carbs), and PMS (craving chocolate and sweets), and pregnancy (craving all sorts of weird things). So, hormonal change and cravings go hand-in-hand. The biggest craving during menopause is alcohol. Don't let that get out of hand.
I'm not wearing my rings because I'm in the middle of a divorce. I will be putting you first. And I'm very happy. There's nothing better than helping women all over the world. I love it.
Dr Taylor- May I ask your opinion on the recent JAMA publication from Dr Manson (data from the WHI) whereby they concluded a significant reduction in mortality for women 50-59 taking hormones vs placebo "However, that risk reduction did not persist with long-term follow-up. So that provides further reason for not using hormones specifically for the purpose of trying to reduce chronic disease or decrease risk of mortality, because long-term, those benefits may not persist." Is this cohort of patients not ideal as you mentioned to draw this conclusion concisely? Is there a reason the benefit women had in their 50s didn't persist more long term? I appreciate your feedback!
It all depends on how you define "long term." And would you be satisfied in the long term (age 90) if you forfeited HRT NOW because of this study? Would you be content if, because of this one study, you decided to go without HRT and developed osteoporosis, broke your spine, had a heart attack, or got Alzheimer's? Would you feel like you'd done the best you could?
Or would you be happier if you took HRT and you still got osteoporosis, broke your spine had a heart attacker got Alzheimer's. Would you feel like you'd done the best you could?
Studies are studies. They didn't study YOU.
There are no guarantees in life. You do the best you can with the information you have at the time.
Great point and thank you for responding. I'm trying to equip myself with knowledge now as I have to be my own advocate in terms of future choices and I agree fully with your assessment regarding no guarantees- only trying the best to make an empowered decision and be happy with it. All the best to you.
WELL I THINK THAT TELLS US. I think I am healty and I think I am coming up to 3 years post menopause. as I didn't take note. My symptoms are just the part that is the greediest for Estrogen no other symptons, So is that a good thing or a bad thing. I am going to see can I get a femring on this side of the world. Wish me luck Xx
Well, this means you still have tons of options. And estrogen is still one of them, and probably the best one. Isn't it great that you learned this now?
Remember, if you still have your uterus, get some form of progesterone, too. It can be a form that stays confined to your uterus if you wish, like a progesterone IUD. The ONLY purpose of progesterone is t prevent uterine cancer.
Can you comment on the US Preventative Services Task Force recent pronouncement on HRT? They advised against it saying the harms outweighed the benefits wrt chronic conditions. I can think of some things wrong with their advice, but I would like to hear what an expert thinks.
Alice,
The U.S. Preventive Task Force has the most "unprotective" guidelines of all the societies that make guidelines for menopause. In other words, they "recommend" doing the fewest, most infrequent screening tests (such as mammograms and bone density tests) and recommend use of HRT less than all the other governing bodies.
All guidelines are merely an assessment of how much money society should spend on any procedure or medication in order to protect a given number of women. The USPTF recommends the lowest standards for everything.
Ever since the WHI study announced its findings in 2002, there's been a fear of hormones. Even though the WHI studied hormones to prevent disease (which is their secondary benefit) rather than studying them to alleviate the symptoms of menopause (which is their primary purpose), all the guidelines have been carefully re-worded. They all say that hormones should only be used for the primary benefit of alleviating the symptoms of menopause ... but then they add that women who use them for that purpose will benefit from their secondary purpose of preventing heart attack, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's Disease.
The USPTF takes that to an extreme and says that the risks outweigh the benefits ... period. That's exactly the misinformation that caused women to flush their hormones down the toilet in 2002 when the WHI findings were reported.
Now, 16 years later, we know that hormones have great benefit in preventing diseases, but all the societies tip-toe around that with the careful wording that confuses both doctors and patients.
The other societies that have guideline are:
ACOG (American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology)
NAMS (North American Menopause Society)
NCI (National Cancer Institute)
ACS (American Cancer Society)
NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network)
All these tend to lean toward the mantra of using hormones for symptoms of menopause. They all try to "denounce" HRT use by stating "hormones should be used at the lowest dosage for the shortest time," or that "they should be used for only 5 - 10 years." None of these things are really "true guidelines." It's just a mindset that exists because of all the fear that the WHI created.
The best thing is to know the facts and then to do what gives you the most peace of mind both now and later.
Thanks for your detailed response. We have a health newsletter at work and the PTF recommendation is the only info this newsletter carried about HRT and menopause.
I would bet that that is because your employer chooses your health insurance. And I'd bet that your insurance company flows the USPTF guidelines. That's not in YOUR best interest. It's in the best interest of the insurance company and your employer, who pays for your insurance. I'm glad you have me. I'll always tell you the truth.
How does one determine which type of prescribed estrogen is best? I know that Dr.'s can prescribe the bioidentical estrogen called Estradiol which I might feel more comfortable taking but, does it matter which type of estrogen a woman chooses?
It's largely a matter of preference, availability, insurance coverage, lifestyle. I help women with these things all the time in my one-on-one consultations. You want to start with the most logical choice FOR YOU. And that requires personalizing all the facts TO YOU. There is no "best" in terms of what's best for all women. It's all about tailoring. There is no specific brand or the kind of estrogen that is "best."
The worst thing you can do is get stuck on getting a certain brand first and then force yourself to use it. That's backward. The way to go about it is to first address the specifics of what will work best FOR YOU in terms of delivery system (pills versus patch versus gel versus vaginal ring) and then choose among the options that are most suitable FOR YOU.
If you want me to help you, just holler.
Great outfit. :)
Well, thank you, my dear.
I just found all your videos and started watching them, I am learning so much but I feel that I'm to late. I started my period at 9 and my period stopped at 41 now I just turned 50... Is it to late for me to start Estrogen. I am very healthy just had all my labs done I take no medication. But the night sweats are kicking my butt this past year. I will be setting up a bone density test.
Tracy,
You are asking about your "estrogen window of opportunity." It is not too late. BUT please, please don't make the huge mistake of going to your doctor and requesting HRT before having a consultation with me. I will make sure you know ALL the facts, and also make sure you know exactly how to go about getting what you want without falling through the cracks.
If you're just on video 83, you definitely do not know enough to address your doctor. But, after a consultation, you'll know all the ins and outs, pitfalls, workings of the medical system and guidelines, as well as the science. I'll save you loads of frustration.
I'm in the business of educating you about everything you need to know and do in order to get exactly what you want for managing your menopause your way. So, here's how a consultation works:
1) You would schedule a one-on-one consultation at my website, MenopauseTaylor.ME, choosing a time that is convenient for you. I do consultations on Skype, FaceTime. Facebook Messenger, What’s App, and the phone.
2) I would send you an email to confirm that you are scheduled for the stated time, and invite you to send me as much information about yourself as you please. You can make it brimming with details and tell me about your reproductive life, any gynecologic problems you've had, your symptoms of peri-menopause, and your symptoms of post-menopause. You can include all your fears, concerns, and goals for your menopause management. You may also send me any labs, mammogram results, bone density results, etc. that you would like me to include in designing your protocol. For instance, if you want to adhere to a certain category of management options (herbs or diet & lifestyle, or whatever), you should tell me that. I will give you a deadline for sending all materials, and will not accept anything after that date.
3) I'll get busy creating a document that gives you all the education you need to understand absolutely everything, points out the pros and cons of each option, and tailors it all to YOU, using the information you have provided. The document will be loooooong. Most are over 30 pages.
4) I will send you the document by email 48 hours before your consultation. You will benefit greatly by reading it in advance. Light bulbs will go off like crazy, and if you're like most women, you'll feel that you've already gotten your money's worth.
5) During your consultation, we will review the document and address any issues you want in order to fine tune everything and determine your best options. I'll tell you exactly how to find the right kind of professional, how to have the conversation in order to get what you want, and the nuances of things like guidelines and insurance. I leave nothing unaddressed.
6) You will go to a professional of your choosing in order to get the actual hormones or whatever you choose to use.
7) After the first consultation, I'll hold your hand (forever if you want me to). In other words, you'll be able to schedule mini-consultations (15-minute or 30-minute, in addition to full consultations) whenever you need to. I'll keep records of your situation. Most women schedule mini-consultation whenever they go to the doctor and don't understand what he or she said, or why. I translate. I make sense of everything. Most schedule mini-consultation whenever they have a new test and they want me to explain the results. And all schedule mini-consultation whenever their situation changes and they need to re-weigh and re-balance their options.
The time you spend with me will make everything about working with any other professional so easy. And they will love the fact that you have an actual education rather than a bunch of misconceptions that you got from the Internet. If your initial hormone regimen is not right, you'll want to consult with me before going to your doctor. I can prepare you for what to expect and what to request.
So, that's my role. And nobody else on earth does this kind of thing but me. So, I hope you schedule a consultation and let me hold your hand (figuratively).
I hope to meet you soon!
I have a ? So u have to take estrogen forever ?
You can do whatever you want. That's why this is YOUR menopause YOUR way.
Menopause is a hormone deficiency: Estrogen deficiency.
It's a lot like insulin deficiency in Diabetes or thyroid hormone deficiency in Hypothyroidism. So, how long would you take hormone replacement for those deficiencies?
Dr Barbie,
I am 50 years old, not officially menopausal yet, but will be this year. My doctor has me on HRT due to the hot flashes I was having. My current dosages are 0.5 mg Estradiol and 400 mg progesterone nightly. (I’ve read some of the negative comments about progesterone, but it seems to help me sleep and relax- no PMS type symptoms here.) my question is, am I taking a high enough dose of estrogen to get the disease prevention benefits at 0.5 mg? I am in good health, not overweight, no chronic issues. My mother died of breast cancer and my doctor said using the smallest effective dose was the way to go in my case. But is it enough?
Your combination of estrogen and progesterone is a bit odd. You're on half the necessary dosage of estradiol (if it's oral) to reduce your risks of diseases associated with the estrogen window. And you're on twice the dosage of progesterone indicated for cyclical use (meaning you take it only on certain days) and four times the dosage of progesterone indicated for continuous use (meaning you take it every day). I don't really follow what your doctor is trying to accomplish in the long term. Here are the normal estrogen dosages necessary to derive the benefit of reducing your risks for heart attack, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's Disease
(1) It has to travel throughout your entire body (not remain only in your vagina).
(2) There is a minimal necessary dosage for preventing diseases.
Many women take dosages that are too low to relieve their symptoms completely or permanently. Worse than that, many women take a dosage that relieves their symptoms but is NOT high enough to prevent heart attack, osteoporosis, or Alzheimers.
ESTROGEN is the hormone that is critical for prevention of these disease. Progesterone has nothing to do with it. Its only purpose is to protect your uterus from uterine cancer.
Here are the minimal necessary dosages of estrogen to accomplish prevention of these diseases, depending on the type of estrogen you're taking:
Conjugated Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Estradiol 1.0 mg / day
Estradiol Patches 0.5 mg / day
Estropipate 1.25 mg / day
Esterified Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Ethinyl Estradiol 0.01 - 0.015 mg / day depending on the source of the estrogen
Compounded Bi-Est or Tri-Est 2.5 mg / day
There are standard dosages of progesterone to balance these dosages of estrogen, depending on whether you take the progesterone every day (continuous) or just certain days (cyclic). Here are the standard dosages:
Medroxyprogesterne Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone 0.35 mg continuous or 0.7 mg cyclical
Micronized Progesterone 100 mg continuous or 200 mg cyclical
Progesterone Gel Twice weekly continuous or every other day for 12 days cyclical
So, it all depends on what you're trying to accomplish, and how you wish to do that. It's sort of an issue of trade-offs:
Is it more important to prevent osteoporosis & Alzheimer's or breast cancer?
And, the fact is that we DO NOT KNOW if estrogen causes breast cancer, period! Add that to the fact that no one ever said that YOU can't take estrogen if SOMEONE ELSE had breast cancer.
Your mother's breast cancer does increase you own risk of breast cancer from 1 in 7 to 1in 4. Whether or not estrogen plays any role at all is a completely different issue ... one for which we simply do not have an answer.
I hope this helps!
Thank you for your reply. I am taking these dosages continually. I will ask my doctor to review my dosage on both.
What if a woman has been taking Estrogen Replacement, was healthy it recently had to take blood pressure and cholesterol meds, is it still safe?
D,
There is no such woman as "a woman." You absolutely HAVE to tailor everything to the specific woman. I an help you with this in a consultation by tailoring everything to YOU. You can schedule at MenopauseTaylor.ME, and I do them all via video conferencing.
I understand that the adrenal glands and adipose tissue produce estrogen as well. Can they produce enough in some women to keep estrogen levels adequate in their bodies without supplementation?
No, the adrenal glands produce testosterone, not estrogen. Some testosterone can get converted to estrogen, but not predictably.
You adipose tissue produces only one kind of estrogen, called estrONE. And it does nothing to prevent any of the diseases of estrogen deficiency. Only estraDIol does that.
@@MenopauseTaylor Thank you so much for clarifying, Dr. Taylor! Always learning from you. Much appreciated! 🙏🙂❤️
@@lf7065 You are so welcome, my dear.
i have had a blood clot,most likely from being immobile from my hospital stay of 3 months. I take a BP med for heart palpations, I am overweight...so does that mean estrogen is not an option? thanks
Estrogen is probably not an option for you.
The key is to balance the benefits against the risks or every option. For you, the risk of another blood clot is really high, simply because of your blood pressure and weight. So, the best thing would be to learn about all the other categories of options and tailor them to your needs in terms of which ones will work best for you.
I do one-on-ne consultations, and your situation is one that would greatly benefit from one. If you want me to help you find your best options, schedule some time with me on MenopauseTaylor.ME.
I have an autoimmune disease. So technically not healthy. So hrt is not an option for me?
Your autoimmune disease is not a barrier to HRT if you wish to take it. If you want to address it more directly, please schedule a consultation with me at MenopauseTaylor.ME.
Dr Barbie, I hope you can help me. I'm 51, waiting on lab work if I'm in menopause. ( I have IUD and no period) Can anxiety, burning mouth and teeth grinding be signs of menopause?
Anxiety is definitely one of the symptoms of menopause (videos 63 & 64). DRY mouth is a common symptoms, but not burning mouth. And teeth grinding is a sign of stress, regardless of whether or not it's associated with menopause.
I am post menopausal and have brain fog and memory issues. I took the lowest dose of Climara for one month but had to stop taking it because I was having pelvic pain and breast pain. Is there something else I should try?
Kimberly, let's separate your breast pain and pelvic pain.
First: Breast pain.
Think about it: Your breasts have ALWAYS responded to hormones. At puberty, they grew. During pregnancy, they hurt and they grow. When you have PMS, they hurt. So, breast pain is to be expected. It does not mean there's a problem or that you have to stop taking hormones. And it DOES NOT have anything to do with breast cancer. Your breasts will hurt most when you first start any hormones (just like they do in early pregnancy). That's because they're getting used to the hormones. With time, they'll hurt less.
Now, Pelvic pain:
Pelvic pain is not a common or normal consequence of taking hormones. That is, unless you already have a disease process that responds to hormones. The most common disease that responds to hormones and may cause pain is endometriosis. Otherwise. pelvic pain warrants an evaluation to discover why you have pain.
There are dozens of options if you wish to take HRT Climara is only one of many. The kind of estrogen and progesterone in HRT options may differ from one product to another. It's a mistake to let your single experience with a single product rob you of all the benefits you could gain.
The other factor is HOW you take hormones. There are two options:
A "Cyclic Regimen" mimics your cycles and produces a period.
A "Continuous Regimen" does not mimic your cycles. Instead, you take the hormones in a manner that produces no periods at all.
Some women have a preference for one or the other. Some women have better results with one or the other.
You should have a conversation with your GYNECOLOGIST (not Family Practitioner or General Practitioner or Internist) about this. And if you can go to a menopause specialist, do so. Here's how to find a menopause specialist near you if you live in North America:
Go to menopause.org
Click on the tab "For women."
Click on the option "Find a menopause practitioner."
Put in your zip code
All the menopause practitioners near you will pop up.
I hope this helps.
Dr barbie, love nd regards . Birth control comes in so many combinations in which ethyl estrodial remains the same( strength varies) but there are so many types of projestins ( levonorgestrol , norgestimate, etc) Is one better than the other . Which is best for perimenopause?
Pooja,
You are so astute! Yes, it's the kind of progesterone that varies in birth control pills. And it's usually the differences in progesterone that determine whether a woman has the perfect pill (for her) or not. There really isn't a "best" progesterone.
There are different categories (four different generations) of progesterones. Collectively, all the progesterones in birth control are really called "progestins." All that means is that the progesterone is synthetically produced.
First generation progestins are norethindrone acetate & ethynodiol acetate.
Second generation progestins are levonorgestrel & jorgestrel.
Third generation are desogestrel & norgestimate.
Fourth generation is drosperinone.
An alternative way to categorize the progestins is by how much they resemble estrogen or testosterone. If you use that as the differentiating factor:
First generations are more like estrogen.
Second generations are inis-way between estrogen and testosterone.
Third generations are least like testosterone.
Fourth generations have no testosterone-like activity.
Women who want to avoid the testosterone-like effects of birth control (acne, whiskers) prefer the pills with the fourth generation progestin.
I hope this helps.
There isn't a "best" progesterone. Most women prefer the newest (Fourth generation) progesterone Drosperinone. It has the fewest side effects like acne and whiskers.
Thank a lot
Thank a lot
How much estradiol is efficacious to the average woman at the start of menopause - and over time? How will she know she if is on enough? 😕 This is indeed the $64,000 question most women want answered. Most MD's are very uninformed about HRT and instead instill fear in women. 😲
Videos 80 - 90 are all on the estrogen window. Video 85 is on dosage. 86 is on what happens if you don't take estrogen. 87 is on when to start. 88 is on when to stop. 89 is what determines how long you should take it. And 90 is about progesterone's role.
As to your question about dosage, here's the shortcut answer:
The critical factors for an estrogen to provide the benefits of the estrogen window are:
(1) It has to travel throughout your entire body (not remain only in your vagina).
(2) There is a minimal necessary dosage for preventing diseases.
Many women take dosages that are too low to relieve their symptoms completely or permanently. Worse than that, many women take a dosage that relieves their symptoms but is NOT high enough to prevent heart attack, osteoporosis, or Alzheimers.
ESTROGEN is the hormone that is critical for prevention of these disease. Progesterone has nothing to do with it. Its only purpose is to protect your uterus from uterine cancer.
Here are the minimal necessary dosages of estrogen to accomplish prevention of these diseases, depending on the type of estrogen you're taking:
Conjugated Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Estradiol 1.0 mg / day
Estradiol Patches 0.5 mg / day
Estropipate 1.25 mg / day
Esterified Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Ethinyl Estradiol 0.01 - 0.015 mg / day depending on the source of the estrogen
Compounded Bi-Est or Tri-Est 2.5 mg / day
There are standard dosages of progesterone to balance these dosages of estrogen, depending on whether you take the progesterone every day (continuous) or just certain days (cyclic). Here are the standard dosages:
Medroxyprogesterne Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone 0.35 mg continuous or 0.7 mg cyclical
Micronized Progesterone 100 mg continuous or 200 mg cyclical
Progesterone Gel Twice weekly continuous or every other day for 12 days cyclical
Oh, and the younger you are the higher the dosage you'll need. If you're just peri-menopausal, you probably WILL NOT be relieved of your symptoms with dosages designed for women much older than you are. That's why birth control options are so popular for women during peri-menopause. Birth control dosages of estrogen and progesterone are much nigher than the ones in HRT.
The way you monitor whether you're taking enough estrogen is mostly by your bone density tests. If you're losing bone, either take more estrogen or use a SERM (videos 34 & 35).
I hope this helps!
So if a female is still symptomatic (hot flashes, insomnia, dryness, bone loss), will more estradiol help resolve it? UCLA studies lead some MD's to think that it is indeed a woman's lot in life. Thoughts? newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/are-hot-flashes-genetic
I don't think this article changes anything. I know some of the authors of the study. They aren't saying that estrogen won't help hot flashes. They're just saying that some women are more prone to having them than others. But we already knew that.
Thank you! You truly rock! 👍
How about products like Divigel (topical E2 geL)? Any opinion on dosage for topical gels?
I'm still confused. Do you need to take anything if your symptoms aren't bad? A few hot flashes? I was on ortho-Novum and min-ovral from 18 to mid-forties. My doctor will only treat if symptoms are bad. My periods stopped 2 years ago and I'm 54.
Menopause isn't about hot flashes. It's about heart attacks.
Hot flashes never killed anyone. Heart attacks kill 1 out of every 2 women.
Here's why your doctor says he'll only give you hormones for your symptoms:
Ever since the WHI study came out in 2002, it made women fearful of taking HRT. And because women were so fearful, it also made doctors reluctant to prescribe HRT.
Before the WHI, we knew that HRT should be used for the PRIMARY PURPOSE of alleviating symptoms of menopause. But, we also knew that women who used HRT for their symptoms benefited form the SECONDARY PURPOSE of preventing heart attack, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's Disease.
But then, the WHI decided to do a study to find out if HRT could be used for to prevent diseases as a PRIMARY PURPOSE. And when the incomplete study showed that HRT is not appropriate for disease prevention as a primary purpose, but only as a secondary benefit, they changed the wording of the "guidelines" doctors use for treating patients.
The guidelines are now very carefully worded. They say, "Give hormones for symptoms of menopause, not for preventing disease. BUT, women who take hormones for menopause may get the benefit of preventing diseases."
If you asked for HRT for your symptoms, your doctors would say, "No problem!"
I now realize that HRT is not just for reducing menopause symptoms. My estrogen window of opportunity is still open but I take blood pressure medicines. Does that mean taking estrogen is not for me?
No. You still have all options available to you. Do not settle for any doctor who uses your controlled blood pressure as an excuse for withholding HRT.
If you need to address this with me so that you can get what you want, just schedule a consultation at MenopauseTaylor.ME.
Thank you so much for your quick response. It's great to hear that. I'm trying to learn as much as possible now. As I progress with your lessons, questions come up and answered. I need to watch same ones more than once sometimes. Hopefully by my next appointment with my doctor this Summer, I will know what I want. It's good to know how to reach out to you via your website. Thank you!
@@micaa3582 You are very welcome, and I will be available when you need me.
Great video like always. I love your style, I hope we meet next time during your seminar. By now I want to ask: when is the best to start estrogen? I am 43 and probably just entered a gate to peri-menopause I have mood swings, very short bleeding but still regular and I am sure I have a brain fog. What do you suggest? I am from Dallas.
It's entirely your choice when and if you start hormone replacement. You are still fertile. Many women in your situation choose to utilize some form of hormonal birth control that prevents pregnancy, AND prevents the symptoms of menopause, AND regulates your periods. Any hormonal birth control options that contains BOTH estrogen and progesterone will do the trick: Pills, patches, or vaginal rings.
I don't make "recommendations." I teach you everything you need to know to make your own decisions. If you want me to help you personalize your options, I can do that in a one-o-one consultation. But, there is nothing that I recommend for all women. And your preferences are of critical importance.
Thank you very much. Kasia
It's my pleasure to help you.
Hi Menopause Taylor/Barbie! :) Just let me say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have been to many physicians and specialist, and, although helpful, NOTHING like the help and education you provide here-so THANK YOU! Hoping you can give me your best answer (without knowing/seeing me personally)...I had a complete hysterectomy with both ovaries removed at a relatively young age (27). The doctor did not immediately start me on any estrogen replacement and I was miserable-literally a whole slew of symptoms that all hit me at once (just the memories leave me 😣). I have since been on 2 mg of the generic estradiol and almost immediately all of the negative symptoms went away. My question is how long do I continue to take estradiol (I am 37 now)? Can I take it forever at that dose? With sincerest thanks!!
Toni,
I love helping you.
You're young age at the time of your post-menopause makes it critical for you to take estrogen at higher dosages for longer periods of time. This is especially important for preventing these diseases. You should take it for as long as you can, barring any health issues. And be absolutely sure NOT to smoke! Cigarettes will limit the length of time you can take it (as well as limit the length of your life).
I, like you, had surgical menopause at a young age (34). I've been on estrogen ever since. And they'll have to pry it out of my cold, dead hands!
You can take the estradiol all by itself, without progesterone. And that's a good thing, because it's much easier with estrogen alone, and much safer, too.
Hi dr barbie, love nd regards.
Do u think only progesterone in needed in perimenopause. Is not oestrogen also required becoz it also starts declining. Taking birth control seems such great concept but all birth control come with guide lines not to take after 35 .
Birth control comes in so many strengths and ratios , what should be the doses of both the harmones to ease down perimenopause.
If I menstruate every month .I feel very normal nd good. One of the benefit of birth control ( cyclic ) is that I will have period every month.
This month my period is already late by 8 days nd I m so tensed. What should I do. I feel like they will come(PMS) but they havent yet. Should I wait for my period .
It's so easy to communicatie with u. Thank u so much.
Love u.
Pooja,
If you're in peri-menopause, you are correct: Birth control is the easiest and most effective way to go. And if you are not a smoker, you can take birth control well beyond age 35. Some women stay on it until age 55, and them switch to HRT.
The great thing about birth control is that you avoid pregnancy, prevent all the symptoms of peri-menopause, and satisfy both the need for progesterone during peri-menopause and estrogen during post-menopause. There's no need to dissect all these stages of the transition and experience the misery of each one. Keep it simple ... and joyful.
Progesterone is the yucky hormone. It's the one that makes you feel bloated, depressed, and sleepy during pregnancy. If you take it during peri-menopause, it will work, but only for a while. That's because peri-menopause only lasts a while. Eventually, you'll have new symptoms when your estrogen drops.
So if you use progesterone now instead of birth control, it won't be nearly as easy.
Wow! It makes me a bit angry that when a woman is perimenopausal (sorry about the so) we are not educated about these things. I am 64 yr old and 8 yr post. I now have osteoporosis. Will estrogen possibly slow the progression? I do have sjoregns would this be a problem? I may be SOL. :-(
Janice,
It's definitely not too late for you to take HRT if you so choose. And your Sjorgrens will not interfere with your ability to do so. Your arthritis makes it MORE important for you to avoid osteoporosis. And Estrogen will slow or stop the progression. Other alternatives are the SERMs. I presented those in videos 34 & 35. You should definitely watch those videos, too, You have a bunch of options.
Too bad men aren't affected by aging in the same way women are.
Debora Love To some extent they are. They have to live with us lol but my husband is having difficulty sleeping. Andropause?
Yeah. Imagine: If men had menopause, there would be an ATM (automatic testosterone machine) on every street corner. Replacing their testosterone would be society's first priority. They would not have handled it with the complacency women have shown.
The difference for men is that they lose testosterone slowly and gradually, every year. They never have a sudden drop in their testosterone like we do with estrogen. Because their testosterone loss isn't sudden, their bodies do not go into "shock" like ours do.
My period ended when I was 47. I am now 52. I know I'm still in the availability window, however I suffered from fibroids. I've had 2 uterine artery embolizations which helped tremendously. The literature says that estrogen causes fibroids. I don't want to go through that again. Does that mean it would be detrimental for me to use estrogen? Low dosage perhaps? Or not.
The dosages of estrogen for menopause is very low, even if you take the dosage necessary to gain the benefits of the estrogen window (which ay be higher than what you need for your symptoms).
Look at it like this:
Fibroids are benign. They are present in 40% of women. And they usually shrink some at menopause. They will not kill you.
Heart attacks, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's are all deadly. And they all occur in women who do not take estrogen at menopause.
You will have to take progesterone with your estrogen to prevent uterine cancer, just like any other woman with her uterus.
Menopause Taylor Thank you so much for your response! I do have another question..How much estrogen do you have to take to gain the benefits of the estrogen window? My concern is the possibility of new fibroids forming as a result of taking the estrogen and having the pelvic pain I had with the fibroids. The advantages of taking EPT may outweigh the disadvantages.
Videos 80 - 90 are all on the estrogen window. Video 85 is on dosage. 86 is on what happens if you don't take estrogen. 87 is on when to start. 88 is on when to stop. 89 is what determines how long you should take it. And 90 is about progesterone's role.
As to your question about dosage, here's the shortcut answer:
The critical factors for an estrogen to provide the benefits of the estrogen window are:
(1) It has to travel throughout your entire body (not remain only in your vagina).
(2) There is a minimal necessary dosage for preventing diseases.
Many women take dosages that are too low to relieve their symptoms completely or permanently. Worse than that, many women take a dosage that relieves their symptoms but is NOT high enough to prevent heart attack, osteoporosis, or Alzheimers.
ESTROGEN is the hormone that is critical for prevention of these disease. Progesterone has nothing to do with it. Its only purpose is to protect your uterus from uterine cancer.
Here are the minimal necessary dosages of estrogen to accomplish prevention of these diseases, depending on the type of estrogen you're taking:
Conjugated Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Estradiol 1.0 mg / day
Estradiol Patches 0.5 mg / day
Estropipate 1.25 mg / day
Esterified Estrogen 0.625 mg / day
Ethinyl Estradiol 0.01 - 0.015 mg / day depending on the source of the estrogen
Compounded Bi-Est or Tri-Est 2.5 mg / day
There are standard dosages of progesterone to balance these dosages of estrogen, depending on whether you take the progesterone every day (continuous) or just certain days (cyclic). Here are the standard dosages:
Medroxyprogesterne Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone Acetate 2.5 mg continuous or 5 mg cyclical
Norethindrone 0.35 mg continuous or 0.7 mg cyclical
Micronized Progesterone 100 mg continuous or 200 mg cyclical
Progesterone Gel Twice weekly continuous or every other day for 12 days cyclical
I hope this helps!
Menopause Taylor Thank you so much! You are literally a lifesaver. I'll be making an appointment with my gynecologist.
You know, after attending my two-day seminar, one woman came up to me at the gym and gave me a huge hug. She held me so tight and wouldn't let go. As she hugged me, she said, "Barbie, you save lives! Your menopause education saves lives." She made me cry a little, just as your words are now.
Thank you so much for seeing the real goal of all this.
Hi dr..does synthetic estrogen causes hairloss?i read many reviews about hrt & hairloss...so iam confused...waiting for your reply dr
No. Estrogen loss at menopause causes hair loss.
Think about it: Your hair was fine before you lost your estrogen. And your hair falls out when you lose your estrogen. Estrogen replacement helps prevent hair loss.
@@MenopauseTaylor thank you so much dear dr..love you...
Well, I love you, too!
and
As a 25 year postmenopausal woman what are my moms estrogen options?