I'm a whore-mone

Got your attention, didn't I? This post is for "women of a certain age." F&ck that. This is who I mean: females who are around 44-60ish. If you are younger than 44, educate yourself now. If you are male, this may not be of interest.

Public service announcement #1: I just finished reading The New Menopause by Mary Clarie Haver, MD. Run, don't walk to your computer to order this book. A couple of notes:

• We should be treating menopause like trying to get pregnant. We need pre-menopause appointments with physicians who treat this for what it is: A major f'ing life event. In medical terms, it is a major inflammatory event.

  
  

• We also need physicians who have been trained by the North American Menopause Society. Many doctors have next to zero training regarding the latest research of menopause and often minimize the event or spout old data. If your doctor isn't certified by Menopause Society, go find one who is: Menopause Practitioner - Search - By Country.

Me with my new favorite book by Mary Claire Haver, MD.

Yesterday I saw my PCP. I have decided to try bio-identical hormones (or, whore-mones as I lovingly refer to them as). Today is Day 1 of my oral pill of Estradiol. According to Dr. Haver, "Estrogen is an incredibly protective hormone. When it diminishes in menopause, we lose much of this protection." In addition to estrogen, I am leaving in my Mirena IUD. This IUD produces progesterone which is needed for Hormone Therapy (HT) if you have a uterus.

I am curious: Will increasing estrogen help with hair loss, weight gain, and other symptoms? It will take about a month or two before I notice any shifts; I will dutifully report out.

Sidenote: I have stopped taking Finasteride, which is an off-label drug for women losing their hair. Finasteride interacts with testosterone to minimize hair follicle release. (See my earlier post on the Meh results of Finasteride.)

Public Service Announcement #2: In 2002 there was a study that created alarm bells in the medical community that hormone therapy (HT or MHT) would increase a woman's chances of developing breast cancer and stroke. These risks, while still present, are not as significant as initially reported. It is important to talk to a Menopause Society physician to see if you are at risk. I have a few friends who have had breast cancer, and they have said that they will not touch hormones. Luckily, I do not have a family history that puts me at risk, so I am trying a low dose of oral estrogen (with progesterone from my IUD). To understand your risks, consult a Menopause Society certified doctor and learn about the various estrogen options.

It is too early for me to say that I am a true Whore for Hormones. I have a lot to learn about my own experience and yours. I'm grateful that I'm learning about this now, and honestly, I wish I had had a female friend tell me about this 5+ years ago.