Hi,
Menopause occurs naturally as your ovaries stop producing estrogen, and menopause is completed once you have not had a period for 12 months. After this time, you are considered to be "postmenopause".
You probably want to know how long the symptoms of menopause last? This depends on so many factors, and differs from woman to woman. What symptoms are you experiencing? It sounds like you are taking good care of yourself, through exercising, managing stress, as well as taking medication for hypothyroidism and anxiety.
Did you/do you have any of the following symptoms: menopausal hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse?
According to the Mayo Clinic, long-term use of hormone therapy (estrogen) is not recommended for postmenopausal conditions (symptoms), but short-term hormone therapy (estrogen) may be recommended to prevent against the following conditions:
"* Osteoporosis. Studies show that hormone therapy can prevent the bone loss that occurs after menopause, which decreases the risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures.
* Colorectal cancer. Studies show that hormone therapy can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer.
* Heart disease. Some data suggest that estrogen can decrease risk of heart disease when taken early in your postmenopausal years. A randomized, controlled clinical trial — the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) — exploring estrogen use and heart disease in younger postmenopausal women is under way, but it won't be completed for several years."
Have you talked with your doctor, and let him/her know that you are not taking the prescription hormone therapy, and are "self-medicating"? This needs to be shared with your doctor, so you can both discuss the pros/cons of your treatment, and make sure any complementary/alternative supplements you are taking are a safe part of your overall treatment. Remember--even though you are taking an over-the-counter "healthy" medication, it does not mean that it is automatically "safe"! OTC and "natural" vitamins and supplements are still potent enough to help, and therefore potent enough to cause harm. The phytoestrogens that you are taking---have you talked with your doctor about taking these instead of your prescription? Are they working for you in relieving your symptoms? If so, only you and your doctor will know how long you can safely and effectively continue to use them.
For example, something you may wan to speak with your doctor about (especially if the prescription was for both estrogen and progestin):
"For women who undergo menopause naturally, estrogen is typically prescribed as part of a combination therapy of estrogen and progestin. This is because estrogen without progestin can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Women who undergo menopause as the result of a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone."
I just looked up Estro-Natural, and found the ingredient list online (is this accurate)?
Hesperidin Concentrate: 100 mg
Sensoril- Ashwagandha root/leaf Extract: 50 mg
Butcher's Broom: 50 mg
Indole 3-Carbinol: 50 mg
Proprietary Estro-Choice Blend: 40mg (includes Licorice, Hops, and Pomegranate)
Nattokinase: 25 mg
Gamma Oryzanol: 25 mg
Other: Vegetable cellulose capsule, cellulose, silica, maltodextrin and magnesium stearate.
Comment Reply
Hi,
Menopause occurs naturally as your ovaries stop producing estrogen, and menopause is completed once you have not had a period for 12 months. After this time, you are considered to be "postmenopause".
You probably want to know how long the symptoms of menopause last? This depends on so many factors, and differs from woman to woman. What symptoms are you experiencing? It sounds like you are taking good care of yourself, through exercising, managing stress, as well as taking medication for hypothyroidism and anxiety.
Did you/do you have any of the following symptoms: menopausal hot flashes, night sweats, or vaginal symptoms of menopause, such as dryness, itching, burning and discomfort with intercourse?
According to the Mayo Clinic, long-term use of hormone therapy (estrogen) is not recommended for postmenopausal conditions (symptoms), but short-term hormone therapy (estrogen) may be recommended to prevent against the following conditions:
"* Osteoporosis. Studies show that hormone therapy can prevent the bone loss that occurs after menopause, which decreases the risk of osteoporosis-related hip fractures.
* Colorectal cancer. Studies show that hormone therapy can decrease the risk of colorectal cancer.
* Heart disease. Some data suggest that estrogen can decrease risk of heart disease when taken early in your postmenopausal years. A randomized, controlled clinical trial — the Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) — exploring estrogen use and heart disease in younger postmenopausal women is under way, but it won't be completed for several years."
Have you talked with your doctor, and let him/her know that you are not taking the prescription hormone therapy, and are "self-medicating"? This needs to be shared with your doctor, so you can both discuss the pros/cons of your treatment, and make sure any complementary/alternative supplements you are taking are a safe part of your overall treatment. Remember--even though you are taking an over-the-counter "healthy" medication, it does not mean that it is automatically "safe"! OTC and "natural" vitamins and supplements are still potent enough to help, and therefore potent enough to cause harm. The phytoestrogens that you are taking---have you talked with your doctor about taking these instead of your prescription? Are they working for you in relieving your symptoms? If so, only you and your doctor will know how long you can safely and effectively continue to use them.
For example, something you may wan to speak with your doctor about (especially if the prescription was for both estrogen and progestin):
"For women who undergo menopause naturally, estrogen is typically prescribed as part of a combination therapy of estrogen and progestin. This is because estrogen without progestin can increase the risk of uterine cancer. Women who undergo menopause as the result of a hysterectomy can take estrogen alone."
I just looked up Estro-Natural, and found the ingredient list online (is this accurate)?
Hesperidin Concentrate: 100 mg
Sensoril- Ashwagandha root/leaf Extract: 50 mg
Butcher's Broom: 50 mg
Indole 3-Carbinol: 50 mg
Proprietary Estro-Choice Blend: 40mg (includes Licorice, Hops, and Pomegranate)
Nattokinase: 25 mg
Gamma Oryzanol: 25 mg
Other: Vegetable cellulose capsule, cellulose, silica, maltodextrin and magnesium stearate.
You can read about herbs and supplements that have been clinically studied and been shown as beneficial for menopause symptoms at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
Further reading:
- Menopause at American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (ACOG)
- Menopause reference at EmpowHer
- Menopause reference at MayoClinic
- Menopause at MedlinePlus
- The ACOG produces a free consumer magazine for women in menopause, called Pause (click on orange link)
I hope this information helped some. Please let us know what additional questions you have!
May 21, 2009 - 12:39pmThis Comment
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