Do you want to have your periods back? Yes? No? Most of the women say no. And it is understandable: who wants to have this trouble again. If you decide to get bioidentical hormone replacement, you may have it without periods. And everybody loves it: youth is back but no periods, no pregnancy. Another choice is to go back to cycling with periods again. There is no consensus which is better. And I usually recommended my patients BHRT without cycling. Until recently.
2 things changed my mind:
1. With periods the uterus sheds its superficial part, getting rid of the old possibly damaged cells and regrowing new healthy tissue. This may be considered as a natural uterine cancer prevention.
2. The recent animal study from Texas A & M Health Science Center showed, that estrogen as a memory enhancer works only in a cycling state. It makes me think, that estrogen may work better for women’s brain, if they are cycling.
What do you think about it? Please let me know.
For more information about bioidentical hormone replacement for menopause treatment go to www.doctorkalitenko.com
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I'm ok with cycling. It sounds more natural. I'll be starting BHRT in a few days and will do it in a cycling pattern.
January 8, 2012 - 12:54amThis Comment
I still have 1 ovary. Hyst 12 years ago. Tried bios for awhile but never cycled before. Need to find a good doc who's good with this. Can you still do this without uterus? I am taking vitamins from Women to Women's personal program. I feel better but haven't gotten any relief from hot flashes and night sweats.
September 12, 2012 - 11:49amAny acdvice?
Joleen
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I feel that I stopped menstruating at age 47 way too early, mostly because my older sister was about 53 when she stopped (menarche for me was 12 yrs, her 13 yrs old). I have had several major surgeries (back, neck, arm) and as a side effect of menopause (or amenorhhea?) I now have severe osteoporosis and very brittle bones. I stopped taking Actonel per my doctor, so now what? I made the decision to start bioidentical hormone therapy with cycling to protect my bones (and skin) and so far my bust has increased, my waist decreased and clothes fit again, bones feel stronger (no more shooting pains in my shins when I try to walk my 3 tiny dogs around the block) and overall I FEEL good. That's in spite of the cramps, headache and bleeding (for a week). I think it's the way to go at this point. So much of medicine is hit and miss, I believe the best way to remain healthy is to take responsibility for yourself. If I continued down the path I was on "naturally" I would be at risk for diabetes AND osteoporosis. As far as I am concerned, so much about my lifestyle is "unnatural", just coloring my hair every month is an example. (Not to mention the neck and spinal fusion surgeries I have undergone).
October 3, 2011 - 7:11amThis Comment
I have to say that it seems odd to do something to "reinstate" something that has ceased naturally, i.e. a menstrual cycle in a body that is in menopause. And menopause is often a relief from perimenopause, in which a woman's cycle (especially mine) comes and then doesn't come, or lasts for 3 days and then 7 days, or causes mood swings and hot flashes. When it all stops, when the days of cramps and spotting have gone, it seems counterintuitive to want to bring that cycle back.
However, if there were health benefits proven to be a part of bioidentical hormone replacement that brought back a menstrual cycle, I think that would be worth listening to. I'd be interested to know if such things as endometriosis or ovarian cysts, for example, would most likely recur if a woman had problems with it before menopause. If that were the case, women (like me) might have an extra reason to resist.
October 14, 2008 - 8:30amThis Comment
Hi Diane, I'm with you here. I'm almost 58 had my last period four years ago be am on bioidwnrical hormones.
September 1, 2017 - 10:18pmI've heard the debate over whether we should cycle or not and it's confusing.
My holistic gynecologist says there's no real reason to cycle after menopause because all we are doing is depleting ourselves of hormones we need at this time. She has me on the lowest dose and says this cycling discussion in her opinion, is "old school " thinking, something hint that started about 30 years ago as she was coming out of medical school.
So in her opinion, why cycle. I had horrible periods all my life and was celebrating when my periods stopped, so I'm not one who wants anymore bleeding each month.
My best friend takes bioidentical hormones too, and her gynecologist does have her taking them on certain time periods each month.
My doctor has me taking progesterone and estrodial daily (and dhea a few times per week because my levels rose nicely and don't need it to rise more now.
I'm not convince cycling is any benefit and would love for someone to explain the pros of living this way after this has needed for us naturally?
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Dear Diana,
October 18, 2008 - 4:48pmThanks for your comment.
There are some more data I want to share with you:
According to Danish study, published on Sep 30 2008
1. Risk of heart problems was decreased when women are cycling.
2. Transdermal route was superior.
Ovarian cysts mostly are related to progesterone decline, so if BHRT doses are correct, then cysts should not be a problem.
I'm not aware of any association between endometriosis and BHRT.
Should you have any questions please contact me at www.doctorkalitenko.com
Here is the link to danish study: http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/ehn408v1?maxtos...
Please let me know what you think.
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