Sudden Menopause

If you have decided to proceed with BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy), you'll most likely avoid the nasty side-effects of regular (synthetic) HRT. BHRT is not the old 'one-size-fits-all' approach. Based on symptoms and a doctor's analysis of your saliva and blood tests, a compounded BHRT prescription can be created just for you. It may likely contain one or all of the following hormones, isolated in a lab from plant sources, NOT from horse urine (Premarin):

Pregnenolone
Progesterone
Estrogen

Pregnenolone, produced chiefly in the adrenal glands, is called 'the mother hormone'. As the body synthesizes various hormones from cholesterol, pregnenolone is the first to be manufactured. From it, progesterone and DHEA are formed, and these substances are precursors to a wide array of other hormones, such as estrogens and testosterone.

Progesterone is manufactured by the ovaries of menstruating women and is later synthesized, to some degree, by the adrenal glands of menopausal women. In menopausal women, progesterone levels often drop off significantly.

If you are in menopause artificially, due to a hysterectomy, have experienced a serious illness or have undergone cancer treatments, your depletion may be even more severe. Progesterone deficiency can be linked to an increased risk of cancer, as well as an increased risk of osteoporosis.

There are numerous health benefits of natural progesterone that your conventional doctor does not know about, or will not bother to educate you about.
Progesterone may help to prevent breast cancer,
helps to prevent osteoporosis in menopausal women,
may help to shrink fibroids and ovarian cysts, and
may improve the quality of sleep in menopausal women.

Sometimes more important are the ratios of estrogens to progesterone. I was very surprised to learn that more estrogen is not necessarily the key to menopause symptom management. (Estrogen is actually a class of hormones with three different subgroups, estrone, estriol and estradiol.) When properly balanced with progesterone, estrogen's effect is significant and beneficial. When imbalances create estrogen dominance, estrogen can actually be problematic.

Did you know that the adrenal system 'picks up the load' for producing much of the needed hormones after surgical menopause? Before a hysterectomy, the ovaries and uterus supply needed estrogens, testosterone (yes, women need it too!) and progesterone. Afterwards...well, the woman's body goes into serious overdrive to make up for the sudden shortfalls.

It may take just months, or it may take years, but many menopausal women, especially those induced by surgery, will begin to experience menopause anxiety issues. For some, the symptoms will be severe, and may manifest as full blown panic attacks. Others may begin to feel a general anxiety, sometimes with stress triggers, and sometimes for no reason at all.

In my case, it took over three years for problems to manifest. It happened gradually at first, but as my physical fatigue worsened, it was clear that something was wrong. After a few embarrassing episodes in public places-- which seemed to come out of nowhere -- I began to feel like 'Crazy Lady'.

If this is sounding familiar to you, here's my best explanation of what is going on, physically speaking.

The adrenal system creates a master hormone called pregnenolone, which in turn is utilized for creating other important hormones. (DHEA, progesterone, aldosterone, cortisol, etc.) The adrenal system, if unhealthy to begin with, simply cannot keep up with the demand. Progesterone MUST be present for the body to manufacture other important hormones. When stress is severe, something called 'pregnenolone steal' can occur, where this substance is siphoned off to create cortisol and other stress-induced hormones. Too much of this being diverted down the wrong pathway means there is little to no progesterone being made. Classic manifestations of low progesterone are anxiousness, irritability, mood swings and full blown anxiety disorders.

If this sounds like you, speak to your physician or nurse practitioner about the problems. If they are dismissive, or just want to dispense drugs to mask the symptoms, RUN to another doctor who will listen.
Treatment involving natural progesterone or a combination of several natural hormones may produce a more longlasting solution. You are not doomed to be 'Crazy Lady'!

Disclaimer: The lense master is not a medical professional. Consult with a medical doctor or nurse practitioner to determine your specific needs.