Spice Up Your Life: February 2009

Table of Contents

Letter from the Editor

The price of stamps is increasing, again, so if you could let me know what your email address is, I would like to change over wherever possible. Thanks. I have only had four persons come in for retesting. So let me encourage you again. If you have been 3-6 months on the natural hormones it would be a good idea to retest. If you have been on the lozenges then you need a blood spot test. This is very easy and involves pricking your finger and putting the drops of blood on the circles. If you are on creams we can do the saliva testing again. Remember that the cost is much less because we are not testing everything, just the hormone levels that have added.

Again, I am hearing good things from many of you. If you are not happy or have questions, please call. My crystal ball is not working and I will not know if you do not call and let me know. It may take a little tweeking, but we can do it to have you feeling great. We are having great success with oral progesterone pills to aid in sleeping.

Lozenges vs. Cream

If you are taking progesterone in a lozenge form, the pharmacist adds a flavoring to it to mask the bitter taste of progesterone. Here are your options: mint, tangerine, pina colada, chocolate mint, orange marshmallow, raspberry, chocolate, lemon and green apple. I have tried mint and pina colada and been pleasantly surprised. I am changing over to cream just to see what it is like.

Estrogen: Effects on the Woman's Body
  • increases your metabolic rate
  • regulates body temperature
  • helps prevent muscle damage
  • helps maintain muscle
  • helps you sleep deeply
  • helps maintain the elasticity of your arteries
  • decreases the accumulation of plaque in your arteries
  • decreases blood pressure
  • helps maintain your memory
  • increases reasoning and new ideas
  • increases HDL
  • reduces overall risk of heart disease by 40-50%
  • enhances energy
  • improves mood
  • increases concentration
  • maintains bone density
  • increases sexual interest
  • decreases wrinkles
  • decreases your risk of colon cancer
Progesterone: Effects on the Woman's Body
  • increases reasoning and new ideas
  • increases HDL
  • reduces overall risk of heart disease by 40-50%
  • enhances energy
  • improves mood
  • increases concentration
  • maintains bone density
  • increases sexual interest
  • decreases wrinkles
  • decreases risk of colon cancer
  • restores proper cell oxygen levels
  • prevents endometrial cancer
  • helps prevent breast cancer
  • stimulated osteoblast bone building
  • restores normal vascular tone
  • necessary for survival of the embryo
  • precursor of cortico steroids
Testosterone: Effects on the Woman's Body
  • increases sexual interest
  • increases sense of emotional well-being, self-confidence and motivation
  • increases muscle mass and strength
  • helps maintain memory
  • increases muscle tone so your skin won't sag
  • decreases excessive body fat
  • decreases bone deterioration and helps maintain body strength
  • elevates norepinephrine
Peri-Menopausal Symptoms
  • estrogen dominance
  • progesterone deficiency
  • abnormal androgens (testosterone) high or low
Based on your symptoms when you did the Saliva Test, Jill from Jolley's Pharmacy in SLC and I make a treatment plan. She uses natural hormones to balance the needs you have and hopefully you will be feeling better.

Next month we will be looking at symptoms of Estrogen/Progesterone/Testosterone deficiency and excess. Our goal is to have you functioning to the best of your ability, no matter your age. If you are menopausal, no matter the age, be sure and have a Bone Mineral Density exam in our office as well as a blood draw for Vitamin D. If you do not have sufficient Vitamin D, you cannot absorb Calcium. Have a GREAT MONTH.

--Carol